As a supervisor with the Melbourne Beach Police Department, Sgt. Steven Kino’s day is never routine, but often includes well-being checks, handling calls for service and reviewing case reports.
It can also include handing out snow cones, sharing a cup of coffee with a resident, or passing out free tickets to an upcoming event.
That’s because, for this police department, it’s not just about patrol, investigations and traffic enforcement – it’s also about creating trust, reducing fear and building partnerships with the community.
It’s an attitude cultivated by Police Chief Melanie Griswold, who began planning a series of community events last February with her first Coffee with a Cop event, where she invited residents to come and meet their police officers and share whatever was on their mind in a relaxed environment with free pastries, bagels and coffee.
Up next for the department is Melbourne Beach Cinema Nights, the first event to debut Friday night in Ryckman Park.
“These will be free movies, and we are hoping to have at least three between now and the end of the year,” Griswold said. “The officers will be serving popcorn and snow cones free of charge to those that attend.”
Sgt. Kino and Officer Ryan McDuffie are spearheading the event.
“They are very excited and have worked diligently to put this event together,” Griswold said. “It is just one of our ways of building partnerships with our community.”
After seven years as a traffic homicide investigator, community resource officer and patrol officer in Cocoa, McDuffie said he joined Melbourne Beach five months ago in part because of the relationship the community has with its officers.
“I feel the event is great for the community because it allows the community to interact with their law enforcement officers in the town and build relationships with them,” McDuffie said. “With all the negativity in the media these days with police officers, it is important that today’s youth have positive encounters with law enforcement in the community, as well as the local citizens.”
Kino agrees. “It allows the community to come out and interact with officers from the Melbourne Beach Police Department in a positive manner,” he said. “I feel it’s very important for not only the youth, but people of all ages, to have positive encounters with police.”
Going forward, the department is also planning to organize a community beach clean-up, and will continue to host Coffee with a Cop.
“When we make these close partnerships with our community, the objective is to determine community needs, primary concerns and to promote our police officers,” Griswold said.
Melbourne Beach Cinema Night featuring “The Lego Movie 2,” will take place at 7 p.m. on July 5 in Ryckman Park, 509 Ocean Ave., Melbourne Beach.