The James Biever Police-Community Alliance (JBPCA), in conjunction
with the Lebanon City Police Department, will hold its first ever Coffee with a
Cop event on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, in the lobby of the Lebanon Family
YMCA, located at 207 N. 7th Street, Lebanon. Members of the public are invited
to join officers from the Lebanon City Police Department between 8:00 a.m. to
10:00 a.m. for a free cup of coffee and conversation.
Coffee with a Cop began in 2011 when members of the Hawthorne
Police Department of California were looking for ways to connect and build
relationships with members of their local community. According to coffeewithacop.com, “The mission of Coffee with a Cop is to break down barriers between police officers and the citizens they serve by removing agendas and allowing opportunities to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know the officers in your neighborhood.”
Chief Bret Fisher of the Lebanon City Police noted that he hopes members of the community will embrace this idea and looks forward to “just sitting down with a cup of coffee and having a conversation.” Coffee with a Cop is agenda free; There are no speeches or special topics discussed. It is an informal conversation about what matters to the residents in attendance. Another goal is to build relationships with one-on-one conversations that will lead to better problem solving and building trust and mutual goals between residents and the police officers that serve their community.
Coffee with a Cop events are held in all 50 states and has
expanded outside the United States to Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa and
Latin America. The Hawthorne Police Department credits the success of the
program to the open communication and interactions outside of a crisis that is
usually what brings law enforcement and community members together.
