Cops, citizens chat over coffee

It was a hit! A couple dozen people filtered in and out of Stompin' Grounds Coffee Co. on Monday morning for what may become an annual Coffee and Cops meeting.

Skagit County sheriff's deputies Gary Huehnerhoff and Trevor Waller "hosted" the gathering while area residents sipped coffee and asked questions in the warm and friendly atmosphere.

Huehnerhoff has been with the Skagit County Sheriff's Office for eight years.

"My goal is to be out in the community. I enjoy being around and helping people. It's a selfless job we do – for the benefit of the community." He alluded to a challenging past: "Squeaky clean people don't make good cops."

Waller, the youngest officer – and teased about it unmercifully – was first interested in police work in sixth grade when he attended his uncle's graduation from the police academy. Waller studied criminal justice and environmental science in college. The courses made him realize there was more to policing than chasing the bad guys – it was meeting the local people. Waller hopes to work with mental health professionals.

Rick and Consuelo Uchida expressed their appreciation for what cops do and wanted to understand the relationship between the Swinomish Tribe and the Sheriff's Office.

Huehnerhoff explained the Swinomish take care of all tribal lands, which are federal, including Shelter Bay – but there is a cross-over. The Swinomish will call if they need help.

Sgt. Brad Holmes, La Conner's detachment administrator, popped in and jumped at the chance to give details on a recent burglary – and the handling of it by the town council and the Weekly News.

Renée Matthews, a resident, questioned police efficiency, or perceived lack of, after the burglaries near the La Conner Marina on North Third Street on Aug. 2.

Matthews said her husband, Jim Matthews, complained at a town council meeting that it took 30 minutes for law enforcement to arrive on the scene.

A neighbor had seen a suspicious person hauling a cart from the victim's yard and notified the owner. At first nothing appeared to be stolen. Minutes passed. It was then discovered some items had been taken from an adjacent building. They called 911. Law enforcement arrived 20 minutes later.

After the deputies arrived, they immediately began patrolling the area for the suspect vehicle – which was later found to have been stolen.

Flyers of the alleged burglar were posted "everywhere" according to Matthews.

Matthews said there was no follow-up – no dusting for fingerprints.

The photo posted was not the suspect, Holmes replied. It was of an earlier burglary and just assumed to be the same individual.

Holmes said lab equipment had been stolen – not medical equipment that may have inadvertently believed to be health or lifesaving. "This is why we want things like this (Coffee and Cops) to clear the air."

To paraphrase Holmes, call 911 immediately. And if the police aren't doing their job – call the Sheriff first – don't take it to a town council meeting.

Conversation eddied back and forth from burglaries to the need for back-up officers, handling suicides and answering calls on animal abuse – particularly dogs locked in cars in the summer. "People get confrontational, especially about dogs."

The cops repeated more than once, "It's not like what you see on TV."

It was said the term "cop" was coined a couple hundred years ago because the badges adorning their uniforms were made of copper, eventually shortened to "cop." But if you're a logophile and Google it, there are other, just as interesting explanations.

National Coffee with a Cop Day is a non-profit organization started in 2011 by some retired police officers in Hawthorne, Calif. Coffee with a Cop events have grown to 33 countries and nine languages for citizens and cops to get to know each other.

This was the first Coffee with a Cop meeting. The Skagit County Sheriff's Office plans to schedule more throughout the county.