The University of Houston Police Department hosted its first Coffee With a Cop event of the year, and amidst passing out free cookies, brownies, coffee, and Cougar Red Punch, officers engaged with students and shared vital campus safety information.
“We’re here for them—to inform as many students as possible about all the safety resources on campus,” said Crime Prevention Officer Amir Watkins, describing why it’s important for UHPD to continue hosting these community events.
January’s Coffee With a Cop gathering also served a second purpose: introducing the department’s newest team members. Four new officers and a security lead attended, and Watkins noted that the event gave them their first face‑to‑face interactions with students.
Orlando Martinez, a public policy freshman and first‑time attendee, was among those who connected with Watkins.
“I think it's a very good way to connect with students,” Martinez said. “It allows people to come here, meet the officers, get to know their community, and build a stronger connection.”
Another first‑time attendee, Ziwei Zhao, a first‑year political science Ph.D. student, walked away from the event feeling more informed about how to contact UHPD in an emergency. With her coffee in hand, Zhao spoke with new UHPD Officer Mathews, who showed her the multiple ways to reach the department—including the UHPD call button in the UH Go app.
“Yes, it was very helpful,” Zhao said. “But hopefully I won’t have to use it.”
Officers received a range of questions throughout the event, including inquiries about the location of the UHPD station, why UH has its own police department, and what an average day looks like for an officer on campus.
Talking with students and sharing campus safety information is at the heart of every Coffee With a Cop event hosted by the University of Houston Police Department—and the first event of the year delivered exactly that.