SILVER SPRING, Md. — The local Dunkin’ Donuts in Silver Spring was visited by at least four Montgomery County police officers Friday morning. They weren’t there on a break. They were working — although no crime had been committed.
The mission on this Friday morning: to meet members of the community in a relaxed atmosphere to talk about issues of concern, and to build relationships. The program, “Coffee with a Cop,” is something that departments across the country have been using as a bridge-building exercise.
As they headed into the coffee shop, the officers and their commander, Laura Lanham, joked about the stereotype of officers and their supposed affinity for doughnuts, but as they sat over coffee with members of the community, they heard some serious concerns.
Isiah Cruz, 6, and his sister Ruby, a first grader, stopped in with their mom and were genuinely concerned about the many news reports regarding “scary clowns” and the internet threats that had been circulating throughout the region — and across the country.
Commander Lanham said those threats that targeted schools generated a lot of debate about how they should be handled.
“We were getting a tremendous amount of concern about that, and that is part of why we made the decision to take the case as seriously as we did,” Lanham said.
Police investigated reported threats at Rosa Parks Middle School and ended up arresting four juveniles.
“People didn’t feel safe, and that’s not really acceptable,” Lanham said.
At the Coffee with a Cop session, Commander Lanham chatted with Isiah and Ruby, repeating that police were keeping an eye on those threats, and that they really didn’t have to worry. Ruby said Commander Lanham explained that there was really nothing to be worried about — the people making those threats “were only trying to scare people.” Isiah said he felt better too after talking with Lanham.
One woman at the drive-thru window said as an African-American mother she worries about her son.
“I have a young son, who’s 22 years old who I constantly worry about out here on the streets,” said Paula, who declined to provide her last name.
She tells her son if confronted by police, “Do what they say, put your hands up, and follow instructions.”
Her request to police: “I just want the police to make sure that when the police stop us, they’re stopping us for cause, and not just racial profiling.”
Jerry Lake, who was having coffee with friends at the Dunkin’ Donuts, says he worries for a different reason. His grandson, a police officer in D.C., tells his pregnant wife each day he’ll be home that night. Given the dangers of the job, Lake says that reassurance is important.
“They’re doing a hell of a job, and they don’t get the respect they deserve. It’s a tough job!”
Carter Yang, who lives in Brookeville, says when he heard about the Coffee with a Cop session, he made a point of coming to Silver Spring from his home to thank police officers for the job they do.
“I really appreciate what they do to keep the community safe. I’m sure they hear a lot of negative things, I thought I’d come down and give them a positive one.”
