Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office (HCSO) is brewing more than just coffee. They are brewing a cup full of caffeine and community relationships.
"Coffee with a Cop," a community outreach initiative, has been bringing deputies and residents together for more than five years. These events offer a casual setting for conversation and connection.
"In an atmosphere more casual, the people feel more comfortable engaging with law enforcement," said Marilyn Alvarez, community relations coordinator with HCSO.
Alvarez said many residents typically interact with law enforcement only during stressful situations, such as being the victim of a crime or during a traffic stop. She said events like these give people the opportunity to ask questions and meet deputies who serve their neighborhoods.
"Each district has a community resource deputies who interact with the community and they interact with the businesses, and many of those businesses are supportive of hosting these events," Alvarez said. "We find different locations for each one."
Each "Coffee with a Cop" event brings out more than 15 deputies, including recruiters who can answer questions about careers within the sheriff's office.
"We always get at least one thats interested in a career and we have more than just law enforcement careers, there are a lot of opportunities that people might not know." Alvarez said.
Alvarez said its important to reach every part of Hillsborough County's diverse population.
"I have hosted a few events at hispanic coffee shops and I will have deputies who are bilingual who speak Spanish," Alvarez said. "I think sometimes it makes a difference when people see an officer, maybe from their home country, who speaks the language that they do."
She said these efforts help reflect the diversity within the department and provide both language and cultural support to residents.
The events also create meaningful interactions with younger community members.
"When you see the kids they are shy at first but we bring some cool cars and get them all excited and have motorcycles out too," Alvarez said.
Ultimately, the goal behind "Coffee with a Cop" is to strengthen the connection between resident and deputies, so people feel more comfortable reporting concerns and reaching out for help.
"We have broken this barrier and made people comfortable and see police officers are just like them," Alvarez said.
The next "Coffee With a Cop" even is scheduled for April 24 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the McDonald's located at 5001 N. US Highway 41 in Ruskin. Another event is planned for May, with updates to be shared on HCSO's social media channels.