Amarillo police foster community ties with 'Coffee with a Cop' initiative

AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — The Amarillo Police Department is brewing up community engagement with its "Coffee with a Cop" initiative, inviting residents to share a cup of coffee and conversation with local officers.

Since the start of the year, the department has been hosting these events at various coffee shops, offering the public a chance to ask questions and learn more about police work.

"A question that they might have or they're just wanting to learn a little bit more or even they're thinking about becoming a police officer, this is a great opportunity to come meet us at one of these local coffee shops and get those questions answered. In addition to providing some exposure to a local business," said Sgt. Carla Burr, public information officer for the Amarillo Police Department.

The initiative also includes participation from different departments such as the Homicide Unit, the Regional Crime Center, and Crime Stoppers. Burr noted that the response has been unexpectedly positive.

"We've had a few people that have stopped in and wanted to know more and talked about applying so we've had some recruitment opportunities as well but it's all been positive," Burr said.

Burr emphasized that "Coffee with a Cop" not only opens the door to community engagement but also helps humanize officers.

"They just see us in our uniforms, they just know us as officers coming out on a call or doing whatever and so yeah it's a great opportunity for them to kind of get to know us and learn that we're not just police officers but some of us are parents too, some of us enjoy traveling the world, some of us enjoy doing whatever our hobbies are and we can learn a little bit more about those individuals in our community as well," she said.

For more information on upcoming "Coffee with a Cop" events, visit the Amarillo Police Department on Facebook or to host "Coffee with a Cop" at your business click HERE.