You can have a coffee with cops
A monthly local event is an opportunity to voice concerns and ask for help
When a police cruiser crawls up behind me when I’m driving, my heart rate picks up and my hands get a little damp. My mind immediately races over the last few kilometres: Did I cut anybody off? Was I speeding? Was I driving erratically?
Like many people, I face anxiety when it comes to the people in blue... at least when it comes to driving. For neighbourhood issues, like finding someone camping in my backyard or my neighbours conducting some questionable business, I want the police involved. But the help lines can be too slow or, sometimes, contacting the police leads nowhere.
Enter Coffee with Cops, a monthly meet-up with the Alberta Avenue’s very own beat cops (officers assigned to the area) to vent frustrations or receive guidance about issues affecting the neighbourhood. The kind of help they can offer can range from advice to arrests (but no promises either way). It is hosted at The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse. I attended my first Coffee with Cops to share what to expect:
The Carrot is a hodgepodge collection of mismatched chairs, tables, local vendors, and (of course) coffee. Warm tones welcome you in, despite the rising anxiety of meeting with police. The collection of tables and chairs is arranged in a vague oval shape and there are people sitting along both sides of it, buzzing with chatter about some of their issues in the neighbourhood and their weekend plans.
“Are you with the Coffee with Cops?” the man behind the register asks. Coffee or a baked good is free with attendance. A free iced mocha makes my rising anxiety about how to report on this event a little bit easier.
The beat cops for this month’s event were held up by a different call, so they were a little bit late to the start of it. The evening began with introductions from every person: their name, reason for being there, and the areas where they live.
“I’m Rebekah and I’m a journalist for the Rat Creek Press,” I introduced myself to the room. My anxiety was growing wondering if my presence there could influence what people feel comfortable sharing. After I finish my introduction, I am politely told that Coffee with Cops is a private meeting between citizens and the police, so I am free to sit in and listen but can’t take any quotes from people who attended or take any pictures.
“The Beats,” as some of the people in the room called the police, walked amid introductions. People were venting about frustrations with neighbours, issues with people hiding in their alleyways or strangers hopping into their cars while they drive and refusing to leave until they’re paid.
That evening was a neighbourhood walk-through. After everyone shared the areas where they lived, we took to the streets and walked by some areas related to the complaints so the police could see where the issues were. The air was warm in that early summer kind of way, and everyone took a relaxing stroll with a member of the police force. The beat cop led the way and different members of the group switched places walking in stride with him. If the person was a little bit older and couldn’t walk as fast, he slowed his pace.
The most interesting thing about the whole night was how approachable the beat cops were. They sat and listened to people’s complaints, explained why they would not be able to do certain things andwhere they could reach out for help. There were also people who worked with the police in a professional aspect, and they brought an informational pamphlet titled Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. It provides information on how to prevent crime in your area through changes like adding more lighting to the outside of your home or security cameras.
The officers explained what they try to do in their capacity and spoke with the community as friends. They shared some of their goals for the community and one handed out his phone number for people to reach out to him directly.
While there may not always be a clear-cut solution to what the community needs, the local police are doing their part listening to the communities they are patrolling
The next Coffee with Cops will be August 21 from 7 - 9 pm.
Check the The Carrot calendar for future Coffee with Cops events.
To contact the Edmonton Police Service for non-emergency services, dial 780-423-4567.
This article is valuable to the community. We are all looking out for safety.