Officers from the Bainbridge Island Police Department are inviting folks in the community to sit down for a cup of coffee and some conversation.

From 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, the community is invited to join officers of the department for the first-ever Bainbridge Island Coffee with a Cop.

The gathering will be held at Bainbridge Bakers, located at 140 Winslow Way West. Organizers said the Coffee with a Cop gathering will give  community members a chance to ask questions in a casual setting and learn more about the department’s work in Bainbridge Island’s neighborhoods.

“We hope community members will feel comfortable to ask questions, bring concerns, or simply get to know our officers,” said Police Chief Matthew Hamner. “These interactions are the foundation of community partnerships.”

The majority of contacts police have with the public happen during emergencies or emotional situations, officials noted. Those situations are not always the most effective times for relationship building with the community, and some community members may feel that officers are unapproachable on the street. Coffee with a Cop breaks down barriers and allows for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction.

Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Similar events are being held across the county, as local police departments work to make lasting connections with the communities they serve.

For more information, call Officer Carla Sias at 206-780-4663 or email csias@bainbridgewa.gov.