Coffee with a Cop: Serving with a Smile

Visitors to Starbucks in Fortuna got a surprise this morning.

Police Chief Casey Day delivered coffee in the drive-through window as part of Coffee with a Cop Day.                                                                                          

“You see quite a few smiles as the car rolls up, and I’m a big smile guy anyway,” Chief Day said. “To see people happy when they roll up to the window and see the chief handing them their coffee. It brings you a warm feeling.”

Several members of the force took turns in the window, including school resource officer Dylan Burley and Lt. Matt Eberhardt.

Other officers met with residents to talk over a cup of coffee and pumpkin spiced muffin samples in the restaurant.

Chief Day says this is an important part of what they do in the community.

“Many of the members of our department aren’t just involved in the community as a law enforcement officer. They’re members of service clubs. They’re coaches. They’re mentors,” he said, adding that it was important to take “every opportunity like we have this morning to get out and engage and show the humanistic side of who our officers are and what they bring to the community.”

Coffee with a Cop started at seven a.m., and at the peak of the event, traffic was wrapped around the building. Inside was just as busy as residents from all walks of life stopped in to say hello.