WATCH: Residents in Cote-Saint-Luc had the opportunity to sit down and speak with police officers as part of the Coffee With A Cop initiative. Eric Cohen reports.
MONTREAL – Montreal police officer Isabelle Dubé was very happy to talk with Cote-St-Luc residents at Cavendish Mall on Thursday.
The topic: how to contact the police regarding noise complaints.
It’s part of an innovative initiative called Coffee with a Cop.
“This is an important event for us” she said.
“It helps us to be closer with the citizens – the main goal is to be able to hear what they have to say.”
The event, which allows citizens and police to share common ground over a cup of joe, was a pleasant experience for local resident Marianne Constantine.
“It’s a social millieu,” she said.
“It gives us a chance to meet the police who protect us all year round.”
For Cote-St-Luc city councillor, Ruth Kovac, the event provided an opportunity to build bridges.
“It’s a chance to to have a cup of coffee and shmooze at no cost,” she told Global News.
She also thinks it helps police understand the concerns in the community.
“A lot of them talk about internet fraud,” said Kovac.
“Our senior community is vulnerable like that, especially if they’re not as internet savvy as the younger generation.”
Resident Helen Wolfe had a chance to talk to the officers about credit card fraud, of which she was a victim.
When asked by Global News about her conversation, she said that the officer was “pleasant, friendly – just like your best friend.”
The Coffee with a cop initiative first started in California in 2011.
Since then, it has expanded to over 175 cities across North America.
In Quebec, there are currently 12 police departments involved with the program.
READ MORE: Coffee With A Cop campaign connects Montreal police with residents
According to Nancy Ouimet, another officer attending the event, it’s a fantastic way to reach out.
“They come, they speak, they open their minds and we are here for them,” she said.
“We have a coffee with them, we take our time.”
It also turned out to be a special day for officer Isabelle Dubé.
One of her new friends even came to give her a gift.
“Today is Isabelle’s last day with Coffee with a Cop, and she really touched our community,” said Lina Iavasile, someone who has bonded with Dubé over the last few months.
The feeling is mutual for Dubé, who said she’s happy to know that people can see a different side of the police officers.
“They can see that we are people,” she said.
“We can talk and we like to smile and we are nice too. We’re not just there to give tickets, we’re there to take care of their safety.”
That’s something the citizens of Cote-St-Luc very much appreciate.
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