The SAPD is hosting a Coffee with A Cop event on Nov. 18, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the MainPlace Mall, located at 2800 N. Main St.  I would imagine that this will be in the mall’s food court.

This is your chance to join your neighbors and police officers for coffee and conversation.  No agendas or speeches – just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns and get to know the police officers in your neighborhood.

Coffee with a Cop was launched in Hawthorne, California in 2011, as a result of a brainstorming session. Members of the Hawthorne Police Department were looking for ways to interact more successfully with the citizens they served each day.

Community policing has long been considered a framework for establishing trust between the community and the police. However, over time the character and composition of our nation’s communities have changed due to shifting demographics, more commuters, and the introduction of different communication methods such as websites and social media.

The Hawthorne Police Department hit upon a simple plan to break through the barriers that have been built over the years–a cup of coffee.

In less than three years, Coffee with a Cop events have been hosted in more than 2000 communities, in 49 states and is one of the most successful community oriented policing programs across the country. The program has also expanded to outside the Unites States to Canada, Europe, Australia, and Africa. The key to Coffee with a Cop’s growing success is that it opens the door for interactions outside of the crisis situations that typically bring law enforcement officers and community members together.