‘Coffee with a Cop’ brings residents face-to-face with police in Kensington, P.E.I.

Members of the Kensington Police say the new ‘coffee with a cop’ program is aimed at building connections with local residents. Maria Sarrouh reports.

KENSINGTON, P.E.I. -- In a small town where many faces are familiar, the Kensington Police Service on Prince Edward Island is working to become even more approachable, one cup of coffee at a time.

The local force has launched a monthly Coffee with a Cop event, giving residents a chance to ask questions and meet officers in an informal setting. This week, Chief Landon Yuill and Cpl. Jordan Fulford greeted members of the public at Ruby’s Counter.

“I’d like to hear any of their concerns. Anything that they think that we can be doing better as their police force,” Yuill said. “Because ultimately, we’re here to serve them.”

Similar initiatives have been used by police services across the country to bolster community engagement, from Regina to Saint John. Yuill got the idea after seeing the Truro Police Service in Nova Scotia do the same.

He said residents have asked about everything from how many officers the service employs, to where speeding happens most often in town, to how therapy dog Leo helps in the community.

For Pierre Arsenault, the conversation happened by chance. He stopped in for breakfast, and another patron told him he could sit down with the officers.

“I’ve never met the police before. Good thing I didn’t get stopped until now,” Arsenault said with a laugh. “But it was quite interesting to be able to talk to them, ask some questions, learn about what’s going on.”

Arsenault recently moved to Kensington from Quebec City after buying land in Malpeque Bay, where he plans to build a house this summer. He asked officers about litter prevention programs and their work in schools.

“I think it’s so important to not feel intimidated, to feel like they’re just like a brother or a sister,” Arsenault said.

Kensington is one of three municipalities on Prince Edward Island with its own police service, alongside Charlottetown and Summerside. Most other communities on the Island are policed by the RCMP.

Rumours about the future of Kensington’s police force have circulated in recent weeks, with some residents worried it could be replaced by the RCMP as a cost-cutting measure.

Those concerns prompted an online petition with hundreds of signatures – but Yuill says he doesn’t see momentum building behind that idea.

“I think that the conversation is moving away from that,” he said. “Council just recently said that they want to support our police force.”

The town recently issued a public statement in support of the service, writing: “Contrary to recent speculation, there are no plans to disband the Kensington Police Service or replace our local force.”

“Our local police service is a cornerstone of this community,” said Mayor Jeff Spencer in the statement. “We are proud of the work they do and want to ensure the public that their safety remains in the capable hands of the officers they know and trust.”

Yuill added that the department’s work goes well beyond enforcement, though it’s dealing with more severe cases, including break-ins and drug-related calls. In addition to responding to calls, officers host community events including a bicycle rodeo, a fishing derby and Christmas food drives. They also sponsor families and provide funeral escorts.

Former Kensington mayor Rowan Caseley said keeping a local police service matters for several reasons.

“Just to be able to have a fast response time, if there’s a need, whether it’s a small fender bender or a major accident,” Caseley said.

He added that municipalities have a fiscal responsibility to regularly examine spending and consider alternatives.

“As a town, you always have to evaluate what you’re doing against what the other possibilities are,” Caseley said. “That doesn’t mean that you’re going to make a change.”

Caseley, who knows many of the officers personally, said gatherings like this can also help residents get to know newer officers as faces on the force change over time.

The next Coffee with a Cop event is expected to take place in April.