On Wednesday, May 1, officers from the Hartsville Police Department and community members will come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships, and drink coffee. Coffee with a Cop provides a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the department’s work in Hartsville as well as express their concerns.
This initiative is an outreach of Hartsville Safe Communities, a division of the Hartsville Police Department, which seeks to improve the relationship of community members and the Police Department. This division has recently relocated their office to 500 Poole Street. Lieutenant Tenyonde Richardson leads this division and says, “Our department is excited about the Coffee with a Cop event on May 1st. This event gives us a great opportunity to connect with community members and leaders as they voice concerns, share ideas, and participate in good conversations.”
All community members are invited to attend. The event will be held on May 1, 2019 from 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at Shoney’s located at 905 South Fifth Street.
The national Coffee with a Cop initiative is supported by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, promoting community meetings to develop relationships between law enforcement and community members. Similar events are held across the country as local police departments strive to make lasting connections with the communities they serve.