Coffee with a cop helps cultivate meaningful connections

In 2018, the Marquette University Police Department started Coffee with a Cop, a monthly event that offered a casual environment for community members and officers to build stronger relationships while enjoying free coffee and donuts.

MUPD's community support dog, Blue, has been a major factor in fostering connections through the program, according to MUPD Lieutenant of Support Services Jim Hensley.

MUPD officers with Blue and student

"Adding our community support dog Blue in 2021 has helped put a spotlight on events," says Hensley, who also serves as Blue's handler. "Ever since we brought Blue to his first event, the number of students, faculty and staff members who stop by has skyrocketed."

Since its launch in 2018, MUPD has expanded Coffee with a Cop to various locations across campus beyond the monthly meeting spot in the Alumni Memorial Union Brew. The Marquette University School of Dentistry, the Law School and the College of Business Administration host Coffee with a Cop twice a semester making it more accessible to student and faculty groups.

Beyond just coffee, MUPD has found other fun and creative ways to connect with the Marquette community.

"For the past two years, during exam week in December and just before the break, we have hosted our Cocoa with a Cop events," Hensley says. "Last year, we held our first similar event at the Child Care Center called Coloring with the Kids; instead of coffee and donuts, we had apple juice and Goldfish crackers."

As the police department's community events have grown and flourished, students like Alyssa Kraninger, a senior majoring in advertising and public relations, have taken advantage of this resource.

Alyssa Kraninger with Blue

"One memorable moment was when I talked with an officer about staying safe while walking home at night," Kraninger says. "Instead of just giving generic advice, they shared personal tips and even walked me through how MUPD responds to student safety concerns. The conversation reassured me that they genuinely care about students' well-being, and it encouraged me to be more proactive about using campus safety resources."

Coffee with a Cop allows students to break down the barriers and stigmas they may have toward law enforcement officials and allows the connection between student and officer to develop.

"After attending these events, I view officers as members of the Marquette community that want to ensure safety but also have fun by getting to know me and the rest of the student body," says Oliva Bhote, a senior majoring in nursing. "I was surprised by how funny the officers are. Typically, they are seen in their MUPD cars but taking the time to sit down and talk with the officers was really nice."

Hensley says these events help community members feel more comfortable around MUPD officers, but he also emphasized that the events are also for the officers, too.

"Everyone involved benefits from these events. Our whole department, me included, gain an opportunity to engage with the students on a completely different level," Hensley says. "For the students, the events give them the opportunity to engage with our members and show them that MUPD is more than just uniforms and badges - we're people too."

To attend a Coffee with a Cop event, head over to the AMU, just outside the Brew and across from the Spirit Shop, on the first Wednesday of each month, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Related Articles