Big Island Community Policing Focus: National Coffee With A Cop Day

HILO, Hawaii — The Ninth Annual National Coffee With A Cop Day is slated for Wednesday, October 2 this year, and the Hawaii Police Department is holding events around the Big Island to highlight its community policing efforts.

Events scheduled in Hilo, Pahoa, Kona, Waimea, and Honokaa will give community residents the opportunity to get to know their district police officers. National Coffee With A Cop Day, held on the first Wednesday of October on an annual basis since 2016, began as an adjunct to National Community Policing Week and part of a broader effort to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the communities they protect and serve.

“We really enjoy the opportunity to meet with the public at these types of events because it provides us with insights into community concerns,” said Hilo Community Policing Section Lieutenant William Derr.

These informal meetings have no agendas or speeches and instead allow residents and police officers to talk about a wide range of subjects, from personal stories and answering questions to issues affecting the community at large and individual neighborhoods.

Community policing, as opposed to more traditional or reactive methods of law enforcement, emphasizes a greater focus on establishing relationships and building trust within the community a particular agency serves.

According to the Hawaii Police Department, the events are set to take place at the following locations and times:

HILO: Prince Kuhio Plaza Starbucks, 111 E. Puainako St., 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

PAHOA: Kohala Coffee Company, 15-2714 Pahoa Village Rd., 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

HONOKAA: Tex Drive In, 45-690 Pakalana St., 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

WAIMEA: Parker Ranch Center Starbucks, 67-1185 Old Mamalahoa Hwy., 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.

KAILUA-KONA: Kona Coast Shopping Center Kona Coffee & Tea Co., 74-5588 Palani Rd., 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

– HawaiiLocal.News