Stoneham Police To Host Coffee With A Cop

STONEHAM -- Chief James McIntyre announced that the Stoneham Police Department will conduct a "Coffee with a Cop" event Wednesday, Nov. 28 from 4-6 p.m. at the Dunkin Donuts on Franklin Street.

The informal event offers community members and Stoneham police officers the opportunity to get to know each other over coffee and snacks and discuss the issues that are most important in town.

"Coffee with a Cop is a wonderful opportunity for community members to interact with police officers in a comfortable, routine setting," Chief McIntyre said. "I encourage everyone to come out on the 28th and get to know their police department."

The event is being coordinated by Officer Ken Bowdidge of the Stoneham Community Policing Unit.

Coffee with A Cop was launched in Hawthorne, California in 2011 when Officers from the Hawthorne Police Department were looking for ways to interact more successfully with the citizens they served each day. Community policing has long been considered a framework for establishing trust between the community and the police. However, over time the character and composition of our nation’s communities have changed due to shifting demographics, more commuters, and the introduction of different communication methods such as websites and social media.

Police have hit upon a simple plan to break through the barriers that have been built over the years – a cup of coffee. Coffee with a Cop events are now held in all 50 states and all over the world. It is one of the most successful community oriented policing programs across the country.

Survey ongoing

The Stoneham Police Department also reminds residents that the department is continuing to conduct a community survey that will help members of the department gauge its strengths and understand areas of improvement. The survey is completely anonymous and can be found here.