EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Want to ask a police officer a question over a cup of coffee? East Brunswick police are making it easy.
The East Brunswick Police Department will hold Coffee with a Cop on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Colonial Diner, 560 Highway 18.
Police said residents can meet department members in a relaxed setting, ask questions, share concerns and chat. There are no speeches and no formal agenda, just a chance to talk with the officers who serve the community.
"Bring a neighbor or simply stop by to say hello," police said.
The event is presented by the department's Community Policing Unit. Questions can go to CommunityPolicing@ebpd.net or 732-390-6938. More information is at ebpd.net.
The program started in 2011 in Hawthorne, California. Officers there were looking for a better way to connect with the people they serve every day, and they landed on a simple idea: a cup of coffee.
Coffee with a Cop events are now held in all 50 states, and the program has spread to Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa and Latin America. It is one of the most widely used community policing programs in the country.
The idea is to give residents and officers a chance to meet outside of emergencies, which is usually when they cross paths.
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