RESIDENTS voiced their concerns and gained insight into policing across the Limestone Coast when a new Coffee with a Cop initiative was launched at the Mount Gambier Marketplace yesterday.
The concept aims to increase community engagement and provide an opportunity to build meaningful connections between local police and Mount Gambier residents.
Mount Gambier Police Sergeant and community engagement manager Andy Stott was on-hand with the new Limestone Coast Police officer in charge Superintendent Phil Hoff to share a light “cuppa” and chat with residents
“It is an opportunity for police to interact at a social level with community members,” Sgt Stott said.
“These things are conducted all around the world and when the Marketplace came to us with the idea, we were more than happy to participate.”
Sgt Stott said community engagement was a key focus for police and the new initiative was another opportunity to continue the commitment.
“We are always listening to the community’s concerns and we try to address those at the time,” he said.
“If we cannot deal with it at that particular moment, but we will always try to do something to alleviate that problem later.”
McDonald Park Primary School students were just some of the community members who attended to ask the hard-hitting questions.
“I’m pleased they were able to be here and could interact with us on the first day of the program,” Sgt Stott said.
“First impressions are lasting impressions and we talk to school groups all the time because it is important they understand they can come to us with any concerns they may have.”
Mount Gambier Marketplace marketing coordinator Paula Creasey labelled the first Coffee with a Cop a big success and encouraged people to attend again in a month’s time.
“A lot of the time we deal with police is in time of crisis, so it’s not a great place to forge relationships,” she said.
“This gives people a chance to see police officers in a normal relaxed setting and have a chat.”
She said it gave people the opportunity to ask the questions that may be on their mind.
“They are not important enough to call 000, but they are still important to the person, so it gives them the opportunity to come down and ask those,” she said.
“This will happen every month and it was great to have the leaders from McDonald Park Primary School visit today to ask some questions.”
