MARATHON — The Marathon OPP detachment is inviting residents to enjoy a coffee or tea on-the-house and get to know local officers as part of a community-building initiative.
On Oct. 16, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., residents are welcome to join officers at Tim Horton’s and engage in conversation, ask questions, and better understand the role that the local OPP detachment plays in the community.
A regular-sized coffee or tea is complimentary for those who attend.
“Public trust is a crucial component of effective community policing,” said regional media and communications officer Autumn Eadie, in a statement provided to Dougall Media.
“This initiative plays a vital role in building and maintaining that trust. […] By providing opportunities for open conversations over a cup of coffee, we hope to break down barriers and create a more approachable image of law enforcement, which will in turn strengthen the relationship between officers and the community we serve.”
The event is sponsored by the Marathon Community Police Committee, Marathon Police Services Board, and Marathon Victim Services.
The community police committee, in particular, is funding the event with money that they were unable to use earlier due to the pandemic and restrictions on the types of events they could organize.
“We have a lot of new officers now… this is just a way for people to get to know their faces and the people who have moved into Marathon,” said Faye Boissy, the event organizer and treasurer of the Marathon community police committee. “[The] more people we can reach… [the more people] know we are trying to do a good thing and [we can] get the police known around here.”
Boissy was inspired by communities posting about similar events on social media.
She mentioned that if the event on the 16 goes well, she’s been given some ideas for other ways to continue building a positive relationship between the community and local officers – maybe inviting kids out for hot chocolate and a fun activity like basketball, for example.
“[Coffee with a Cop] goes beyond traditional police-community interactions by providing a relaxed and informal setting for individuals to meet and engage with officers,” said officer Eadie. “[P]ositive officer engagements are the heart of this initiative.”
Members of the public who are looking to gain insights about a career in policing and what that entails are also invited to attend, "learn about the challenges and rewards of the job, and gain a deeper understanding of the role officers play in [their] community."
