FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): Have coffee with a cop. 

Officers from the Indiana State Police, Fort Wayne Police, Allen County Sheriff, Indiana Conservation Officers, Indiana State Excise Police and community members will come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships and drink coffee.

The event, which is open to the public, begins at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, August 29th at the Come As You Are Community Church located at 7910 S. Anthony Boulevard in Fort Wayne. 

Sergeant Ron Galaviz with the Fort Wayne Post of the Indiana State Police says: “Coffee with a Cop provides a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about these departments’ work in Fort Wayne and Allen County neighborhoods. The majority of contacts law enforcement has with the public happen during emergencies or emotional situations. 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 is a national initiative supported by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.