WILMINGTON — Ever wanted to pick the brain of your local police or sheriff’s deputy?
You can meet with officers and deputies from both the city and county Wednesday at certain local McDonald’s, fittingly, on National Coffee with a Cop day.
Members representing the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office will be open to questions and conversation at the McDonald’s on North College Road and representatives from the Wilmington Police Department will be available at the McDonald’s on South College Road.
Topics which may be covered may include the ongoing opioid crisis, the newly updated real-time crime lab, and perhaps a reiteration of the legality of filming police encounters after a recent controversy in March.
Dennis Anderson, owner and operator of a Wilmington McDonald’s, hopes this event will allow community members to feel comfortable enough to bring forth concerns and ask questions.
Linda Thompson, public affairs officer for the Wilmington Police Department, said officers are looking forward to engaging with members of the community.
“There’s no agenda or specific area of topics, so we’re going to make sure our officers are there ready to respond and to see if we can respond however we can in a positive manner,” Thompson said.
In recent years, both children and adults have shown up for their chance to converse with public officers.
“Some people just want to come in and say ‘thank you for what you’re doing’,” Thompson said.
Both McDonald’s locations will be providing free coffee for participants.
“We provide just a location for them to have a conversation with people that live in the local community,” said Karla Taylor, director of marketing for McAnderson’s Inc., a company that owns 17 McDonald’s in New Hanover and Brunswick County.
“It’s very casual and comfortable,” she said. “(It’s) not meant to be confrontational.”
Wilmington Police Department will be at the McDonald’s at 822 S. College Road on Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
New Hanover County Sheriff’s Department will be at the McDonald’s on 2519 N. College Road on Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
