A friendly chat over coffee may not fix everything, but it could be the first step in building a better connection. On Oct. 1st, Harper’s first National Coffee with a Cop Day offered free drinks and a chance for conversation between students and Harper’s police officers.
The event featured various Harper College Police Department (HCPD) officers, a table full of free items, and information regarding emergency for students and staff.
For Officer Eddie Jackson, the event was about more than free coffee—it was about changing how students saw the badge.
“A lot of times, police officers are kind of taboo to the public, and sometimes the media has portrayed the police as the bad guys,” Jackson said. “So we’re here now to show that we’re not the enemy, we’re not the bad guys- we’re here to help the students.”
Jackson said many students were curious and took advantage of the opportunity.
“My main takeaway is what you see right now, being among the students, having a good time, answering questions they may have,” Jackson stated. “So far, I have been here for 30 minutes, and I have had five or six students come up to me and ask me, ‘How do I become a police officer?’”
As Jackson engaged with curious students, others on campus found that a simple conversation could lead to unexpected insights.
Sophomores Kevin Torcell and Savannah Sahm stopped by for free coffee but stayed for the discourse.
“I think having these kinds of events helps break the tension people had, the stereotypes people had, [it] creates a more welcoming environment,” Sahm said.
“Especially with current times, because of the whole ICE stuff, and everyone hates all of law enforcement- I feel solid about it,” Torcell added.
As students shared their thoughts, officers took the opportunity to highlight their role on campus and the services they provide.
For Chief John Lawson, the event wasn’t just about friendly conversations—it was about making sure students knew where to turn for help.
“We have our police brochure out there that shows everything that we do here as far as security; you know, escorts to the cars, different types of law enforcement things that we do to keep everybody safe,” Lawson said. “The second thing is to let everybody know where our police station is in case there are any issues, or if you just need to talk about a problem or something.”
The event is one of the first few by HCPD to try and bring the community together. HCPD plans on having more events in the near future.
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