Students chat with Detective KC Mitchell, right, with University Police at Appalachian State University during Coffee with a Cop held Feb. 5 in Plemmons Student Union. The event allowed students, staff, faculty and others to chat with members of University Police in an informal setting and enjoy a free cup of coffee.

Gunther Doerr, Appalachian’s director of public safety and risk management and chief of University Police, said often the public’s first encounter with law enforcement officers is during emergencies or emotional situations. “Coffee with a Cop provides an opportunity for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction,” Doerr said.

The next Coffee with a Cop will be held Wednesday, March 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the student union and will include officers from the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office and Boone Police Department. “We want the campus community to feel comfortable enough to ask questions, voice concerns, or simply get to know officers better,” Doerr said.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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