Coffee with a cop in Montpelier

Instead of handing out tickets, officers are handing out free coffee.

Throughout the week, police departments across the state are celebrating coffee with a cop. The Montpelier Police Department got into the spirit Saturday handing out coffee at the farmers' market on State Street. Every couple of months the department will set up shop somewhere in the city. Montpelier's police chief says it's an opportunity to hear directly from the community.

"It's just an opportunity to have a non-confrontational time to just meet with the community, answer any questions they may have, comments and it's really so we can be engaged," said chief Tony Facos.

The chief says it's also important to have the public's trust. He says these casual conversations can help develop that.