By VASHTI HARRIS
Staff Writer
SOUTH RIVER — Striving to strengthen the relationships with the citizens they protect, the South River Police Department (SRPD) hosted its first “Coffee with a Cop” event.
The program aims to advance the practice of community policing by improving relationships between police officers and community members one cup of coffee at a time, according to a press release from the police department.
“We as the police department believe in partnerships. We want to have a great partnership with our residents. I understand we already have one, but we want to build on our partnership with the community and being out here in a relaxed atmosphere with no agendas, no speeches, just questions and answers,” Police Chief Mark Tinitigan said on Feb. 15 at Campozino Bakery on Ferry Street.
Surrounded by tables, chairs and coffee, officers from the SRPD came together with local residents in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships and drink coffee.
“When I became chief five years ago, one of the things I looked for in my officers is that community involvement. We need the community — we are not here to occupy a town and dictate, we are here to build partnerships and relationships. That’s a big thing for me,” Tinitigan said. “Being out here with the public and just speaking with everybody, [letting residents] voice their concerns and just getting to know everybody, it’s a partnership between the police department and the community. We’re here to serve them [and] if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be here.”
Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Similar events are held across the country as local police strive to make lasting connections with the communities they serve, according to an official press release.
“I had heard about [Coffee with a Cop occurring] in other towns and on my list of things to do was to suggest this to the Chief of Police Mark Tinitigan, and it is he who got ahead of the curve and he initiated this event himself. This is an excellent thing and a chance for the community to come together, especially in this day and age, to get to know the police,” Mayor John Krenzel said.
“[People must] realize that police officers are here to help the community so this is why I am very pleased to see everybody here today. It’s a nice turnout, and I always encourage [residents] to try something new every year. More people will hear about this and more people will go to the next event — it’s a good thing,” said the mayor.
The SRPD is planning on holding more Coffee with a Cop gatherings and additional community-based initiatives throughout this year, according to Tinitigan.
“I think [Coffee with a Cop is] a wonderful idea. When I saw the post for this event on the SRPD’s Facebook page, I immediately took to the idea and I spread the word through my homeowners association as well as my personal friends. I think it’s a fantastic idea, and I hope that we continue to do things like this,” said Shenetta Smith, a former Board of Education member and current resident.
The majority of contact law enforcement has with the public happens 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, according to SRPD’s press release.
“It’s great. We have been trying to do a lot of community outreaching, and I think we have a lot of things planned this year. It’s our 100-year anniversary. [Coffee with a Cop] is a nice way for residents to come out and kind of talk with us before they go to work or to express their concerns with the town. Today a lot of negative views have been placed on cops so I think this is a kind of way to sit down with people and make them realize that we are just regular people,” Officer Wesley Sanchez said.
For more information, visit the SRPD on Facebook.
Contact Vashti Harris at [email protected].