Peoria residents will have the opportunity to sip coffee and chat with local police officers during the "Coffee With A Cop" event scheduled for this Thursday, April 11. The informal get-together aims to foster better communication and understanding between the community and law enforcement, according to the City of Peoria.

Set to take place at The Valley Buzz coffee shop located at 9069 W. Olive Ave Unit #107 from 8 to 10 am, the initiative is designed to humanize the officers who patrol the neighborhoods offering residents a chance to have one-on-one conversations in a casual setting way beyond the usual tense situations that typically define police-public encounters, as per the City of Peoria.

The City of Peoria emphasizes the importance of such interactions, noting that "The majority of contact law enforcement has with the public happens during emergencies, or emotional situations" which aren't always conducive to building trust or rapport.