FMPD Refills Coffee with a Cop on January 15th

“FMPD Refills Coffee with a Cop on January 15^th”

On Wednesday, January 15, 2014, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department and community members will come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships and drink coffee. All community members are invited to attend. The event times are 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Utopia Soul Food Cafe located at 3069 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Please contact Captain Jim Mulligan with questions: 239-321-7774.

Coffee with a Cop provides a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the department’s work in Fort Myers’ neighborhoods. The majority of contacts law enforcement has 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 citizens may feel that officers are unapproachable 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 concerns, or simply get to know our officers,” said Police Chief Douglas Baker. “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 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.