More than 50 people stopped at the Latrobe Art Center Wednesday morning for the Latrobe Police Department’s inaugural community outreach event dubbed “Coffee and Cocoa with a Cop.”

Police Chief John Sleasman was pleased by the turnout, noting the event was meant to provide citizens a chance to become familiar with the department’s officers. Ten officers were on hand to greet visitors, including 16 kids ages 3-5 who attend the Latrobe Kinder-Schull child care center and a number of adult clients of the Hempfield branch of the ACHIEVA organization, which serves people with disabilities.

Some residents of neighboring Unity Township attended, including Beth Stefanik and her son, Henry, 4.

Stefanik said her son “adores police officers and police cars, so I figured this was a great thing for him to come out and see, and interact with police officers and know they’re not scary.”

Jody Jellison of Senior Life donated cocoa and cookies for the gathering.

“It turned out to be a great event,” said Sleasman. “It’s just a chance for us to mix with the public and get to know them, and more importantly, for them to get to know us.”

He said he’d like to schedule another such event on a weekend to “attract more of the younger crowd and the kids to come in.”

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