YPD, YCSO to meet with area residents over coffee

Sheriff deputies and Yuma police officers will both be sitting down with the public over a cup of coffee next week.

The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office and the Yuma Police Department are both hosting separate Coffee with a Cop events for their respective agencies on Wednesday morning, and members of the community are invited.

The events are intended to provide community members with an opportunity to informally meet officers and discuss community issues. Its goal is to break down barriers and allow for relaxed, one-on-one interaction.

The sheriff office’s “Coffee with a Cop” event will be held from 6 to 9 a.m. at The Donut Corral in the Foothills, which is located at 11411 S. Fortuna Road, #207.

As for the Yuma Police Department, its “Coffee with a Cop” event is being held from 6 to 10 a.m. at Goldsboro Bakery, located at 2345 S. Avenue A.

A majority of the contact police officers and sheriff deputies have with the public occurs during emergencies or emotional situations.

Those situations are not always the best times to try and build a relationship with the community, which can sometimes lead people to believe that officers are unapproachable on the street.

“Coffee with a Cop” is a national initiative supported by The United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. It’s goal is to advance the practice of community policing by improving relationships between police officers and community members one cup of coffee at a time.

Similar events are being held across the country, as local police departments strive to make lasting connections with the communities they serve.

For more information regarding the YCSO “Coffee with a Cop” event, please contact Lt. Robert Oberosler at 928-342-1477.

Please contact Sgt. Pete Olea with any questions at Pete.olea@yumaaz.go about the Yuma police event.