Far South Coast police were out in force in Merimbula on Thursday, February 23, executing a very important operation.
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A diverse range of officers – from domestic violence and Aboriginal community liaison officers to detectives and Eden Water Police – sat down with locals over a cuppa for Merimbula’s first Coffee with a Cop event, an initiative aimed at fostering strong engagement between police and communities.
A long line of coffees kept baristas at Inthemix Bakery and Cafe busy while residents and passersby kept the police officers on their toes with a range of questions and some playful teasing making for a fun and light-hearted atmosphere.
Chief Inspector Tony Moodie said he was pleased with the number of locals who attended the meet and greet.
“We were able to highlight some issues that were important to the community and it gave us a chance to really explain what local police do,” Inspector Moodie said.
The relaxed coffee date was a bit of a rarity for police, who often interact with the public in emergencies and other high-pressure incidents.
Pambula Beach resident Robert McCombie said he thought Coffee with a Cop was an excellent idea.
“It’s important for the public to meet police officers and say thank you for the valuable job they do in the community,” Mr McCombie said.
“Police are an absolutely essential part of civil society and without these officers here we couldn’t function.”
This is the second Coffee with a Cop event to take place in the Bega Valley. The first was in Bega at the end of 2016 and Inspector Moodie said they are hoping to hold another event in Eden.
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.