Orwigsburg police took a two-year long coffee break from their popular Coffee with a Cop event due to the COVID-19 pandemic but are ready to share a cuppa Joe with the community on Saturday, Oct. 8.
Officer Tanner Noecker, who brought the idea to Orwigsburg in 2017 after seeing its success in another municipality, said the event had been well attended in past years. Adults, families and especially the youngsters enjoyed meeting officers and learning about new police equipment and procedures.
Five officers from the department will be attending the event. Police say the officers enjoy meeting members of the community and getting to know them better.
“There will be no speeches, platforms or presentations, just a time for them to get to know us and us to know members of the community,” Noecker said. “It’s always a good thing to be able to put a face to a name.”
National Coffee with a Cop Day was celebrated on Oct. 5 this year, but the department felt Saturday would be more convenient for all involved.
St. John’s United Church of Christ, 232 E. Market St., approached the police department to revive the event. The event will be held in the church from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., rain or shine.
Coffee with a Cop began in 2011 in California. According to the organization’s website, the mission of Coffee with a Cop is to break down the barriers between police officers and the people they serve.
Coffee with a Cop events are now held in all 50 states, and the effort has expanded to Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa and Latin America.
Noecker noted that Orwigsburg was the first police department in Schuylkill County to host Coffee with a Cop, and other municipalities in the area are following the department’s lead.
Source: Berkshire mont