Free coffee at 6 Smith’s stores when you talk with an officer from 8-10 a.m. March 27

SALT LAKE CITY — The morning after a regional training on community outreach, Salt Lake City and Unified Police departments will join forces for Coffee with a Cop at six Smith’s Food & Drug stores in the Salt Lake Valley.

“Most officers meet the public during a crisis, which isn’t the best time to build community partnerships,” said Police Chief Chris Burbank. “After holding Coffee with a Cop events for more than a year now, SLCPD has found it to be a great way to break down barriers and just talk with people about what’s important to them.”

Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative supported by The United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. The program aims to advance the practice of community policing through improving relationships between police officers and community members one cup of coffee at a time.

Officers will be waiting at the deli counter in each store to serve coffee and talk with all community members during Coffee with a Cop Thursday morning. See location list below.