Jun. 30—OXFORD — Residents of Oxford have an opportunity to sit down and chat with members of the Oxford Police Department.

On July 8, the department is sponsoring Coffee with a Cop. The setting will be the Strong Arm Baking Co., at 117 Main St.

From 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., police officers will be in the bakery to talk with members of the community.

"It's for anybody that wants to come in and express any concerns they want to bring," Oxford Police Lt. Eric Stockwell said.

But it is intended to be a two-way street, he said. The police will be ready to provide information the public needs.

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Coffee with a Cop is based on a simple idea: Bringing police and members of the community together in a casual setting will encourage an informal exchange of ideas, concerns and needs, leading to mutual understanding. The idea is to break down barriers between officers and the community.

The Oxford Police Department began its version of Coffee with a Cop in 2014. "The reception has been positive," Stockwell said.

The setting is key. And the Strong Arm Baking Co. offers an inviting place to sit down and sip a cup of java. Created and operated by Julia and Thomas Blaine, it provides baked goods to coffee shops throughout the Triangle. In addition, the company offers delivery service to individual customers.

In 2019, the Blaines purchased the building in the downtown Oxford business district to convert their previously home-based business into a storefront business. It's open for walk-in business from 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.