What began as a way for the Hawthorne Police Department in California to communicate with the citizens they serve is now a nationally recognized day. Oct. 7 marked the first National Coffee with a Cop Day, where every law enforcement agency in the U.S. could sit down with their community and talk with them.

The Oswego State University Police Department held a meeting in the Lake Effect Café to give students the chance to come talk to the officers about any problems or offer any suggestions they might have. Armed with coffee and snacks, the officers offered a safe, friendly environment for students and faculty.

Community policing has been an effective way to keep people safe and build trust between police and citizens. The demographics of communities tend to change over the years so having these events gives police departments the opportunity to create stronger connections with their communities.

The police’s reputation has worsened over the last year as unarmed African-Americans continue to be killed by police officers. National Coffee with a Cop Day reminds citizens that the majority of officers want to protect the communities they serve. Debating and protesting can bring awareness to a situation, but sitting down and talking to one another is the best way both sides can come together to solve problems.

It puts a face to the badge. People can get to know who the officers are and why they chose a career in law enforcement. Officers meet the people they serve and really get to hear what their concerns are. They can also learn some better ways to communicate with citizens when they are in a pressure situation so everyone will be safe.

It is ironic that the simplest tool can be the most effective. Protesting can be a way to bring awareness to a problem, but lately it has not been effective. Actually sitting down with the people you may disagree with or have a negative persona about can help you understand their opinion.

Over the summer, this happened when rappers Snoop Dogg and The Game lead a peaceful march to the Los Angeles Police Department where the two sat down with the chief of police and spoke.

With support from the U.S. Department of Justice, Coffee with a Cop Day has expanded to all 50 states in the U.S. and nine countries across the world. The events have helped form relationships between citizens and officers that lead to a safer community. 

National Coffee with a Cop Day’s success is the open conversation it creates between people and police officers. There is no agenda or topic, people can just simply talk to them about whatever they want.