Marcia Chambers Photo
Kelsey Matthews, a junior at East Haven High School, is fascinated by forensics, crime and the law, mostly learned from her favorite television crime programs. Now she wanted a dose of reality, so when she heard that the Branford cops were offering “Coffee with a Cop” she got a ride to the Parthenon Diner so she could talk one-on-one.
And boy, she said afterward did she learn a lot. Kelsey spent about 30 minutes chatting with Officer Melissa Carney.
“She was wonderful. She let me know about policing but that there were more avenues for me out there, too. There’s forensics, law school and a school in New York I would like,” she said referring to the John Jay School of Criminal Justice.
Police Chief Kevin Halloran told the Eagle that “Coffee with a Cop” came about because he wanted to find a way to build a better rapport with the community, to learn about their concerns. Last night the new idea went public.
About a dozen people showed up at the diner to meet the officers. Halloran along with Captains Geoffrey Morgan and Ray Dunbar, Officers P.J. O’Malley and Carney arrived at the Parthenon Diner at 6 p.m. for the meet-and-greet. More gatherings are planned in the future.
“Most times when we deal with the community it is in times of emergencies or crisis,” Halloran said in an interview. “This gives us another way to meet people. You know whenever we went out for a cup of coffee (meaning himself and several officers) people would always come up to us and ask us questions. So I thought this is a way to meet with the community. I did some research and it turns out we are not the first ones to do this. It was actually developed in Hawthorne, California, by their police department.
“That program led to a national incentive, called Coffee with a Cop. It is supported by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). I have told other chiefs in our area about the program and they thought it was a good idea, too.”
Marcia Chambers Photo
Soon after the event got underway, Buzz Johnson (pictured) took a seat next to the chief. Quickly he pulled out his new invention, one he has now patented. He calls it a gun-lock, a device that enables people to lock up their individual guns at home. “It will fit on any gun,” he told the chief, showing the device to him. Then then discussed how it works. Johnson, a firearms enthusiast for over 40 years, developed his invention three years ago.
As Johnson talked to Halloran, Matthews, who is 16, talked with Officer Carney at the next table.
She told the Eagle afterwards that she has long had an interest in the criminal justice system. “I have always kind of wanted to be a police officer … I have a penchant for the Law and Order program. Criminal justice is intriguing to me.”
So what did she learn from officer Carney?
What she took away from the conversation was that there were many types of studies within the criminal justice area. “Rape crisis counseling interests me. So there are a lot of different things I will be looking into.” She was smiling as she left.
Marcia Chambers Photo
The first resident to arrive, who has a son in the high school, asked the officers their views on when kids should be able to drive. Then she asked what it takes to become a police officer. Her son was interested, she said. Officer O’Malley and Capt. Dunbar (pictured L‑R) answered her questions.
And so it went. All the cops were pleased. The diner was inviting, the atmosphere relaxed. The coffee was terrific, everyone said. The setting provided a perfect place for a one-on-one conversation with a cop.
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