Gaithersburg Residents Invited to Have Coffee with a Cop
In partnership with the Starbucks at 121 Market Street in Kentlands, the Gaithersburg Police Department will be hosting Coffee with a Cop on Tuesday, September 30, 2014, from 7 to 9 a.m. Coffee with a Cop provides a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the department’s work in Gaithersburg’s neighborhoods.
The majority of contact law enforcement officers have with the public tends to occur during emergencies or emotional situations, which are often not the most conducive for relationship building with the community. Additionally, some community members may feel that officers are not approachable on the street. Coffee with a Cop breaks down barriers and allows for relaxed, one-on-one interaction.
“We hope that community members will feel comfortable to ask questions, bring forward concerns, or simply get to know our officers,” said Chief of Police, Mark P. Sroka. “These interactions are the foundation of community partnerships.”
Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative supported by The United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Similar events are being held across the country, as local police departments strive to make lasting connections with the communities they serve.
The program aims to advance the practice of community policing through improving relationships between police officers and community members, one cup of coffee at a time.
Contact: Dan Lane, Public Information Officer
City of Gaithersburg Police Department
301-258-6400
Photograph by Roy Kelley
Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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