25-03-2025
Jacksonville Police Department hosts Coffee With The Chief for community interaction
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — The Jacksonville Police Department hosted Coffee With the Chief Monday, Mar. 24, 2025.
The event highlighted the importance on connecting with the people of the City of Jacksonville. For members of the JPD, connection with the community is a big key.
'Engagement with our community is our bread and butter,' Jacksonville Police Chief Jarad Phelps said. 'We want positive engagements as much as we can, because the negative ones are the ones where we have to enforce the law and we can do that in a respectful way. These positive interactions make sure we have a tight-knit community so that we are involved with what's going on and they feel comfortable calling when there is an issue.'
JPD hosted the event at the Manatial De Esperanza Church where many members of the community speak Spanish. Officer Yalmar Guzman helped translate for Chief Phelps and other officers.
Chief Phelps said having conversations with people face to face can help show the community how they're there for them.
'The personal interaction is key to everything,' Chief Phelps said. 'Sitting behind a keyboard and spouting off thoughts is one thing, it's peoples' right to do so. But, the personal interaction you get with somebody and having that conversation is how our world works.'
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