Stamford residents express concerns at first Coffee with a Cop event

Katharine Archibald and Eileen Cottington, residents of Stamford's Waterside neighborhood, chat with Stamford Police Investigator Jerry Junes during a Coffee with a Cop event at the Trailblazer's Academy in Stamford, Conn. on March 16, 2016. Stamford police are holding the informal meet ups, as part of a community outreach program where cops are trying to have a positive dialog with the community. less Katharine Archibald and Eileen Cottington, residents of Stamford's Waterside neighborhood, chat with Stamford Police Investigator Jerry Junes during a Coffee with a Cop event at the Trailblazer's Academy in ... more Photo: Matthew Brown / Hearst Connecticut Media Buy photo Photo: Matthew Brown / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Stamford residents express concerns at first Coffee with a Cop event 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

STAMFORD — In a time when some police departments are struggling with divisive community relations, Stamford police reached out to the public with a hot cup of joe and found a welcoming audience.

South End residents Eileen Cottington and her friend Katharine Archibald said they came to the Domus Center on Lockwood Avenue in the Cove for the inaugural Coffee with a Cop evening because they weren’t sure how to approach police about the concerns they have in their neighborhood.

“This was a great move on the part of the city to have these police officers available for a one-on-one, informal conversation about our concerns,” said Cottington, 61, who came to Stamford in August 2014.

The two women spent time talking to Assistant Chief James Matheny, who organized the Wednesday event with sergeants William Brevard and Chris Broems.

“They took notes and promised to look into things,” Archibald said. “It’s fundamental. It kind of reinforces the idea of the good cop walking the beat in the neighborhood.”

Some of the 50 or so kids from the Lion’s Share after-school program who were catching buses home from the Domus center stopped to ask the police questions that ranged from details about their weapons to what police do when someone is making bullying phone calls.

“We try to get them help first,” said Ken Boyd, Stamford High School’s school resource officer.

The first thing they want to do is talk to the person and find out why they are being so threatening, he said. Next they may refer them to a psychiatrist or social worker in hopes they can get to the root of the problem.

In all, fewer than ten adults came out to share coffee and donuts with six officers working to improve community relations, but the police said they expected attendance to grow as they host more get-togethers.

Matheny said there is no substitute for having good relations with the community and talking to residents about their neighborhood concerns, noting he also learned some valuable information from the residents who attended the meeting.

Lockwood Avenue resident Mark Clinkenbeard and his wife, Dorry, have lived in the neighborhood for 30 years. They said it was rare to talk to police in such a relaxed environment.

“We think it was really good,” Clinkenbeard, 66, said after raising his concerns about illegal dumping and illegal parking on Lockwood Avenue.

Stamford police investigator Jerry Junes, Westhill High School resource officer Ana Edwards also attended the event.

The next coffee and donuts event at 6 p.m. March 30 at the Chester Addison Community Center, 245 Selleck St.