Niagara County Sheriff Jim Voutour talks with a trio of regular Tim Horton's customers this morning during "Coffee with a Cop." (PHOTOS BY HEATHER N. GRIMMER / ENP PHOTOGRAPHER)

BY SCOTT LEFFLER
scott.leffler@eastniagarapost.com

---

TOWN OF LOCKPORT — Tim Hortons was abuzz with chatter this morning as Niagara County Sheriff's Office officials took time to casually chat with area residents.

The second such event was held at 9 a.m. at the coffee shop across from Tops on South Transit Road, drawing in customers with promises of free coffee and donuts, and the chance to air the concerns or just say "hi" to NCSO representatives, including Sheriff Jim Voutour, Undersheriff Mike Filicetti, Chief Jail Administrator Kevin Payne, Captain Michael Dunn and Deputy Robert Richards.

Deputy Robert Richards shares a cup of coffee with an area resident this morning.

The undersheriff declared the event a success.

"A lot of people came in and said that they'd seen we'd be here and they just came in to talk to us," Filicetti said.

People's primary concerns were quality of life issues, including traffic issues, and loud cars in their neighborhoods, he said.

He said it's good for the department to get out and talk with folks in a non-confrontational setting.

"I think when we went into the patrol cars and don't do foot patrol, you're never connected enough," he said. That makes outreach like today's "Coffee with a Cop" all the more important.

The tab for the coffee and donuts was picked up by A Hand Up, Inc.

---

Get the daily East Niagara Post email update.
Send an email to news@eastniagarapost.com with "email update" in the subject line.