Coffee with the Cops
Daily Herald 11/22/2007

Glen Ellyn's police department will begin playing host to Coffee with the Cops every month, with the first at 8 a.m. Dec. 1 on the second floor of the Glen Ellyn Civic Center, 535 Duane St.. Police said the intent is for residents to come to an informal setting to get answers about police-related issues.

Chief Phil Norton, Deputy Chief Bill Holmer and others will be available for about two hours to answer questions or discuss topics.

The open-house is expected to continue on a monthly basis, as long as there is community interest. Light refreshments will be served. For details, call (630) 469-1187.

This sounds like a great idea. Thanks Ted.

While I am encouraged that some forum for discussion is planned, I wonder what Phil and Bill would have told us if the first meeting was in May of 2007. Would he have told us that an 8 year old girl was raped just days earlier? Unfortunately the answer is no because Phil thinks he knows what we should know and not know. There is an unexplainable urge to control the flow of information. Unless they are willing to openly communicate all that is going on, it will be more show than substance. Phil is big on "face to face" communication, forgetting the fact that there are other ways to accurately relay information and that we live in the 21st century and no one wants to trot down to the civic center on Saturday mornings to get information when it could just as easily been emailed or posted on a public website. It couldn't possibly be any harder to post information on a website than it is recording it in the "arrest book" down at the station. The point is that the police are willing to share with us only if we jump through their hoops and that is unacceptable.

While any increased communication is welcome and should be encouraged, Fish brings up several interesting points. Wonder if Glen Ellyn could have both? Perhaps the coffee could be cut to an hour and the other hour could be devoted to posting the electronic communication suggested above. The internet is a powerful tool that would answer a lot of our residents' questions without the time or expense of hosting a monthly open house. Pursuing both avenues of communication seems like it would be a big win for all of us.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MP:
While any increased communication is welcome and should be encouraged, Fish brings up several interesting points. Wonder if Glen Ellyn could have both? Perhaps the coffee could be cut to an hour and the other hour could be devoted to posting the electronic communication suggested above. The internet is a powerful tool that would answer a lot of our residents' questions without the time or expense of hosting a monthly open house. Pursuing both avenues of communication seems like it would be a big win for all of us.

So smart and so polite...two things I can only dream about.

I wasn't going to go, but ended up going this AM for a couple of reasons. Both Phil and Bill were present and answered many questions including my own. Although I am not happy with some of their answers, hearing their response was beneficial. It lasted over 2 hrs. Never met Phil before, but thought he was a real nice guy. I know what some of you are thinking and say what you want, at least they put themselves out in front of the public and were willing to take heat. They plan on doing this every month. It's a great start to building needed trust within this community. I would encourage each of you to go to the next one rather than just gripe here.

He didn't call your interest in a criminal matter prurient. That is a little hard for me to get over.

I know, that is unacceptable. However, we either need to look beyond the name calling or hold their feet to the fire by attending one of these sessions. Get it off your chest. Until you do, we are not moving forward. BTW, Phil initiated conversation on this topic himself. It was discussed. You can't hate the guy for that.

quote:

Originally posted by bitterboy:
I know, that is unacceptable. However, we either need to look beyond the name calling or hold their feet to the fire by attending one of these sessions. Get it off your chest. Until you do, we are not moving forward. BTW, Phil initiated conversation on this topic himself. It was discussed. You can't hate the guy for that.

I don't hate him. Though I've spoken to him only briefly, I know enough about him to know that on a personal basis I would actually like him a lot. My frustration goes well beyond that unfortunate choice of words and is directed not just at him, but at this mysterious and unexplained desire to control the flow of information out of our little local government and the police department is just a part of that. Transparency and communication are what we deserve and what we don't get 100% of the time.

You are right, I should go, but I am honestly afraid of saying something that I would regret...and I really mean that. I have a hard time thinking and acting rationally when I get in an emotionally charged situation. I'm not looking to make even more enemies by saying something stupid to cop #1 and #2. (remember what I did to that old man at the coffee shop??) My shrink says I'm making progress and just a few more months of shock therapy is all that I need. Maybe then I'll attend.

I'd love to hear what transpired. I know you know Grateful. Let's get him and hook up for a beer sometime soon.

Sure. I have no clue what happened in the coffee shop, but would love to hear about it.

I brought up the homeless issues without even going into the rape. Like I said, he brought the rape issue up himself. I don't know enough about it, nor do I know enough to determine whether what he was telling me is or is not true. All I know is that he was willing to discuss it. It's a start. I didn't grill him, nor did I put him on the extreme defensive. There was an opportunity to call him out regarding the dissemination of the information to the public. I did so politely by giving him my opinion. I wish I had dug into that one a bit more. I plan on going to a few more. You should go and let out your frustrations and if it get's heated, so what? IMO, this is why they are hosting these sessions. Give them one more chance.

how many citizens attended? (estimate)

12-15.

quote:

I'd love to hear what transpired. I know you know Grateful. Let's get him and hook up for a beer sometime soon.

Fish, I am in for the beer and would love to tilt one back with Bitter and others. Happy Hour next Friday.

Where have you been? I think Friday may work. I usually arrive home slightly after 5 and lately it's been unpredictable.

This Friday one of my guppies has a gymnastic meet in DeKalb. I'm open for other days.

See Help Wanted/Work Sought.. forum regarding my availability. I think candidate has been wanting to get together too. FYI, I have extended the hours to accomodate Fish. It's no joke.