Bel Air Police Invite Public To Coffee With A Cop

Come enjoy a cup of joe with one of Bel Air's finest during this year’s Coffee with a Cop. Bel Air police invite the public to join them at Newberry Bakery & Cafe on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

Since its launch with the Hawthorne Police Department in California in 2011, Coffee with a Cop has grown into a nationwide and international event aimed at building better relationships between police departments and the communities they serve.

"Enjoy a free cup of coffee and some casual conversation with members of the Bel Air Police Department," officials said in a statement announcing the Coffee with a Cop event.

More than 10,000 events have been held across the country and in 15 other countries since its inception.

“The mission of Coffee with a Cop is to break down the barriers between police officers and the citizens they serve,” according to the organization.

It held 135 events in 2017 and 70 percent of attendees said they felt better about their local police afterward, according to Coffee with a Cop statistics.

“I was curious about Coffee with a Cop and how it was going to be handled. It turned out great … This should help break down some walls between the average community member and officers,” a community member in North Carolina told the organization.