The California Highway Patrol, Merced area office, held their coffee with a cop event at the Merced Starbucks on Martin Luther King Jr way today.

Several CHP officers were seen working behind the counter, one of the officers was actually a manager at one time for Starbucks. K9 Beny was also at the event and pose for some photos.

Coffee with a Cop is designed as an opportunity for the public to interact with the officers on the common ground in order to learn more about what they do on a daily basis.

Public information officer Zuniga, Tipler and several patrol officers talked with several community members and answered questions about various duties and community concerns.

CHP would like to thank the store Manager at this Starbucks location for allowing them to have this event.

CHP will also be visiting Planada at Cesar Chavez school including the Livingston. Officer Tipler told Merced Gateway News that they plan on having these events quarterly.

The concept of community policing can be much more successful if the community is involved and getting to know the law enforcement personnel in the area.

Stay tuned with Merced Gateway News for more events like these to be announced.