Co ee with a Cop to target seniors
BRAWLEY — Even though Tuesday was his day off, Brawley Police Department Officer Nathan Montes could still be found in full uniform attending to the needs of the community.
But rather than patrol duty, Montes spent his time chatting amicably with the general public and the prominent citizens who turned out for the department’s Coffee with a Cop at Brownie’s Diner.
“I feel an event like this brings the community together to tackle the problems together,” Montes said. “I get to know people in the community and understand what their issues are.”
Although the department has hosted such events on an annual basis, Tuesday’s was a first for Montes, who was hired about four months ago.
The two-hour event provided a relaxed setting for both citizens and police personnel to discuss matters of importance and an opportunity for all to get to know more about each other.
Such friendly encounters also help counter media coverage that often focuses on incidents that present law enforcement officials in a negative light, while ignoring positive interactions and developments, Montes said.
“A lot of people are sometimes scared to call police to get involved,” he said.
Tuesday’s gathering also differed from previous Coffee with a Cop events held throughout the Valley in that it was jointly hosted by the county Area Agency on Aging.
The agency had participated in order to both raise awareness about its services and target population, as well as to hopefully find a law enforcement official willing to fill a vacant position on its advisory council.
As part of its efforts, AAA plans to host similar Coffee with a Cop events throughout the Valley in the near future, said Director Rosie Blankenship.
“We have had a difficult time filling that position,” Blankenship said. “We thought if we could engage the police officers and share with them what we do, perhaps there would be an interest for them to participate.”
The agency also used Tuesday’s gathering as an opportunity to educate the public about the extent of its services, which are available for any resident over the age of 60, as well as for caregivers and those who provide legal assistance and respite care, in some instances.
Incoming AAA advisory council chairman John Hernandez said events where seniors can meet and greet local officials who are entrusted to provide essential services can only be considered a “good thing.”
Yet, additional efforts may be necessary to ensure seniors have enough advance notice and transportation options to be able to attend future Coffee with a Cop events, Hernandez said, adding that officials may also want to consider hosting future events at senior centers or housing complexes.
“We need to figure out ways to bring the services to where they are at,” he said.
Brawley police School Resource Officer Ana Amaya said she enjoys opportunities to interact with the public outside typical law enforcement activity and the positive impact such opportunities help foster.
“When we do events like this, we get to see the other side, and they get to see the other side, too,” Amaya said. “They get to see that we are just like them.”
Growing up in Holtville, Amaya said it was common to see county Sheriff’s Office deputies dealing with the public in a professional manner, which in turn motivated her to pursue a law enforcement career.
Working specifically for the Brawley Police Department had always been her goal, and as a school resource officer, Amaya now has the opportunity to help mentor young students, too.
“I try to get involved with the kids because they are going to be our future,” she said.