10th Annual National Coffee with a Cop Day
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026
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, October 7, 2026
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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