Have something you want to discuss with the Manteca Police Department in an informal, no pressure setting?

Now is your chance.

On Wednesday, Oct. 3, officers and administrators from the Manteca Police Department will be on hand at Manteca’s Chit Chat Café – located at 273 W. Louise Avenue – to discuss community issues, build relationships, and drink coffee.

The “Coffee with a Cop” event – which is set to begin at 9 a.m. – aims to provide a unique opportunity for the public to get to know the officers that protect and serve the community in a low-pressure setting. The event is being advertised as an opportunity for the public to voice their concerns with the men and women tasked with protecting and patrolling the City of Manteca, and to learn more about the work that the police are doing in the city’s neighborhoods.

“We hope that community members will feel comfortable to ask questions, bring concerns, or simply get to know our officers,” Manteca Police Chief Jodie Estarziau said. “These interactions are the foundation of community partnerships.”

According to the release advertising the event, the majority of the contact that law enforcement has with the public is during emergencies or at times when emotions are running high, and such periods “are not always the most effective time for relationship building with the community.”

Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative sponsored by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services at the United States Department of Justice. Similar events are being held in cities across America “as local police departments strive to make lasting connections with the communities they serve.”

Anybody with questions is encouraged to contact Public Information Officer Stephen Schluer at 209.456.8210. He can also be emailed at sschluer@ci.manteca.ca.us.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.