By Brandon Bennett
STURGIS—We’re used to seeing law enforcement officers only when things have gone wrong, but turns out they’re just like us.
Coffee With A Cop at 5:8 Espresso inside Sturgis Strikers gave people a chance to experience that. Sturgis Police Department officers and Meade County Sheriff’s deputies enjoyed some Joe and cop food!(donuts)! Heheh.
Seriously though, Assistant Police Chief Bryan Paulson and Meade County Sheriff Pat West said interaction with the community this way makes contact in the public easier.
“It’s super important to engage with the public, let them know what’s going on, what we’re doing, remind them we’re just like everybody else and we’re trying to keep the peace for the people in the county and that engagement makes it easier down the road,” said Sheriff Pat West.
“The other side of that coin is we’re also listening to their complaints and that engagement is a two way street. When we’re initiating a traffic stop or investigating something it’s one way but here it’s relaxed and people come in and say he I’ve got speeders in my neighborhood and things like that,” said Paulson.
Jericha Harms hosted the event and echoed what was said.
“We offered to do this, we saw somebody else was doing it and wanted to get in on this, let’s get Sturgis’ finest in here and it’s important so the community understands that they’re here to help us, they’re here to be a part of this community,” she said.
