Pull Up a Chair — Yakima Police Department’s Holding Another Coffee With a Cop Gathering

Mike Bastinelli of the Yakima Police Department stopped by the Morning Bull Pen this morning to talk about an upcoming Coffee With a Cop gathering.

The program, which started in Hawthorne, Calif., gives the public a chance to meet police officers in a non-threatening situation and see that they're regular people, just like everyone else.

Bastinelli says the program is becoming popular for local groups, businesses and individuals. Previous gatherings have drawn around 75 people, he says.

The next one's at the Harman Center, 101 N. 65th Ave., from 7:30-10 a.m. Friday (May 22).