CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Police Department invites the community for "Coffee with a Cop,” 8 a.m. Wednesday at the Tropical Palm restaurant in downtown Crestview.
Several Crestview Police officers, including Police Chief Tony Taylor, will meet with residents and have open discussions over a cup of coffee. Taylor said the effort aims to improve the department's transparency.
"Public conversations is actually something I have wanted to initiate since shortly after I was appointed the police chief," Taylor said an email."I am hoping to use this program to form partnerships throughout the community; residential and business. It is a holistic approach to building trust and confidence, to form strong and lasting partnerships."
Coffee with a Cop events occur in more than 175 cities and 36 states, according to the initiative’s website. Community police officer Sam Kimmons brought the program to Taylor's attention.
Tropical Palm will provide the coffee at no charge for Crestview’s gatherings, Kimmons said. The only thing asked of attendees is to leave a sufficient tip.
The department plans to have additional Coffee with a Cop events at different locations, but no dates have been set.
Want to go?
WHAT: Coffee with a Cop
WHEN: 8-11 a.m., Wednesday
WHERE: Tropical Palm restaurant, 286 N. Main St.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Coffee with a Cop kicks off Wednesday in Crestview