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USAPD officer Keith West, USA student Tiarra Foster, USAPD Chief Zeke Aull and another student discuss USA issues over coffee at Coffee with a Cop. Cassie Fambro | cfambro@al.com

The University of South Alabama hosted "Coffee with a Cop" on Thursday, addressing the discord between students and police officers with an informal approach to open communication.

Tiarra Foster, a member of the future justice professionals, helped to organize the event. "I'm an intern with Gulf Shores Police Department and they have this event every year," she said. "The police department here isn't really connected with students, and I was thinking that would be a good connection to make."

Foster also serves in Delta Sigma Theta and felt that her fellow students didn't understand the role of the police on campus. "The students don't understand the cops' role in protecting them. They are here to protect and serve and they [students] think they're ticket pushers and to break up parties."

As for why the discord exists, the

came up which sharply divided the USA community. "

"Bad publicity is always going to be in the forefront," said Foster. She added that she hopes "Coffee with a Cop" and other events help heal those wounds.

It wasn't the first time that the 2012 incident came up.

Business major Melisa Johnson approached USAPD Chief Aull to ask why the department doesn't have tasers. After Collar's death, many felt that a taser could have subdued him.

"Why don't you have tasers?" asked Johnson.

"It's just not something we provide," said Aull.

Johnson asked if creating a petition or speaking with the university president would enable officers to be issued tasers, and Aull told her that she was within her rights to do both.

"That naked kid, it could have been avoided," she said. "That was a child and it was heartbreaking."

"It was for us too," Aull said.

The officer, Trevis Austin,

and placed back on duty but there is still an ongoing civil lawsuit.

Austin was at "Coffee with a Cop" and Johnson approached him with similar questions.

"What happened that night?" she asked. "I can't get into that," Austin replied. "It's public record," she countered. "Then find a public record," he replied.

She asked why he couldn't talk about it and he told her to go back and speak with Chief Aull. Shortly after, he tapped Aull on the shoulder and asked to talk to him for a moment. Aull stepped aside and reinforced that Austin was not to speak about the incident.

Another student relayed concerns about Officer Austin to Chief Aull shortly after.

"That man who came up and asked you for a second," Darnisha Evans told Aull, "he harassed me."

Evans, recounted a story involving a parking dispute where Austin was the responding officer. At the time, she was 7 months pregnant, she said. It was move-out day and she backed her car up to a curb, a typically illegal place to park, but often overlooked on move-out day.

"There was a miscommunication and I thought I could park there for a minute," Evans said. "When I came outside, he had his lights on and was writing me a ticket." "I was seven months pregnant, I was moving out by myself and I needed help," she said, alleging that Austin was rude to her.

Austin was also accused of

but was cleared of wrongdoing.

Another student, Khiahna Young, agreed with her. "Why would he focus on writing a ticket instead of trying to help her?" asked Young.

He said that he understood why the two women felt that the officer should have helped, but he didn't think that most students felt harassed by USAPD.

"The opinion you're expressing is a minority," said Chief Aull regarding the student feeling harassed.

"I feel like we're a family, USA, and when we call y'all for help..." Young said. "I agree," said Aull.

Aull stated that his office has an open door policy and that students can come discuss concerns with him anytime.

Both young women stated that the majority of USAPD officers are kind and respectful, but the same "two or three officers" are well-known for being overly "rude."

"I hope that this talk improves things," said Young.

Aull said he hopes "Coffee with a Cop" does just that.

"Anytime we can build out community, we'll take that opportunity," he said.

As for tasers, Aull said he doesn't expect officers to have them any time soon.

"We have no plans to make any changes" to what USAPD officers carry, he said. Currently, officers wield pepper spray, a police baton and a weapon.

"Our officers attend the same police academy and are held to the same standards as Mobile City police," he said.

He said that he also feels the department is in good standing with the student body. "The comments we get are largely positive," he said.

The department offers a program called "Check your Ride" that helps identify vehicular issues before students depart campus at the end of each semester, and also provide free car unlocking services and engine jump starts. "We help at least 25 vehicles a day," he said.

To further the goal of fostering a stronger connection with the student body, Aull said that he supports ride-alongs. If a student wishes to ride with a police officer, they can go by the department and fill out the necessary paperwork to do so.

If a student ever has a grievance with an officer or a situation, Aull had three words of advice. "File a report," he said. Students can go to the USAPD office located near the Beta Gamma residence hall and file a report stating their side of the story which will then be investigated. Any relevant video footage will also be examined.

Young asked if it's appropriate to film officers. "Absolutely," said Aull. "We're filming it, so you can too."

"Coffee with a Cop" is a national organization aimed at fostering better relations with members of the community and police officers.

Aull said the turnout was successful, and that they hope to have more open communication events.