The monthly Coffee With a Cop program begins November 26 at 9 a.m. at the Weldon Waffle house.

“Hopefully people will buy into it,” Macon said earlier this week. “We're trying to reach the entire community. We will join together, and have a general discussion on neutral grounds.”

Macon also hopes to establish a morning breakfast, selecting a random citizen to have breakfast with each month. “We're looking at inexpensive ways to build partnerships with the community. It's always been my philosophy talking about your community is a way to improve the quality of life for your neighbors and identify problems with their community; not to talk about the past to hopefully establish a bridge and trust with the citizens.”

The chief said in a statement the majority of contacts law enforcement has with the public happen during emergencies, or emotional situations. “Those situations are not always the most effective times for relationship building with the community, and some community members may feel that officers are unapproachable on the street. Coffee with a Cop breaks down barriers and allows for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction.”

Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative supported by The United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.