Cranston Police Invite The Public To Have Coffee With A Cop

CRANSTON, RI — Cranston police invite the community to join officers for a cup of joe on National Coffee With a Cop day. Members of the department will be at the Dunkin' Donuts next to Garden City on Wednesday morning.

"Events such as Coffee with a Cop provide members of our police department and community with the opportunity to make face to face introductions, as well as share information in a relaxed and informal setting," Police Chief Michael Winquist said in a statement. "Conversations at these events are intimate and personal, important to both the residents and the officers speaking with them. These conversations have led to many quality of life issues being addressed expeditiously."

Coffee With a Cop day is a national and international movement to improve the relationship between police departments and the communities they serve. Each year, departments choose a coffee shop where officers can meet with the public in a neutral place to foster better communication and understanding.

"Coffee with a Cop provides a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the department’s work in Cranston’s neighborhoods," the department said in a release. "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 that officers are unapproachable on the street. Coffee with a Cop breaks down those barriers and allows for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction."

Cranston officers will be at the Dunkin Donuts at 189 Sockanosset Crossroads from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m.