Rotterdam police officers host 'Coffee with a Cop' event

Officer Courtney Wallach, resident Donna Crandall and daughter, Detective Michelle Crandall, Lt. Patrick Farry, Officer Eric Armstrong, Chief Michael Brown and Deputy Chief Bill Male.

ROTTERDAM — Rotterdam police officers hosted a low-key Coffee with a Cop event Tuesday at the Stewart’s in Rotterdam to meet with members of the community and make connections with residents.

“There is usually very little opportunity to build relationships with the community. Our most frequent engagement comes from calls to service,” said Officer Michelle Crandall, whose mother stopped by for a visit. “This event allows us to show that we are approachable and members of the same community.”

Officers handed out complimentary coffee vouchers and souvenir badges from the Rotterdam police department and encouraged visitors to have their coffee with an officer.

“This is a great way to improve community relations. We patrol these areas every day though rarely get the chance to create relationships with those we serve. Events like these display our sheer dedication to the people,” said Officer Courtney Wallach.

Community engagement events are crucial in closing the widening gap between police officers and the citizens they serve, the officers said.

“There’s a great tension in the national climate regarding police officers and the public,” said Officer Eric Armstrong. “I don’t believe we’ve faced any issues within the communities we serve, however any effort to bridge this gap aids on the national front.”

The Stewart’s Shop location was chosen because of its lively atmosphere which gave officers a chance to interact with folks who may not have known about the event.

“The Coffee with a Cop project bolsters our community commitment effort,” said Erica Komoroske, director of Public Affairs at Stewart Shops. “We were excited to host this event and offer a platform for community members to connect with other community members. Stewart’s has always been involved in fostering relationships, creating a local environment where people can freely communicate. Stewart’s is more an experience than the shop itself.”

The Coffee with a Cop event is not the first community outreach program that the Rotterdam Police Department has taken part in. Along with other Capital Region police departments, Rotterdam PD participated in the 2019 Cops on Top initiative in partnership with Dunkin Donuts. The program raised funds for the Special Olympics held in the United Arab Emirates.

“We haven’t finished outlining the details of our next event, but it is in the works and will soon come to fruition,” said Rotterdam Police Lieutenant Patrick Farry.“This is the first of many events to come in regards to community building.”