One interaction makes the difference: SPD works to break down barriers

By Ashleigh Fox, The Sheridan Press
Original article HERE

Five-year-old Hailey Hamilton anticipated “Cop Day” for a week. She reminded her mother daily of the event. Hamilton met two of the five female patrol officers at their vehicles. Officers Annalisa Jones and Meagan Phillips turned on lights and opened doors for Hamilton, allowing her to sit in the patrol car and commenting of its discomfort. During the short walk from the car into Andi’s Coffee Shop on Broadway, the two officers talked with Hamilton about gun safety, utilizing their interaction with the youngster to make a positive impact.

“What do you do if there’s a gun around?” Jones asked Hamilton.

“You put it down,” Hamilton replied.

“And don’t touch it,” Jones added.

Jones and Phillips met up with Lt. Tom Ringley and Lt. Travis Koltiska to grab a cup of coffee before settling down to chat with community members who stumbled across Wednesday’s Coffee with a Cop.

Sheridan’s Coffee with a Cop participation started back in April of this year. The past five months stayed consistent with meetings in different locations around town. Despite the small number of community attendees, the officers in attendance helped break down barriers with community members with quick hellos as well as in-depth conversations about nationwide trends and daily experiences.

Sgt. Jerry Rasmussen shared a wealth of information with two curious coffee-goers from Buffalo. The two women asked questions regarding the nationwide-trending racism dilemma among police officers and civilians and explained what weapons law enforcement officers use in different scenarios.

The Buffalo residents also asked about marijuana and Jones explained common tests that help determine if a driver is under the influence of marijuana specifically. Jones explained blood and urine tests remain the most stable and reliable of tests for THC content, but specific eye tests taken from DUI tests also help determine if a driver is high. Rasmussen reminded the women that even though some states legalized the drug, it remains federally illegal in the United States and punishable by arrest under federal law if discovered.

The Sheridan Police Department also works to create positive relationships with community members through its Citizens Police Academy program each year. The program begins the first Tuesday after Valentine’s Day and features a series of classes designed to offer insight into how local police officers perform their duties and how the SPD serves the citizens of the community, the application memo reads. SPD holds classes each Tuesday from 6-9 p.m. beginning in February and running into April.

SPD previously held Coffee with a Cop quarterly, but bumped it up to monthly, usually on the first Wednesday of the month. The officers in attendance welcome any and all questions and will let you know if they are unable to answer due to confidentiality stipulations. Almost always they remain willing to help citizens understand their job.

“It’s really about transparency with the community,” Rasmussen said. “[Citizens] can ask questions freely.”

Limited interactions with law enforcement, especially those with a typically negative connotation such as getting pulled over, make it difficult for citizens to see law enforcement as a positive aid. These coffee chats work to bridge that gap. Among community members, many remain thankful. Two individuals stopped the conversation at Andi’s simply to thank the officers for their service to the community. Rasmussen shared a memory of the days following the 2016 shooting of Dallas police officers, telling the group about the masses of food sent to SPD in appreciation.

SPD looks to continue and grow the Coffee with a Cop program. Ringley said he doesn’t expect Andi’s to be filled with people at 10 a.m. on a Wednesday morning, but one interaction makes the difference.