Cappuccino, cakes and cops
An opportunity to engage with a police officer was the side order of every coffee requested at Dew Drop Inn in Matamata.
Coffee with a Cop was launched in Matamata last week.
It is a Waikato Police initiative aimed at connecting communities with their local police force.
Matamata officer in charge Sergeant Blair Hayde was joined by Hamilton constable Peter Van’t Wout and Te Awamutu con- stable Jack Driver.
Driver, one of the officers behind the initiative, said the Matamata launch was one of eight in the wider Waikato.
A group of Matamata College students attended the event, and Driver said two had made strong indications of joining the police force.
Hayde said the initiative was a positive experience, as not only did it give the community an opportunity to connect with the police force but also to be involved in something without conflict.
‘‘It’s always heart warming for a police officer to see the appreciation people have for the job we do.
‘‘Often we are dealing with conflict after conflict, sometimes it nice to just turn up and share some good stories.
‘‘It was great to see not only young people but other residents who had just moved her, asking how they can contribute to make Matamata a better place,’’ Hayde said.