The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office is jumping on the java train.

“Coffee With A Cop” will take place at Biggby Coffee on Lawson Drive in Genoa Township and is sponsored by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office Community Outreach Program. Friday marks the first time the office will host such an event. Sheriff Mike Murphy tells WHMI there’s been several police agencies in the county that have hosted coffee events and they felt it was their turn.

The goal is to make the office more approachable, connect with the community to understand what they expect, help solve problems and generally, open up lines of communication. He says these types of events have been successful with other agencies and it will highlight the Community Outreach Program implemented August 1st.

The primary focus of the three deputies assigned is working with youth, the schools and existing school resource officers to help solve problems at a much lower level. Murphy says the idea is that if they can solve some problems and have good dialogue with youth, then looking long term it will make their jobs much easier.

Murphy noted there will be no set script or anything at Friday’s event and deputies will just be available to strike up a conversation with those who attend from 10 am to noon at Biggby Coffee. He added they welcome the input and it can only make them better when they understand community expectations from the Sheriff’s Office.

Murphy says they’re looking forward to the opportunity to start conversations and expect the “Coffee With A Cop” events will continue, as will the availability of the Community Resource Officers to have those interactions with the public. (JM)