Want to have a Coffee With A Cop?

The Guelph McDonald's location on Gordon Street is starting a new initiative to help bridge any gap between citizens and the Guelph Police Service.

Coffee With A Cop is its name and it starts on Friday, March 3, at the McDonald's just south of Downtown Guelph from 10 a.m. to noon.

Jennifer Antolin, owner of Guelph's four McDonald's locations, said it's just a simple way of bringing police and citizens together in a social setting to talk about the community.

"The way I see it, there's maybe a little bit of a disconnect with law figures and Joe Public on occasion," Antolin said.

"This is just a chance to have a non-threatening situation, a social situation, where everyone can have an open and honest dialogue with police," Antolin said.

It just so happens that this week is free coffee week at McDonald's, so she's hoping for a good turnout.

"We'll see how it goes. Hopefully we get a good, positive response and we can make it a regular or a semi-regular thing.

"My hope is it's something that makes people feel more comfortable and we can keep on doing it."

Antolin got the idea from a similar corporate initiative started in Toronto.

She approached the Guelph Police Service and officers Buzz Dean and Jim Gordon were on board with the chance at positive community engagement.

"The restaurant is a social spot and it's home base for a lot of people. They already feel comfortable so hopefully people will be more open to conversations in this type of environment," Antolin said.

Antolin took over the Guelph stores just under a year ago and said it's quite unique how different neighbourhoods have very different personalities.

She previously owned McDonald's in Milton.

"We're always looking for ways to get more involved in the community and get to know our guests a little better. This is just another way," Antolin said.