SURREY — Residents are invited to sit down with RCMP officers and casually talk about community issues over a coffee.
The Surrey RCMP is piloting a new community outreach campaign called Coffee with a Cop. Modelled after similar initiatives across North America, RCMP say the campaign is a way for officers and community members to come together in an informal and neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships, and yes, drink coffee.
The event is free and open to all area residents and business owners. The first event will be in Newton with subsequent stops in Cloverdale and South Surrey.
"Given the nature of our work, the majority of our contact with the public are emergencies or very emotional situations," said Inspector Ghalib Bhayani, Surrey RCMP Community Services Officer. "These situations are not always ideal for relationship building, so our Coffee with a Cop initiative aims to provide a much more relaxed interaction with community members. This is a great opportunity to ask questions, voice concerns and get to know the officers in your neighbourhood."
Coffee with a Cop events run from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the following days:
Newton: Friday (July 10) at Espresso Café (1112 -7330 137 St., Surrey)
Cloverdale: July 24 at Rustic Rooster (#5 -5723 176 St., Surrey).
South Surrey: July 31 at Moka House (40 -16041 24th Ave., Surrey).
Registration is not required.