By Madison Bloomquist/Murphy News Service
University of Minnesota Police Department officers shared coffee and donuts with students Tuesday morning in exchange for conversations about campus safety.
UMPD Sgt. Octavio B. Reyes and U student Chris Grapentin shared donuts and dialog Tuesday morning as part of a now annual three-day effort by U police to better communicate on campus. MURPHY NEWS SERVICE PHOTO BY MADISON BLOOMQUIST.
Coffee and Donuts with the Cops is a three-morning event every semester at the University of Minnesota. The officers bring dozens of boxes of donuts to West Bank, East Bank and St. Paul campuses and feed students until the treats are gone.
New UMPD Chief Matt Clark said the event helps students realize they can go to UMPD with problems facing them on and off campus. Students can also use the opportunity to discuss concerns or issues with officers.
“We want students to know we are here for their safety,” Clark said.
Clark began his role as UMPD chief in July after 22 years in law enforcement for the City of Minneapolis. He is using this semester’s Coffee and Donuts with the Cops event to meet more students and discuss his plans and goals as chief.
New UMPD Chief Matt Clark see the get-togethers as a good way to make students feel safer. U OF M PHOTO.
Clark said he wants U students to feel safe and enjoy their time on campus. He plans to work with UMPD to maintain relationships with students and faculty so they feel comfortable receiving help from UMPD in times of need. UMPD is in the process of hiring two new officers to monitor campus and engage with students and staff.
Students and UMPD also discussed safety features such as the free Gopher Chauffeur on weekends, 624-WALK escort service and UMPD monitoring within and surr
ounding campus buildings after hours. UMPD wants students to know their options, but Clark also said the U campus has the lowest violent crime rate in the Twin Cities.
“If there is a safe place in the city, this is it,” Clark said.
The next Coffee and Donuts with the Cops events will take place Wednesday, Sept. 16 at the Union Street Plaza on East Bank and Thursday, Sept. 17 at the St. Paul Student Center.
Madison Bloomquist is studying journalism at the University of Minnesota.