By Maddy Vitale
Susan Hobson doesn’t drink coffee. She didn’t even take a nibble of a doughnut. But she made it a point to head into Drip N’ Scoop, 960 Asbury Ave., Wednesday morning to say hello to some of Ocean City’s police officers during the local version of National Coffee With Cops.
“I am here to thank them,” said Hobson, a resident of Hamilton Township, Mercer County, who also has a summer home in Ocean City.
Coffee With Cops is a monthly event from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. designed to give residents and police a chance to socialize in a friendly environment.
The idea behind the informal, stress-free gathering is for police officers and the community to get to know each other better over coffee and doughnuts. The public is urged to bring questions, concerns and comments.
People trickled in to Drip N’ Scoop Wednesday morning to chat with officers from the Community Policing Unit, laugh and share stories.
Hobson, a retired Mercer County elementary school teacher, said years ago, when she and her family were thinking about buying a shore home, they chose Ocean City because it is a safe, family friendly community.
“When we would come down for vacation, I would walk with my girlfriends. I never had a minute where I felt unsafe. There is always a police presence,” Hobson said.
She spoke with Officers John Vogt, Matt Schaffer and Michael Gray.
Another person who stopped in for Coffee With Cops was Jennifer Abbott, of Marmora, who is guardian to 4-year-old Kaylee.
Abbott said the little girl really likes police and wanted to come and see them. Kaylee shyly approached Officer Schaffer, who smiled, knelt down and handed her a police sticker, wrist band and other goodies given out for free at the event.
“This is one of her birthday presents,” Abbott said of the visit to Coffee With Cops, as she put her arm around Kaylee. “Kaylee is obsessed with police. My father told me about them being here today, so I took her out of school for a bit to see them.”
Retired Philadelphia Police Corporal John Saldutti moved to Ocean City with his family 23 years ago. He came out for some coffee and to chat with the officers.
Saldutti said, “Ocean City is a great little town.”
Acting Police Chief Jay Prettyman, who visited with the officers and public, said Ocean City has celebrated Coffee With Cops since 1994.
“We have established a lot of nice relationships over the years,” Prettyman said, adding that the Community Policing Unit is an intrinsic part of the department and the community.
Prettyman noted that some families have attended Coffee With Cops and, like Hobson and her family, chose to move to Ocean City full time because of the good police department.
He added that the business community has a strong partnership with the police department.
“We all work together,” he said.
In addition to Coffee With Cops, the department’s Community Policing Unit, made up of nine officers, offers special services to the community.
The unit participates in a Youth Leadership Safety Program and instructs students at the Intermediate School on internet safety, pedestrian and bike safety and drug and alcohol awareness.
The Community Policing Unit also offers tours of the department geared toward student groups, such as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The officers also participate in community meetings to educate the public on cyber bullying, safety and ID theft.
For more information about the Ocean City Community Policing Unit call (609) 525-9108.
Retired Philadelphia Police Corporal John Saldutti, (left) of Ocean City, speaks with Officer John Vogt.
