Montgomery Police Department Hosts Free Coffee at Local Bakery in Honor of National Police Week
Montgomery, Illinois – The Montgomery Police Department plans to honor National Police Week this weekend by offering free coffee for Coffee with the Cops on Sunday, May 15, from 10A to 1P at Atrevete Confections (216 N. River St.). The weeklong National Police Week runs from May 11-17, 2022, and honors, remembers, and promotes peer support while allowing law enforcement, survivors, and citizens to gather and pay homage to those who gave their lives in the line of duty. The Officers and staff will be onsite at the local pastry shop Sunday, looking to visit with residents, answer questions, and engage with the public.
“It is not the easiest time to be a police officer, but I have never been prouder of the team serving the Village of Montgomery these past few years,” says Chief of Police Phil Smith. “They want to be in the community, they want to give back, and they want to build relationships with residents.”
Atrevete Confections, a local Montgomery favorite, will provide free drip coffee for those visiting Sunday morning with the officers. The bakery, known for its French macaron rated the best in Illinois in 2021, is owned by Montgomery resident Jacquie Meija, a French-trained pastry chef. Additionally, the coffee and pastry shop offers a variety of croissants, desserts, quiche, breakfast flatbreads, and a wide selection of beverages such as coffee, tea, and lemonade.
“With the Village continuing to grow we chose a central location in downtown historic Montgomery,” says Officer Gina Galanis, who is helping plan the event for the community. “We love working with small businesses and with the community spanning from Ogden Hill Subdivision (Ogden Ave.) to the Balmorea Subdivision (Dickson Rd.). The riverside area and Atrevete Confections were a perfect fit for this first-time event.”
The Department encourages residents of all ages to stop by and say hello to the Officers, even if they don’t have specific questions or concerns. They will have coffee for the adults and squad car tours, activities, and giveaways for the younger residents. Several officers plan on being onsite and rotating throughout the three-hour event. The event aims to create positive police interactions outside of traffic stops, emergency responses, or other safety services. “We have an extremely supportive community. It is important for us to break the mold of community and police interactions you see in the media and make sure we work together to keep our Village safe, “ says Chief Smith. “I hope the community takes us up on the free coffee and comes out to say hello to our department.”
