9th Annual National Coffee with a Cop Day
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025
National CWAC Day in a Nutshell
National Coffee with a Cop day is a day dedicated to encourage communication and positive interactions between law enforcement agencies and the public.
The day began as part of National Community Policing Week in 2016 and now continues each year on the first Wednesday in October furthering efforts nationwide to bridge the gap between the community and the law.
“Coffee with a Cop is community policing at its core. The simple act of having a cup of coffee with community members can be the first step in increasing trust and cooperation between the police and the people they serve,” said former COPS Office Director Ronald L. Davis.
Our next event is set for Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2024\5.
Hello,
I wanted to send a quick message to everyone to share our excitement for Coffee with a Cop Day 2025, which will be celebrated on October 1st. Since its inception in 2011, Coffee with a Cop events have played a vital role in building trust and fostering a sense of community in various communities, regardless of their size. These events have been embraced by local police agencies in both large cities and small farming towns as a means of connecting with residents and forming genuine relationships, all over a cup of coffee.
We continually hear heartwarming stories about the positive connections and interactions that occur at Coffee with a Cop events across the globe. What started at a McDonald’s in Hawthorne, California, has surpassed our wildest expectations. Initially, we hoped to expand these events to all 50 states in the U.S., but now I’m proud to announce that Coffee with a Cop events are held in over 40 countries and are conducted in 9 different languages. The core objective remains the same: creating an environment where there are no communication barriers, no formal speeches, and no hidden agendas, just honest conversations about issues that affect our communities. Plus, we can’t forget to exchange recommendations about great places to eat (after all, everyone knows the police have the best restaurant tips, trust me on this one, haha).
We understand that there are countless topics to discuss over a cup of coffee these days. Let’s showcase to the world what community policing truly looks like. It’s an opportunity to get to know our community better, snap plenty of selfies with the people we serve (because who doesn’t love a cheerful selfie?), and share these moments on social media using the hashtags #coffeewithacopday or #coffeewithacop. You can find us on Instagram at instagram.com/coffeewithacop and Facebook at facebook.com/coffeewithacop.
Let’s make this year’s Coffee with a Cop Day a memorable one!
Be safe out there,
Sergeant Chris Cognac (retired)
Hawthorne Police Department – Los Angeles County, California
Chris@coffeewithacop.org
Grassroots That Grew Fast
National Coffee with a Cop Day grew out of the casual coffee conversations held in 2011 by the Hawthorne (California) Police Department, which quickly spread throughout the country and then the world. The simple idea for building better relationships with community members caught fire, with other police and sheriff’s departments jumping into the initiative without the need of formal directives.
Firm belief in the value of the initiative by the Hawthorne Police Department and later support and encouragement from the Department of Justice has allowed the grassroots initiative to gain enough momentum to be in all 50 states and nine countries, with no plans on stopping there. With the goal of open, honest communication without the influence of agendas or speeches, citizens everywhere could benefit.
Join the National Coffee with a Cop Day Festivities
We encourage and welcome all law enforcement departments to set up a National Coffee with a Cop day event each year. Host an event in your area, invite the public to join your officers, and help build trust and establish relationships.
Are you a coffee shop, business, or organization that wants to participate? Contact a police, sheriff, public safety, or other law enforcement department in your area and offer to partner. Let them know that there is community support and interest for participating. (And don’t let it stop with National Coffee with a Cop Day. Discuss other events throughout the year!)
Get the Word Out
We’ve got a Facebook and Twitter promotion to get you started.)
We also have a press kit available to download, customize and assist you in promoting your event locally. There are also flyers to print and distribute around your area letting the community know the specifics.
Want something to hand out in addition to coffee at your event? Visit the Coffee with a Cop store for National Coffee with a Cop Day pins and stickers or other Coffee with a Cop swag.
Here’s What Others Are Saying About National CWAC Day
“We have been involved with Coffee with a Cop since 2013, and it has been a great tool for our department to connect with the community. We had a local radio station partner with us, and they do a live remote with us every Coffee with a Cop. This has allowed us to reach tens of thousands of people every month, and our community really appreciates the accessibility that Coffee with a Cop gives them to both our department and officers. For the first National Coffee with a Cop Day, we held six separate Coffee with a Cop’s across our city simultaneously.”
“National Coffee with a Cop Day is a great opportunity for police to get out and meet with community members and just get to know each other in a human level.”
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