Residents, Police Officers Talk at Coffee With a Cop Event

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- The Kingston Police Department has joined a national initiative called Coffee with a Cop. 

This event was held at Dietz Stadium Diner in Kingston.

This is the first Coffee With a Cop event put on by the department. 

It gives community members a chance to sit down with officers, either to voice concerns or just say hello. It is timely, as departments take a fresh look at ways to improve police and community relations in light of recent events. 

"Law enforcement, we only do a very small percentage of that during a day, the rest of the time we're human and we're out just like every body else in diners, in coffee shops so feel free to come up to us," said Barry Rell, with the Kingston Police Department.

"Other issue in the community, I think it's a good relationship that you can relay that message through somebody here at the diner," said one person.

People can visit the department’s Facebook page for more information on future Coffee with a Cop events.