Java and Justice: OUPD, Women’s Center celebrates National Police Women’s Day

Photo via Eva Ludke/The New Political

The Ohio University Police Department and the Women's Center partnered to host a "Coffee with a Cop" event in celebration of National Police Women's Day on Sept. 12. The event sought to provide a space for officers and community members to connect through open conversation, while also honoring the work of female officers in the OUPD. 

Set up in The Front Room Coffeehouse, “Coffee with a Cop” was open to all members of the Athens community, and the event provided free food, drink and the chance to ask questions to and converse directly with the OUPD. 

The conversations primarily consisted of the OUPD attempting to make themselves and their resources available to the community. Evan Wilkof, Community Relations Officer and primary organizer of the event, explained the importance of holding it in The Front Room Coffeehouse, a particularly trafficked part of campus. 

“A goal of the event was to provide high visibility [for OUPD] in the community in a positive light,” Wilkof stated. “When walking through residence halls, staff or students will say ‘what's wrong?’ and we want to be visible at times when there's not necessarily something wrong, and again, be a regular visual presence in the community on a positive note.”

The OUPD chose to celebrate National Police Women’s Day with “Coffee with a Cop” because of the open and transparent nature of the event. 

“It helps illustrate to the community that we value a diverse workforce,” Wilkof said. “So having our four sworn female officers there was a strong example of our commitment and dedication to following the 30 by 30 initiative.” 

The 30 by 30 initiative is a plan that establishes an objective for police departments nationwide to have 30% of their workforce be female by 2030. While the OUPD hasn't officially adopted the initiative, Wilkof explained that they hold the same principles of the initiative to be essential.

“We do know that a diverse workforce in our community is valued,” he said. “Sometimes survivors of sexual assault and other crimes against women feel more comfortable speaking with female officers, which we absolutely understand and value.”

“Coffee with a Cop” is not a new concept in Athens. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, “Coffee with a Cop” was a frequent and recurring engagement. The Sept. 12 event was the first of its kind in almost five years, and Wilkof and the OUPD considered it successful in reopening the OUPD to the Athens community. 

“We ran out of the food that we ordered and we ran out of the coffee as well, which is certainly not a bad thing at all,” Wilkof said. “We estimate between 150 to 170 students, faculty and staff went through our line and came up to speak with the officers.” 

Wilkof asserted the importance of community engagement events such as “Coffee with a Cop” in helping to gain trust for law enforcement from the general public.  

“From a law enforcement perspective, community trust and transparency is everything,” Wilkof explained. “There's no denying there's been a number of really tragic incidents that have happened involving police, and a lot of those have separated the reciprocal relationship between the community and the police. Our department highly values being a strong asset and resource in the community and so these types of events help enhance our visibility, community trust and the relationship between both our department and the students, faculty and staff.”

Wilkof emphasized that the OUPD is attempting to be seen as a more reliable source for victims and survivors of crime and that they aspire to be a pillar in facilitating a local culture of safety and care.