PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Members of the Presque Isle Police Department took part in a nationwide movement Wednesday aimed at better connecting officers with the community members they serve every day.
Since 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Policing has supported and encouraged people everywhere to sit back, relax and enjoy a cup of coffee and good company with police officers at area businesses on the first Wednesday of October. The annual event is known as “Coffee With a Cop Day.”
On Wednesday morning, Presque Isle Deputy Police Chief Laurie Kelley and officers Brady Smith and Isaac Ward stopped by the local Tim Hortons for a coffee break and received a warm welcome from patron Mike Thompson of Presque Isle. Kelley said that the local police department has taken part in “Coffee With a Cop Day” for the past five years. The department also partnered with the Presque Isle McDonald’s to have officers visit the restaurant throughout the day.
“It gives us more of a chance to interact with the public and to let people know that we’re approachable,” Kelley said. “Every officer on duty today will participate depending on when they’re on calls.”
Thompson said that he still has good friends at the police department from his days with the local Civilian Police Academy. He was unaware of “Coffee With a Cop Day” but noted that he often stops and talks with Kelley and other officers when he sees them around town.
“We have to have good communication with the local officers. If we didn’t there would be chaos,” Thompson said.
For more information or to view the list of scheduled “Coffee With a Cop Day” events go to https://coffeewithacop.com/national-day/.
