Coffee by Cops

SOAP LAKE - The Soap Lake Tip-a-Cop event was held for the fourth year in a row at The Busy Bean coffee stand, located at 320 Sixth Ave. SE, Tuesday.

“It helps us raise money to support the families and kids of our community but it's also a way for us to work with the community,” said Soap Lake Police Chief Ryan Cox.

With Tip-a-Cop, local law enforcement helps the business serve patrons for one day and is given all the tips they earn during that time.

The Tip-a-Cop event supports the Soap Lake Police Department Benevolent Fund, which in turn supports a number of community-oriented endeavors including the annual Shop With a Cop event. It is the only fundraiser the department does annually, the rest of the money that supports the fund is through various donations and grants.

“I am grateful for all the locals and people from out of town who come here just for this cause,” said Kenzie Balentine, owner of The Busy Bean. “I feel like our regulars really rally for this and they love it just as much as we do.”

Cox said Tip-a-Cop is a great way for the department to connect with the residents and business owners in the community where both can benefit. This directly connects to Cox’s community-based policing focus. Cox said in earlier interviews that community-based policing creates positive interactions with the public in a variety of settings so that interactions when police presence is necessary, is a smoother experience for all involved.

“It’s a really great reach-out for us,” Soap Lake Police Officer Robert Geates said.

Five Soap Lake School District children will be selected for the Soap Lake Shop With a Cop event this year.

After the shopping trip with law enforcement, the children and their families gather at the Soap Lake Community and Senior Center to wrap the gifts they just bought and share a meal.

Cox said they determine the amount they will spend on each child after looking at the amount they raised at Tip-a-Cop and the funds they have available in the benevolent fund.

Balentine said they raised almost $1,600 at last year’s Tip-a-Cop and hoped they would raise that much or more this year. Cox said on Wednesday that they had raised slightly more than $1,200 at Tuesday’s event.

“Our goal every year is to raise between three and five thousand dollars,” said Cox.

Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.

Want to tip in?

Anyone wanting to donate to Shop With a Cop, or the benevolent fund in general, can drop off checks at the Soap Lake Police Department or the City of Soap Lake office. Checks should be made out to the Soap Lake Police Department or the City of Soap Lake with “Shop With a Cop” in the memo line. Police Chief Ryan Cox recommended that cash donations be dropped off at the city office so that a receipt may be provided.