“Cheese it, it’s the cops!” is what I usually say when I see a police car, quoting numerous cartoons from my childhood. However, I really have great respect for the police and often enjoy talking to them. I had a great opportunity to do so last Friday when the Town of Frankfort police department hosted Coffee with a Cop at Stewarts. I walked in and announced to the first cop I saw that I was there to have coffee with a cop. He handed me a gift card for a 12 oz. cups of coffee.
Coffee with a Cop aims to bring communities closer to their police departments, where they can learn about each other in a relaxed atmosphere. The aim is to increase trust and cooperation between police and the people they serve.
They were very nice about posing for me.
I asked how the officers enjoyed policing in Frankfort and received a very positive response. Officer Louis Romano praised Frankfort as a close-knit community. The department has a wide area to cover, as the Town of Frankfort took over policing for the Village as well as the Town of Frankfort as of Jan. 1, 2025.
Police officers cover the gamut of crime including domestic violence, burglary, and traffic offenses. The force patrols approximately 100 miles of roads within the town. Homelessness seems to be less of a problem in Frankfort than in surrounding villages, but the officers are equipped to deal with that as well.
The Chief of Police with a friend.
Several Frankfort residents stopped to talk to the policemen while I was there, sometimes to ask questions but more often just to shake their hands and thank them for their service. Mayor Justin Smithson was present at the beginning of the event. I was sorry I missed the Rock-n-Roll Mayor, but perhaps I will catch him at a future event.
Another photo op.
The police officers were quick to hand gift cards to anyone who entered Stewarts, giving everybody a chance to have coffee with a cop. Many of those present expressed the hope that this will become a regular event in Frankfort and in surrounding villages as well.
Mohawk Valley Girl 