October 5, 2018

Police brew goodwill with public over coffee

By Evan Goodenow, The Winchester Star
Original article HERE

Coffee With Cops Police took a coffee break with the community Wednesday.

The second Coffee With a Cop event from 7 to 9 a.m. allowed officers and residents to socialize in an informal setting. In addition to Moe’s Donut Shop and Steamy’s Cafe on East Piccadilly Street, this year’s interactions occurred at Dunkin’ on Berryville Avenue — formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts — and Starbucks on Pleasant Valley Road. The meetings are part of an international community relations event begun by the Hawthorne, Calif., Police Department in 2011.

At Dunkin’, John Nelson, an information technology specialist from Winchester, spoke with Winchester Police Department Det. John Spishak about video games burglarized from his car on Tuesday. Nelson said he asked how police recover stolen electronic items.

Nelson, who did community relations events with police when he previously ran a cab company, said they increase communication, generate goodwill, and improve the image of officers.

“They’re not here to cause problems. They’re here to help. And any time there’s an opportunity for officers to interact with the community, whether it’s in a coffee shop or a school, there’s benefit to it,” he said. “Especially for the kids as they grow up.”

Police interactions with the public can be tense, such as at crashes, traffic stops or crime scenes, so Spishak said he appreciated the relaxed setting.

“Over a cup of coffee you get a chance to just talk to the public and they can just say hello,” he said. “We’re not on call. We’re not running around, so they can meet and greet with us.”

Jayne Wiseman, a real estate agent from Culpeper and daughter of a retired Prince George’s County, Md., police officer, told Spishak and Cpl. Nate Post she appreciates their work. Wiseman said personal interaction helps counteract what she believes is overly negative coverage of police by traditional media and on social media.

“Social media is the most anti-social thing there is out there,” she said. “This allows people to create a relationship and be face-to-face to their community officers.”

At Starbucks, police helped out employees behind the counter during the morning rush. They included Chief John Piper, who donned an apron and worked the drive-thru window. Barista Jeong Young Elwood said drive-thru customers got a kick out of seeing Piper, and young children liked the badge-shaped stickers police handed out.

Brian Jones, principal consultant with The Table Group, a business consulting group that does work in the area, spoke with Det. Craig Smith about how the police department recruits and trains officers. Jones, a Fairfax County resident, says he thinks police should do more public relations events because they involve conversations rather than debates. “When people talk to each other, only good things can happen,” he said.