Yakima Police say the first Coffee With a Cop meeting on Thursday was a big success. Officers and citizens met for coffee at the Mcdonalds on South First and Nob Hill to get to know each other. Community Activist Ester Huey attended. She says she's proud of the department for reaching out. he says she wants to see more young students involved. "They need to know the officers are friendly that the officers have their best interests at heart and they need to develop that comfortable relationship." Iin fact the Yakima Police Department is already working on that idea and currently developing a youth police academy to duplicate the adult citizen academy so kids can learn what police do on a daily basis. No date has been set for the next Coffee With a Cop meeting but officials hope to hold another within the 2 months.
Then in the spring Chief Dominic Rizzi says they'll start the roll call cookout. Officers will gather in neighborhoods around dinner and serve hotdogs and talk with residents so you can become more familiar with officers in the Yakima Police Department.

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