Officers interact with teens at Coffee with a Cop

By Leslie Lake, The Hour
Original article HERE

Norwalk police visited with some High Roads School students at the Family Diner as part of the department's Coffee with a Cop program. Photo: Leslie Lake / Hearst Connecticut Media / Norwalk Hour

Norwalk Police officers had some special visitors at their weekly community outreach initiative Coffee with a Cop.

Four students from High Road School made the walk Thursday morning from their North Avenue school to Family Diner on Main Street to interact with officers.

“There can sometimes be negative interactions with the police, so I wanted the students to see that the police department is actually a resource for them,” said Aimee Hwang Russo, transition coordinator at High Road School.

Russo said she was impressed by the depth of the questions asked by the students.

“One of the students asked, ‘You must have a lot of trauma in your job. How do you deal with that?’” Russo said. “I was very proud of them asking about the emotional aspect of the job.”

Seventeen-year-old student Rigo Carty of New Canaan shared his dream of joining the National Guard with Norwalk Police Officer Cesar Ramirez as the two chatted about policework.

“I live in a town with not a high crime rate,” Carty said. “After speaking to the officer (Ramirez) I understand that being a police officer takes a lot of mental and physical skills that I didn’t know about before.”

Ramirez noted that it’s the one-on-one aspect of Coffee with a Cop that has a strong impact on police and community relations.

“This is a very important opportunity for us to talk to young people,” Ramirez said. “They have new suggestions and they are willing to learn…It’s important for us to create bonds and respect.”

Billed as an opportunity to meet with police and voice concerns, ask questions, or just get to know local officers, Coffee with a Cop is part of a nationwide initiative to break barriers between the community and law enforcement over a cup of coffee.

Coffee with a Cop began in Norwalk in June, 2016.

Besides Ramirez officers at the diner on Thursday included: Officers Brandon Collins and Kelly Haddy, Sgt. Sofia Gulino and Deputy Chief Susan Zecca.