OAKHURST — In what has become a regularly welcomed opportunity, the public is invited to meet their local CHP officers for coffee and conversation.
Officers from the California Highway Patrol Oakhurst Area office will be on hand to sit and chat with community members in an informal visit to discuss local issues, have a cup of java, and build relationships.
The event will be from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, at The Cool Bean Café, 40120 Highway 41 in Oakhurst.
Coffee with a Cop is as simple as it sounds — a chance to meet your local officers and learn more about the CHP’s work in the Madera County foothills.
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 community members may feel officers are unapproachable on the street. Coffee with a Cop breaks down barriers and allows for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction.
The CHP hopes that community members will welcome the opportunity to ask questions, bring concerns forward, or simply get to know the officers, to form relationships that 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 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.
