The Aberdeen Police Department and Aberdeen Starbucks are teaming up for the city’s first Coffee With a Cop event, where the public can mingle with officers and talk about their concerns and ask questions in a fun, casual atmosphere.
The Oct. 2 event at Starbucks at 1202 E. Wishkah St. “is a way to bridge the gap between the community and police officers,” said Officer Gary Sexton. The event will “break down barriers” that can exist between officers and the community they serve, he said.
It also gives the coffee shop a chance to showcase its store as a community meeting place where “anyone can come in spend time relaxing,” said Aberdeen Starbucks Manager Jaclyn Meeks.
It was Starbucks that approached the Aberdeen Police Department with the idea of partnering for the event, said Sexton.
“It gives both the officers and community members a different environment to get together,” said Sexton. “It’s a way for officers to communicate with the public and we’re very excited about the opportunity.”
The event runs from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and includes cop baristas, Starbucks samples and a silent auction. Sexton said Starbucks is providing several gift baskets for the auction, with the proceeds going toward the Aberdeen Police Officers Guild’s charity arm, which supports local schools and sports teams, purchases bicycles for youth who may have had theirs stolen, and more. Donations will be accepted for the guild charity arm. Sexton said donors will get their names written on a badge that will hang in the Starbucks location for a week.
Officer Jackie Mitchell will provide the Live Music by a Cop portion of the evening. Sexton said Mitchell writes his own original songs and will likely perform two sets during the 2-hour event.
For the kids there will be a coloring station, police vehicles including the department’s motorcycle for photographs, and a fingerprinting station, where kids can get printed and their parents can take the necessary steps to have those fingerprints put on file in case the child is ever lost.
McGruff the Crime Dog will make an appearance between 6 and 6:30 p.m., and Aberdeen K9 officer Ronin will be on site from 6:45-7:15 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m., there will be a coffee shot competition featuring police officers guild president George Kelly, Aberdeen Mayor Erik Larson, and a Starbucks employee who will not be informed of their participation until arrival, said Meeks. The competitors will see who is the fastest at downing three shots of straight espresso.
There will also be a latte competition, where officers will get a crash course in latte-making and have their entries judged for taste and presentation, said Meeks.
A unique decal will be given to the first 150 community members to the event. “This is a one-of-a-kind, one-time shot” to get the decal, said Sexton. “You can’t buy it, few have seen it and it will be unveiled that night.” Sexton has also ordered 500 stickers to be given away.
Starbucks has partnered with the Olympic Gateway Plaza across the street to provide parking for the event. There will be no parking in the Starbucks lot during the event, but the drive through will be open, attended by a police officer. Sexton asks that anyone planning to use the drive through during the event access it via the alley behind the Starbucks off South Fleet and Tyler streets.
“There are a lot of volunteers helping with the event,” said Sexton. More than a dozen come from the department, including administrative and clerical staff, and corrections staff. Starbucks will have about 15 volunteers of its own.
