KINGSBURG – For Kingsburg Police Department officers, National Coffee with a Cop (NCWAC) day represents much more than an opportunity to score free coffee and donuts.
“Most people only meet cops when they ask you to roll down your window,” said Detective Sgt. Josh Carey, the coordinator of this year’s event that took place on Oct. 2 at Starbucks.
Carey said Coffee with a Cop is an opportunity for citizens to mix with law enforcement in an informal setting and discuss their concerns, show their appreciation, and – yes – drink free coffee and eat free donuts.
“I like this setting,” he said. “People can talk one to one with an officer, just have a conversation.”
Carey said he went through training to become qualified to host the event. He has been with the Kingsburg Police Department for seven years. This was the city’s sixth Coffee.
Some years are better than others with respect to turnout. This year’s soiree kicked off at 7:30 a.m. It was a slow start, as law enforcement outnumbered residents at first, but as the morning went on, more people arrived. The event eventually spilled outdoors onto the patio, where the Kingsburg Police Officers’ Association set up a table selling T-shirts.
Carey said in years past, officers from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office have popped in, as have officers from MAGEC, the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium.
But Coffee with a Cup is not a local enterprise. Far from it.
National Coffee with a Cop movement
The nationwide movement began in Hawthorne, California in 2011. Officers of that police department realized that the relationship between police and the public had soured over the years, to the point that in some communities, the public viewed the police as the enemy.
These officers decided it was time to meet the public they served in a relaxed, informal setting. The department held the first Coffee with a Cop event.
Since 2011, there have been over 10,000 Coffee with Cops worldwide. All 50 U.S. states and 15 countries participate in the annual event. The event is held on the same day for every participating police organization. In 2016, NWCAC became a nationwide event.
“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
If nothing else, the Kingsburg event showcased the different types of uniforms officers wear. For example, Carey, a detective, was dressed in civilian clothes. Other officers were in their dress blues with minimal accessories. One officer arrived in complete police apparel. She said the vest she was wearing weighed about 35 lbs. When she turned sideways, the vest extended a good six inches from her torso.
Despite having an aching back at the end of the day, the officer said she preferred it to the traditional police belt.
“A lot of those guys had to have hip replacements,” she said, smiling.
