Lavonia Police Sponsor Coffee With a Cop and Night Out Against Crime Today

It’s a busy day for Lavonia Police with two events lined up designed to help citizens get to know their local law enforcement officers.

First, Coffee With a Cop takes place this morning at the Vintage Cup in downtown Lavonia from 10a to noon.

Police Chief Bruce Carlisle says it’s a time for officers to talk one-on-one with members of the community.

“The event will beheld at the Vintage Cup in Lavonia, and we’re asking people to come in and have a cup of coffee on the house,” he said. “It’s just a time for people to come in and meet your Lavonia law enforcement officers, voice your concerns, ask questions or any pats on the back. We’ll be there from 10a to 12.”

This is the second time the Lavonia Police Department has held a Coffee with a Cop event.  The first one was in October 2016 and it had a good response from citizens.

Carlisle said this time his Department is partnering with students from Emmanuel College.

“This is an event that Emmanuel initiated it. Their Criminal Justice students wanted to do it. So we’ll have the Emmanuel students there along with us. We’ve done this in the past and they were very successful and hopefully we’ll be able to do them more often in the future, Carlisle said.”

Then later Thursday evening, Lavonia Police will be out in force for their annual Lavonia Night Out Against Crime event downtown.

Lavonia Night Out Against Crime is based on the National Night Out Against Crime, a crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Hall Watch.

This is the 18th year Lavonia Police have offered the free evening block party, which is designed to build bridges between law enforcement and the community.

Carlisle said Lavonia Night Out gives people in the community a chance to get to know his officers as people.

As in past years, Carlisle said they have lots of fun things planned for the kids as well as good food and entertainment.

“This year will be pretty much will be as in years past; free food and entertainment,” he said. “Entertainment will be provided by Tony Tiger. He plays a wide array of music; from Gospel to R&B to old rock n’ roll. The Georgia State Patrol will have their helicopter here. The Bloodmobile will be here. So, we invite everyone to come out from 5p to 8p.”

According to Carlisle, the annual block party has been successful in helping people in Lavonia learn to trust his officers.