A regular morning for some people means running inside the local gas station for their wake-up coffee. Hoping to bridge the gap that can exist between police and the communities they represent, Mapco decided to use that daily ritual as an opportunity.
On Oct. 2, the Mapco off Lee Highway offered community members free coffee and an informal atmosphere where they could connect with the officers who serve their area over a shared cup of joe.
Kyle Berry, district manager of Mapco stations in the Brainerd, Ooltewah and Cleveland areas, reached out to the Chattanooga Police Department about hosting the event on National Coffee with a Cop Day. Officers across Chattanooga joined in at several other Mapco locations.
The initiative started in California and has inspired community gatherings around the world, according to the Coffee with a Cop nonprofit.
Chattanooga Police Deputy Chief Eric Tucker estimates he’s been to about five similar events in the last few years. In 2016, the department launched a similar program.