As students settled into a new semester, the University of Houston Police Department welcomed them to the first Coffee With a Cop event of the year, creating an opportunity to build relationships, ask questions and learn about campus safety resources.
Held in the plaza between Student Center South and Student Center North, the event brought students and officers together in a relaxed setting over coffee, Cougar Punch, cookies and brownies. The informal gathering gave students a chance to meet the officers who help keep campus safe and learn more about the services and resources available to them.
For UHPD Crime Prevention Officer Amir Watkins, the first Coffee With a Cop of the semester is a pivotal one.
"It's important so students know who their safety officers are on campus," Watkins said. "Once they meet us and become familiar with us, hopefully they're more willing to call us when they need help or have an emergency."
The monthly event is designed to break down barriers between students and law enforcement by creating opportunities for casual, face-to-face conversations outside of emergency situations. Some students stop by for a quick greeting, while others take the opportunity to ask questions about safety, transportation, or campus resources.
Junior public health majors Myla Walton and Sarai Smalls were among the students who
attended. While it was Walton's first Coffee With a Cop, Smalls has attended previous
events.
"I like seeing them in this environment," Smalls said. "Seeing them out here passing
out food and coffee humanizes them."
Walton agreed, saying events like Coffee With a Cop show that UHPD is committed to being an approachable and active presence on campus.
"When I saw the event, I thought it was a good opportunity to stop by, say hello and get familiar with the officers," Walton said.
Throughout the event, students asked questions about campus safety and available resources. One popular topic was UHPD's free U-lock program for bicycles and scooters. Watkins explained that students can pick up a complimentary U-lock at the UHPD station, the UHPD substation or Parking & Transportation Customer Service.
As the semester gets underway, UHPD will continue hosting Coffee With a Cop each month to encourage conversation, answer questions and strengthen relationships across the Cougar community.
For students, the event offers more than a cup of coffee. It provides an opportunity to meet the people behind the badge, learn about campus resources, and start the semester feeling connected, informed, and supported.