SEYMOUR residents were able to get to know their town’s police officers at a ‘Coffee with a Cop’ event at The Brewer’s Table on Wednesday.
The initiative originated in the United States with the goal to bridge the gap and foster a positive relationship between police and the community.
Sergeant Michelle DeAraugo, of Seymour police, said the program had spread from metropolitan Melbourne out into regional areas.
“Mitchell Shire Council has been fantastic in getting behind us and supporting us as part of the community safety program and the local cafes hosting us for the event,” she said.
“It’s just an opportunity for people to come have a chat, bring up any issues they may have, to ask questions, to say g’day and just an informal way for people to say hello to us.
”The event gives residents a chance to raise issues they might not feel are urgent enough to call triple zero about.
“We’ve had people come and speak to us about anti-social behaviours and hoon driving, that’s one that people will come and say, ‘this happens in my street’, whereas they may not feel it’s important enough to call up about,” Sgt DeAraugo said.
“They tend to think we can’t do something about that low level stuff, but we absolutely can and if it’s affecting them we want to know about it.”
The Seymour Coffee with a Cop follows on from previous events in Wallan, Kilmore and Broadford.
