National Coffee With A Cop Day is a special observance dedicated to building stronger relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Here is a bit of its history and purpose:
History
- The Beginning: The idea started small in 2011 with the Hawthorne Police Department in Hawthorne, California. Police officers were looking for a better, more relaxed way to talk with residents than the usual formal town-hall meetings.
- A Simple Idea: They decided to host a casual gathering at a local McDonald’s where officers and community members could simply talk over a cup of coffee. The idea was to have no agenda, no speeches, and no barriers, just honest conversation.
- Spreading the Word: The idea was a huge success and quickly spread to other police agencies across the country.
- National Day Established: In 2016, with encouragement from the Department of Justice, the first National Coffee With A Cop Day was established. It is now celebrated every year on the first Wednesday in October.
Purpose
The main goals of National Coffee With A Cop Day are:
- Breaking Down Barriers: It provides a neutral, relaxed setting (like a coffee shop) where the uniform and badge don’t feel as intimidating. This helps citizens see the police officer as a person—a neighbor, a parent, or a friend.
- Building Trust: By having one-on-one, casual conversations, officers and residents can get to know each other personally, which helps build trust and cooperation in the community.
- Open Communication: It gives community members a chance to ask questions, voice concerns about their neighborhood, or just learn more about police work without waiting for an emergency or formal meeting.
- Community Policing: It’s an example of “community policing,” a philosophy that focuses on police and community working together to solve problems and prevent crime. By understanding the community’s needs, officers can serve them better.
In short, it’s a day that proves a simple cup of coffee can lead to stronger, safer, and more connected communities!
Here are a few writing prompts about National Coffee With A Cop Day for your classroom, broken down by type:
Creative & Story Prompts
- A Seat at the Table: Imagine you are at a “Coffee With A Cop” event. You decide to sit down with an officer and start a conversation. What do you talk about? Write a short script or story of this conversation. Be sure to include what you learn about the officer and what the officer learns about your community.
- The Unexpected Meeting: An officer is enjoying a donut and coffee when a young person walks up with a question. The question isn’t about a crime; it’s about what the officer does for fun, or what the hardest part of their job is. Write a narrative detailing this unexpected, casual conversation.
- A Day in the Life: Write a story from the perspective of a police officer who is participating in their first “Coffee With A Cop” event. What are their hopes and fears for the day? What is the most memorable interaction they have?
Opinion & Persuasive Prompts
- More Than a Meeting: In your own words, explain why simply sitting down for a casual conversation is a more effective way to build trust than a formal town hall meeting with speeches and presentations.
- Community Impact: Do you think “Coffee With A Cop” events are a good use of a police officer’s time? Write a short essay arguing your position, providing at least two reasons why this kind of event is valuable (or not valuable) for the community.
- What’s Next?: If you could create a similar, non-police-related event to help a different group (like teachers, firefighters, or local government officials) connect better with the community, what would it be called, and how would it work? Explain your new event’s purpose.
Reflection & Informational Prompts
- The Goal: The core objective of National Coffee With A Cop Day is to “break down barriers.” What does the word “barrier” mean in this context? Describe a specific example of a barrier that this event is designed to remove.
- My Idea for a Safer Community: Think about your neighborhood or school. If you had the chance to speak with a police officer one-on-one, what is one non-emergency issue or idea you would bring up to help make your area better or safer?
- Research and Report: Research a police department in your state (or even your own town) to find out if they host “Coffee With A Cop” events. Write a brief report detailing when and where they hold them and why the local police chief believes these events are important.
Download the Writing Prompts for Coffee With A Cop Day