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Sgt. Brian Metzler, of the Community Policing Division has organized each of these events the department has held over the last two years, and they're up to four or five Coffee with a Cop meet-and-greets a year, he told Daily Voice.
"It's a neutral setting for people to come and meet the police department," Metzler said. "Maybe they have questions, or just want to meet us."
Coffee With A Cop is a national initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Police departments across the country host similar events, to further community policing -- improving relationships between police officers and community members.
The Hawthorne Police Department, in California, hosted the first Coffee with a Cop event in 2011. As of this year, with an event in Honolulu, departments in all 50 states are participating.
For more information about the national program, visit the Coffee With A Cop website or Facebook page.
The Fair Lawn Police Department holds most of these events in local businesses, has held one at the senior center and is looking to have one at the library. The coffee is also free -- either donated by the business hosting it or sponsored by a business, if it's in another location.
The department also tries to have them at different times during the day, Metzler said, to better accommodate the community.
"People can be intimidated by coming to the police department," Metzler said. "So this is a friendly, neutral setting."
Fair Lawn's National Coffee With a Cop Day event will run from 9-11 a.m., and the cafe is at 7-07 Fair Lawn Ave.
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