Police, citizens visit Thursday at ‘Coffee with a Cop’

By Phil Anderson, The Topeka Capital-Journal
Original article HERE

Ana Cazares and several family members were in downtown Topeka on Thursday morning when they caught a glimpse of Magnum, the Topeka Police Department’s 14-foot-tall inflatable dog mascot, in the south parking lot of the McDonald’s restaurant at 1100 S. Kansas Ave.

Cazares saw a perfect photo opportunity, so she and her family members walked over to take pictures with Magnum, who was at the restaurant as part of the Topeka Police Department’s monthly “Coffee with a Cop” gathering.

Several police officers were at the McDonald’s to meet with members of the public and were available to have photos taken with those who came by to visit with them. Officer Matt Wilson was among those who posed with Cazares and her family members for photos in front of Magnum.

“It was good,” Cazares said. “It was exciting. We just wanted to share a picture with them.”

Cazares said her young son, Joaquin Lopez, 5, was especially excited to meet the police officers and see the “big dog” up close.

“He loves police officers,” she said.

Thursday morning’s event attracted a number of people from the community who took advantage of the opportunity to visit with police officers.

Lt. Steve Roth said he had been to many “Coffee with a Cop” events in the past and said he has come to view them as a way for officers to visit in a relaxed atmosphere with members of the public.

In some cases, citizens want to ask questions of the officers. But the exchange of information is a two-way street, Roth said.

“We can learn more about the communities we serve by interacting with the citizens who come in to visit with us,” he said.

Police spokeswoman Gretchen Koenen said “Coffee with a Cop” started as a monthly event in January. It is scheduled to continue monthly through the end of the year. It moves to various locations in different parts of the city.

The next gathering will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 14, at Cafe Holliday, 800 S.W. 12th.

Koenen said the initiative is designed to give people in the community direct access to the officers.

“It’s just a great way to get everybody together,” she said.