CRESTVIEW — To an iced mocha—with extra cream and chocolate syrup—and one of Casbah Coffee Company's famed cinnamon rolls, resident Matthew Bryant added a side of conversation with Police Chief Tony Taylor.
During the Feb. 15 Coffee With a Cop, Taylor, Community Services Officers Wanda Hulion and Sam Kimmons, and police chaplains the Revs. Mark Broadhead and Harry Tomlin visited with patrons at the downtown coffee shop.
"We met with some truly delightful residents who enjoyed sharing their concerns and praises in a relaxed setting," Taylor said afterward.
Taylor said people are sometimes hesitant to bring up problems or concerns in the formality of a visit to the police station, but in what he termed "the neutral setting" of the coffeehouse, relaxed and shared what was on their minds.
Conversation topics ranged from traffic problems, neighborhood disturbances, questions about possible criminal activity, and just praise for the community's police officers' efforts on keeping Crestview safe.
One resident made it a point to be at the event.
"It was especially touching to visit with Mrs. Marie Jones," Taylor said.
Jones is the mother of Curtis Neil Jones, a Crestview Police officer in the 1970s. Neil, as he was known in Crestview, passed away in the line of duty while serving on the Pensacola police force after he left his Crestview service.
"I'm behind our local police officers," Mrs. Jones told Taylor. "They're in my prayers every night and every day."
"Mrs. Jones—and all our residents—are always in ours," Taylor said.
Jones said it was a shame more residents didn't take advantage of the event.
"People always complain about cops, but when they need one, they're glad they show up," she observed. "They should be at events like this to share what's on their mind."
Taylor thanked residents for coming to meet with him and his officers, and thanked Casbah owners Bill and Tracy Toannon for hosting the periodic event. Hulion and Kimmons said Community Services will host another Coffee With a Cop in the near future.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview police program brings cops to the public