How well do you know your local police force?
If not well enough to put a name to a face of at least one of Brimbank or Melton’s hundreds of police officers, Acting Sergeant Robin Dampier hopes to change that over a hot cup of coffee.
Once a month until the end of the year, police from Caroline Springs and Keilor Downs stations are hosting informal “Coffee with a Cop” events to give members of the public an opportunity to sit down with a police officer in a casual setting and simply have a chat, ask a question or raise any concerns they may have.
No questions are off limits, said Acting Sergeant Dampier. He said the topics of conversation range from concerns about crime in the community, cyber safety and bullying at school.
“Some parents just bring their kids along so they can meet a police officer,” he said. “It’s really low key and enjoyable for everyone involved.”
The initiative is run by Victoria Police’s proactive policing unit and doesn’t drag front line police off the beat.
The concept was first trialled in the US by a Californian police officer charged with making his department more community oriented. It proved such a success it has since taken off in Australia, and now thousands of Coffee with a Cop events are held worldwide.
Check the “Eyewatch – Brimbank Police Service Area” Facebook page for event details.
