Santa Monica Police officers eat gelato while meeting with members of the community during "Gelato with a Cop" at Ugo Cafe on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. The majority of law enforcement contacts with the public occur during emergencies or emotional situations. Those situations are not always the most effective time to build relationships. Coffee with a Cop aims to break down barriers and allow for relaxed interaction. Gelato with a Cop, aka Coffee with a Cop events are designed to provide an opportunity for the community to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know their Police Department. The relaxed nature of this event is intended to allow Police Department to get to know the community, and for community members to get to know the officers who serve Santa Monica. The goal is to strengthen the relationship between the Santa Monica Police Department and the community. Coffee with a Cop events are now held in all 50 states and is one of the most successful community oriented policing programs across the country. The program has also expanded to outside the United States to Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa, and Latin America. The key to Coffee with a Cop’s growing success is that it opens the door for interactions outside of crisis situations that typically bring law enforcement officers and community members together.