Bridging Gaps

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine students, faculty and staff recently had the chance to enjoy hot coffee and doughnuts at Coffee with a Cop, an event that encourages genuine conversation and connection between police and the community that they serve.

“What I love about Coffee with a Cop is that we get a chance to go out to the community, establish relationships, build trust and really get to know everyone on a personal basis,” says Gordon Snow, Chief of Protective Services at Cleveland Clinic.

On March 31, members of the Cleveland Clinic police force arrived bright and early at the Health Education campus with the goal of getting to know the Lerner College community. They chatted with numerous people on topics ranging from sports to their kids, with the goal of bridging the gap between themselves and their community.

“We want to be seen as more than just police officers. We don’t want everyone to sit down for a safety presentation, though we’re more than happy to do so because obviously that’s our bread and butter. We want to build rapport with the communities that we’re serving, and we serve so many here, especially at main campus,” says Cleveland Clinic officer Ashley Connole.

Coffee with a Cop is a formal program that began in California more than a decade ago. Since then, police departments in all 50 states have adopted the program as a way to connect with community members outside of crisis situations.

The Cleveland Clinic police officers would like to host a few Coffee with a Cop events for the Lerner College community throughout the year, one at the beginning of the year as classes start, one halfway through the year, and one after the holiday season to help maintain relationships and the trust built at these events. The officers also host Coffee with a Cop events for numerous Cleveland Clinic caregivers throughout the year.

So the next time you’re strolling around main campus and happen to see a Cleveland Clinic police officer, be sure to say hello and strike up a conversation. They’re always happy to get to know another person in their community!

Learn more about Coffee with a Cop.