Bedford Police to Begin Hosting 'Coffee With a Cop' Next Month

BEDFORD, MA - Police Chief Robert Bongiorno announced this week that the Bedford Police Department will begin hosting Coffee With a Cop meetings in March.

Residents are invited to join officers, including Sgt. Jeffrey Wardwell, for the department’s first Coffee With a Cop event, which will be held at the John Glenn Middle School, 99 McMahon Road, on Tuesday, March 1 from 8-10 a.m.

This first meeting coincides with the 2016 Massachusetts Presidential Primary that is also being held at the middle school on March 1. Bedford Police officers will be in the cafeteria with coffee, muffins and doughnuts. They encourage residents to vote and stop by to say hello.

Coffee With a Cop began in Hawthorne, CA in 2011 as a result of police officers brainstorming ways to better interact with their community. They developed a simple plan to break down the barriers that have been built between police officers and citizens -- have a cup of coffee, discuss what’s on your mind, ask questions and make suggestions that could make the community better.

Since its creation, Coffee With a Cop events have been held in more than 2,000 communities in 49 states. It is regarded as one of the most successful community oriented policing programs in the United States.

“As a department, we are really looking forward to these monthly coffee events as a way to interact with our residents on a more relaxed and personal level,” Chief Bongiorno said. “Community policing is a vital part of our jobs as public safety officers and we sincerely hope that residents will come share their thoughts with us over a cup of coffee.”

Beginning in May, the department’s Coffee With a Cop event will be held every other month at Bedford Police Headquarters, 2 Mudge Way.

For more information, visit the Coffee With a Cop website or contact the Bedford Police Department at 781-275-1212.