Police continue outreach efforts

By Natalie Allison Janicello, The Times-News
Original article HERE

Nearly three years ago, the Burlington Police Department set up a time for officers to meet with community members over coffee.

It was one of the department’s community relations efforts as police departments around the country brainstormed ways to work on building bridges with members of the general public.

Having held Coffee With a Cop events across the city since the first such gathering, in May 2014, Burlington police continued the program Friday morning with a meet and greet at Grill Worx.

Around 25 officers and other employees of the department appeared at the West Webb Avenue restaurant, approaching diners, introducing themselves and handing out BPD coffee mugs.

Sgt. Eric Watkins was among those officers. After sitting down at Ed Hayes’ table, he began asking him about his connection to Burlington.

Hayes, wearing a ball cap with his first and last name stitched onto the front, told Watkins that while he lives in Greensboro, he runs Cappy’s Automotive/Curry Oil Co. on Rauhut Street, where he also has built a number of houses.

He comes to Grill Worx every morning.

Watkins listened as Hayes explained a book had been written about his experience building affordable houses, more than 30 of which he said he has constructed in the Rauhut and Morgantown area of Burlington.

They talked about break-ins that had occurred in Morgantown.

“They talk to us about their neighborhoods and some of the things going on there,” said Lt. Chris Gaddis, who works in the community relations division. “We talk about their families, where they live, and sometimes about crime in the city.”

That included telling folks about a phone app, Nextdoor, that neighborhood residents can use to communicate with one another about what’s going on in the area, as well as listening to their suggestions on how the department could combat gun crimes in the city.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS held events in both east and west Burlington, as well as downtown at Company Shops Market, Biscuitville, McDonald’s, Chick-Fil-A and other locations.

While it’s not the first time Burlington police have held the event on a weekday, its Coffee With a Cop gatherings have often been held on Saturdays, resulting in fewer employees attending.

“We move the location from place to place, to where it’s not always on one side of town or the other,” Assistant Chief Chris Verdeck said. “You get a different crowd of folks that frequent different places, and you get a different perspective no matter where you go.”

Verdeck acknowledged, though, that the officers aren’t doing a whole lot of sentiment-changing about police at these events. They’re largely attended by people who already support the police and want to stop by to thank them for their efforts, rather than by people looking to voice criticism about the department or discuss controversial policing practices.

“I want to make sure everybody knows we’re open to that,” Verdeck said. “There are things we can discuss and talk about, and maybe explain.”

Gaddis said the department aims to hold one such event at least each quarter.