Cedar Rapids Police’s Coffee with a Cop returns on Wednesday

Cedar Rapids Police officers invite community members to meet up in an informal, neutral space Wednesday morning to discuss community issues, build relationships, and drink coffee.

This will be the first Coffee with a Cop event since Feb. 6, 2020. Events had been canceled for more than a year because of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

All are invited to attend. The event will run from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at Scooter’s Coffee, 7037 C Ave. NE. Coffee with a Cop provides a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the department’s work in Cedar Rapids neighborhoods.

The majority of contacts that law enforcement have with the public happen during emergencies, or emotional situations. Those situations are not always the most effective times for relationship building with the community, and some community members may feel that officers are unapproachable on the street. Coffee with a Cop breaks down barriers and allows for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction.

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.