by Chuck Seaver, South Lake Tablet
The Clermont Police Department (CPD) held its bi-monthly Coffee with a Cop community relations event on Wednesday, July 17th at Lemont Coffee Lounge, 821 West Minneola Avenue, Clermont. Coffee with a Cop is a program designed to enhance the community relationship with law enforcement officers and the citizens of the communities that they serve. Businesses throughout the area often host the Coffee with a Cop program to exhibit not only support of the community but also support of the local first responders in the community. It also provides a neutral location for real conversations about issues that matter.
This month’s topic included back-to-school safety and parental suggestions to keep children safe during the upcoming school year that begins on August 12th for public schools. The Clermont Police Department utilizes community partnerships to help push the word out to both children and parents on topics such as pedestrian and bicycle safety for children while alerting drivers to school zone requirements and laws. “We will have a heavy traffic enforcement presence in and around school zones during the first week or so of school to remind drivers that crossing zones are in effect again. We will also be enforcing traffic flow directions in pick-up and drop-off areas of school campuses,” says Captain Malcolm Draper.
Draper also recommends that parents familiarize themselves with their child’s bus route, including pick-up and drop-off times and have a backup plan in case of a missed bus ride both for pick-up and drop-off times. “We encourage parents to talk to their children about bicycle, school bus stop, and walking safety. Our school resource officers will also be providing basic safety measures for children throughout the school year,” says Draper.
The Clermont Police Department staffs school resource officers at each public elementary school and the Aurelia Cole Academy within the city limits. Windy Hill Elementary will also become a CPD-staffed school beginning this year. The police department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department maintain a strong partnership relating to school safety and active response training. The two agencies will collaborate soon for ongoing training sessions that include responses to active incidents on school campuses.
Visit with officers of the Clermont Police Department’s road patrol, traffic enforcement, criminal investigations, community relations, and administrative divisions at the next Coffee with a Cop session on September 18th, from 9 am-11 am, at the Wawa store, 1909 South US-27, Clermont.
Visit www.ClermontFL.gov/262/Police-Department or the department’s Facebook page at Clermont Police Department (FL) for updated back-to-school safety information.
