Maddox VanDeusen, decked out in his Halloween SWAT uniform, shows officer his radio, handcuffs and night stick.

ZELIENOPLE — Police lights and sirens lit up the borough Friday morning, inaugurating the Zelienople Police Department's first Coffee with a Cop event at the Spring Street Cafe.

Officers gathered at the cafe at 9:30 a.m. and mingled with families and residents, showing children the ins and outs of police cruisers and drinking coffee with residents.

Officer Bret Myers said he pitched the idea as a way for the community to get to know the officers in their area.

“I pitched it to the chief and he was all about it,” said Myers. “It's important to see people can get out and meet us and we're humans too. We have hobbies and families and lives just like they do.”

A few families brought children to meet officers.

Amy and Mike VanDeusen brought their son Maddox.

“He's obsessed with police officers,” Mike VanDeusen said. “He's going to be a police officer for Halloween.”

Maddox, decked out in his Halloween SWAT outfit showed officers his radio, handcuffs and nightstick.

Other families and residents came by to thank officers for their service.

Myers said these events are important to for residents and officers to better understand one another.

“I think it's really important we get the community involved,” he said. “We need it now more than ever, community relations.”

The department plans to do this every year and hopes to continue to see it grow, he said.