FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Join Springfield Police for Annual Coffee with A Cop 

Five McDonald’s restaurants in Springfield will host Springfield Police Department officers and the community 8-10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 for National Coffee with a Cop Day. Join Springfield police officers for a cup of coffee and conversation at any of the below McDonald’s locations:

• 1607 E. Battlefield (Battlefield Mall)
• 4101 S. Campbell (Campbell Avenue and Republic Road)
• 3510 W. Chestnut (Chestnut Expressway and West Bypass)
• 2811 N. Kansas (Kansas Expressway and I-44)
• 501 W. Sunshine (Sunshine and S. Campbell) 

“This nationwide event gives us an opportunity to get more officers from SPD involved in this type of effort in our community,” said Police Chief Paul Williams. “Our officers stay so busy on a daily basis they don’t have the luxury of simply connecting with citizens on this level. We hope many of our citizens are able to join us, ask questions and get to know some of the people behind the badges.”

Similar to Chief Williams’ monthly Coffee with the Chief events, Coffee with a Cop's mission is to improve trust and build relationships with the community, one cup of coffee at a time. It began in 2011 when officers from the Hawthorne, California police department were looking for ways to interact more successfully with the citizens they served each day.

 Facebook Event

Coffee with the Chief

Shortly after Chief Williams joined the SPD in 2010, he began hosting a monthly event called Coffee with the Chief. He said he planned to do it for his first year as a way to get to know the citizens of Springfield and open the lines of communication between the department and those it serves.

At the end of his first year, Williams was encouraged by a former City Council member to continue Coffee with the Chief. Eight years later, Williams has met countless citizens over cups of joe nearly every month. He even added a virtual Coffee with the Chief option on Facebook to extend the event’s reach. Stay tuned to the SPD's social media to find out when the next Coffee with the Chief is scheduled. 

Coffee with the Chief

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 Media Contact: Jasmine Bailey, Public Affairs Officer
 417-864-1786
[email protected]