ECPD hosts Coffee with a Cop

EL CENTRO – Wednesday night was the very first time El Centro resident Kayla Mendez got in person into a patrol car. Although she was invited to the event at the Imperial Avenue Starbucks by her coworker to show her support to El Centro’s law enforcement, she said she loved the ‘Coffee with a Cop’ event organized by the El Centro Police Department. “I love it,” Mendez said.

“I love that all the people are here.” The El Centro resident considered as amazing the opportunity given to get onto the patrol truck, turn the lights on, see the computer and all the gadgets inside as appears in movies like “Bad Boys,” but especially having all the community altogether. While Mendez also liked the free coffee offered to attendants she was more amazed by being able to directly communicate with police officers and talk about the city’s public safety issues.



“I just appreciate our cops, and I thank them for their service,” Mendez said. “I love what they’re here doing this for their community.” While her colleagues were chatting outside with community members El Centro Police Officer Alejandra Hurtado – dressed in a red apron and her uniform – was going back and forth, helping customers at the drive-in, and serving guests frappes and other well-known Starbucks drinks.

“It feels good to engage with the community. They feel more comfortable with these types of events to speak to us and have questions – we answer them,” Hurtado, who also served coffee during another Coffee with a Cop recently held by the ECPD, said. “We try to do these every few months just to, again, talk to the community and engage with them.

” Officer Hurtado said a lot of customers are surprised that a police agent serves them. However, they then smile and like the service provided. “We enjoy it just as much,” Officer Hurtado said.

“Thank you to everybody that came by. Everyone’s been really, really – especially the manager here, she has been great – good. It’s been great.

” Deputy Chief of Police Kelly Brown said Wednesday’s evening Coffee with a Cop event was held in response to community members who were unable to attend the previous event held a few weeks ago. “We traditionally hold it in the mornings during normal business hours,” Deputy Chief Brown said. “We had some requests coming from the community to hold it after hours so that other people can make it.

” The ultimate goal, he said, is to allow people to attend and interact with officers. Brown said that anytime the police can get out, laugh, and have fun with the community emphasizing the fact that the police department and the officers hear concerns about the community, who at the same time seek guidance if they need it or just have a pleasant overall interaction. “Most of the time when people have to call the police and they have that interaction during a call for service or whatever the situation it’s not a positive for that person,” Chief Deputy Brown said.

“This is an opportunity – with no strings attached – to come out, have some conversation, and get to know our community.” Brown said – from his standpoint – the main concern of the community regarding law enforcement deals with vehicle traffic, a matter that requires education and enforcement for a solution. “I think that this is a great event, and I would encourage anybody to come out and, like I said, get to know our police officers,” the Deputy Chief said.

“Let our officers get to know them on that personal level, and not just when they’re responding because somebody needs help.” Brown explained the police plans to incorporate some ideas into future Coffee with the Cop events. The deputy chief noted that the ECPD Community Relations Unit has been devoted to events like the November 13 one as the agency understands the value of the partnership with the community.

“We’re constantly doing these types of events to get out and get to know the community,” he said. El Centro City Council member Tomas Oliva coincided with Deputy Chief Brown regarding the opportunity for the public to get to know the police department and to see officers beyond the badge. “They’re human beings, they’re members of this community, they love this community and so this is an opportunity to see them as human beings, as employees of the city, people that want to help and that are here to serve and protect, and so we can share a coffee with them,” Oliva said.

The councilmember admitted that the bond between the police and the community requires strengthening given unfortunate incidents that have occurred nationwide that have decreased trust in the police all over the country. At the local level, the councilman highlighted the concerns of the community regarding incidents that have happened at El Centro schools recently. “So this is also an outreach campaign to be able to reach students, to be able to reach parents so that, they are aware of the severity of making threats at school is a serious crime,” Oliva said of the effort launched by the city’s school districts and the police to address threats made by students.

“It’s not a joke. Should any member of the public need any resources from the police department, they’re here to serve and protect.” Councilman Oliva said those incidents are under continuous monitoring from the police department.

“But they’re only as good in doing their job as the relationship they have with community members,” Oliva said. “This event goes back towards improving that relationship and making sure that the police know who to contact and that the general public know that they can reach out to the police department.” Oliva, a six-year council veteran, said one of the main concerns during his time at the council has been staffing, an issue the city has addressed over the years.

Other concerns deal with theft from porches, speeding in certain parts of town, and drivers ignoring stop signs. “I think we’re slowly addressing (these issues) and we’re filling empty vacancies that the police department has,” he said, emphasizing the city is currently building a new facility for the police to house new staff members and bringing the ECPD into the modern world. During Wednesday’s event, the police showcased its new drone which is expected to become a new tool to be able to help assist the fire department as well.

The drone is equipped with thermal scanning to help firefighters where the fire is originating from. “It also helps them be able to have a better sight of view during a crime,” the councilmember said. “So rather than sending in an officer into the line of fire, they can send a drone to get a better understanding of where the threat is.

” Oliva considered Coffee with a Cop as an opportunity for the general public to know what the police are doing on behalf of residents. “I am very happy with the police department. We are certainly doing everything that we can to address the concerns of the public,” the councilman said.

“If the public was not able to be here to let us know their concerns, whether it’s the police department, the chief, or the city council, we welcome all positive, negative criticism, and support from the public related to public safety and our police officers.”.