by Chuck Seaver, South Lake Tablet
The Clermont Police Department (CPD) held its bi-monthly Coffee with a Cop community relations event on Wednesday, September 19th at Wawa, 1909 South US-27, Clermont.
Coffee with a Cop is a program designed to enhance the community members’ 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 the support of the community but also the 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 topics included the fall and winter community relations activities that are planned for the upcoming months.
CPD will participate in the “9th Annual National Coffee with a Cop” program on October 2nd. The officers will be visiting three locations on that day in two-hour increments. The locations are as follows: McDonald’s, 4307 South US-27 from 8:30 am-10:30 am; Flag Coffee Corner, 896 West Minneola Avenue from 12:30 pm-2:30 pm; and, Lemont Coffee, 821 West Minneola Avenue from 3 pm-5 pm.
National Coffee with a Cop Day is dedicated to encouraging communication and positive interactions between law enforcement agencies and the public nationwide. The recognized day began as part of the National Community Policing Week in 2016 and now continues each year on the first Wednesday in October. The tradition is an attempt to further efforts nationwide to bridge the gap between community and law enforcement.
CPD is also gearing up for the annual “Halloween on the Trail” family event at Waterfront Park, 100 Third Street on October 29th, from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm. This free event will have the police department, along with participating organizations, offering trick-or-treat stations to encourage a safe environment for families to enjoy the evening together. The City of Clermont will be sponsoring a Creepy Clermont Costume Contest and providing a Halloween-themed movie starting at 7 pm.
With the holidays kicking off, the Clermont Police Department is busy scheduling its annual “Stuff A Cruiser” event for November and December. Shoppers are asked to purchase a new, unwrapped toy for local children in need. The toys can be donated to police officers at the store who will in turn see that the toys reach families in the community that have found themselves in difficult financial times this holiday season. Locations are as follows: November 13th at Wal-Mart, 1450 John’s Lake Road from 2 pm-6 pm and December 4th at Belk’s, 270 Citrus Tower Boulevard from 3 pm-6 pm. The Belk’s event will focus on collecting items for seniors in partnership with Home Instead, a local organization that provides professional care to seniors in their own homes. The Stuff A Cruiser fun will continue December 9th at Target, 2660 East Highway 50 from 3 pm-7 pm and December 16th at the Clermont Police Headquarters, 3600 South US-27 from 8 am-4 pm.
The annual “Battle of the Badges” basketball game is scheduled for December 13th from 5pm-8pm. The game, held at the Aurelia Cole Academy Gym, 150 Pitt Street, is a spirited match between the Clermont Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. Admission is one new, unwrapped toy that will be given to children in the community.
To wrap the gift season up, the CPD will be sponsoring its annual “Shop with a Hero” community relations event at Wal-Mart, 1450 John’s Lake Road, on December 19th from 6 pm-8 pm. The program focuses on helping children in need who get to shop with one of the many police officers and first responders on site. The children are selected by officers of the community who see the needs of families daily. “What makes our particular event so special is that children are selected by our very own officers while they serve the community. Clermont Police Officers will help make this a memorable experience for the children,” Captain Malcolm Draper said at last year’s event.
Visit www.ClermontFL.gov/262/Police-Department or the departments Facebook page at Clermont Police Department (FL) for updated back to school safety information.
