A steady stream of people flowed in and out of a popular cafe in Pitt Meadows to meet with their local police officers and voice their concerns.
About 50 people swung by Coffee with a Cop at The Coffee Pitt on Tuesday, June 30, for the morning event.
Staff Sgt. Michelle Luca, commander for the newly autonomous Pitt Meadows RCMP detachment, said they received a lot of positive feedback at the event which ran from 10 a.m. to 11: 30 a.m.
One of the biggest questions members received was about how they were liking the new autonomous detachment, which officially opened May 12, and what they enjoyed about working in the community.
They were also getting lots of compliments about how residents are now seeing more police officers patrolling the streets.
Luca even heard from one resident who said they hadn’t seen a patrolling police car in years. But, since the new detachment opened up, they have seen numerous police cars on the roads.
“Which makes them feel safer and they feel it’s a deterrence for crime,” said Luca.
People voiced concerns about the use of e-dirt bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters, by youth.
Luca said this forum, Coffee with a Cop, is the perfect way to talk with people about the issue and how they trying hard to educate both parents and children.
Community policing coordinator, Meagan Oslie, heard a lot of enquiries about how the public can become involved.
To which she replied if people are the right fit, she will never turn down a volunteer.
And she was also asked when the public will be able to see the new Pitt Meadows RCMP building.
Oslie said they are planning to hold an open house in September, where the public will be able to see the main lobby and learn about the building.
Luca loves the Coffee with a Cop events because, she explained, they meet people they might not normally deal with or encounter.
They are planning to announce four more in the coming months, where the public can meet different Pitt Meadows policing teams at the events.
Stay tuned, said Luca.