On Saturday morning the Seminole County Sheriff's Deputies converged on the Apopka Chick-fil-A at Hunt Club. It was not a sting operation or a cattle round-up. It was Apopka's third “Coffee with a Cop” event this year
“This was an opportunity to meet the community one-on-one in a neutral setting,” according to a SCSO spokesperson.
Several Seminole County Deputies meet with the public 8:00 AM until 10:00 AM in a public and open setting to discuss the community’s concerns, answer specific questions and simply introduce the SCSO to the people of Apopka.
Previous “Coffee With A Cop” events were hosted by the Apopka Police Department and the McDonald's on Main Street and Rock Springs Road.
Coffee with A Cop was launched in Hawthorne, California in 2011. Members of the Hawthorne Police Department were looking for ways to interact more successfully with the citizens they served each day.
fCommunity policing has long been considered a framework for establishing trust between the community and the police. However, because of shifting demographics, more commuters, and the introduction of different communication methods such as websites and social media, the character and composition of communities changed.
The Hawthorne Police Department hit upon a simple plan to break through the barriers that have been built over the years – a cup of coffee.
In less than three years, Coffee with a Cop events have been hosted in more than 2000 communities, in 49 states and is one of the most successful community oriented policing programs across the country.
Official Website: Coffee with a Cop