2018.02.17: Coffee With a Cop

Coffee With a Cop
Community and Law Enforcement Engagement Event
IC Date	February 17. 2018
IC Time	Evening
Players	Tomas, Raise, Faith - Officer Donahue, Mikael, Catherine - Officer Shackleford, Caerus
Location	Prospect Roasters

Event Banner Reads: Coffee With a Cop. There are a half dozen or so police officers wearing the uniform of the Prospect Police Department, ranging in rank from Officer to Captain. Each officer is equipped with a standard duty belt, and baring any strange mischief, they will conduct themselves with utmost profesionalism - these officers were chosen for this event, by their command, to represent the best face of the PPD to the public. Please feel free to @emit NPC officers in conversation, however, if you want to get up to shenanigans, please page Officer Donahue (Faith) AND attend to the OOC notes in the buidling placed by the PC Owner. If you want to add supernatural powers to the mix, please alert the PC Owner Elosie and/or on-duty staff.

Prospect Roasters - Patio

The patio is spacious, sprawled out, leaving plenty of room between the tables so that well behaved doggies and their owners can enjoy a nice cup of coffee. There is a wooden fence around the place with an open gate and three steps that lead up. There is a wheelchair ramp off to one side that allows easy access for all. The chairs and tables spill over onto the sidewalk. Each table has its own little umbrella stuck through it. The umbrellas rotate and can be lifted or lowered for a custom sun preference. Off to one side there is a small stage, not more than 10 x 5 where a couple of people could set up to play music. There are outlets where someone could run a mic and an amp if they choose. There are even a couple of waiters that move back and forth to serve and bus tables.

Contents:

Tomas

Jacob

Tomas has his chair parked up beside an empty table, appearing to just being served his coffee.

It's still a bit of time before the event starts, and Officer Donahue is just stepping out onto the patio with a clipboard under her arm, and a cup of coffee in hand. She holds the door open for customer walking back into te cafe, a gesture that looks more like habit than show. When the door swings closed, she takes a moment to survey the seating, and clicks her tongue as she spies a rolled up banner still in it's wrapping propped against the stage. "Right.. because signs are clearly not for being read."

Tomas perks up from his coffee as if brought out of thought, "Huh? Were you saying something?" turning to look up upon the Officer.

Officer Donahue turns her attention to the man in the goggles, a smile tugging on her lips. It exacerbates the scar on her chin and is only held a moment. "I was complaining, because your tax collars should hire more effective help, Sir." She lifts her coffee in greeting toward Tomas before she heads for the stage. "Excuse me while I get this banner hung for the evening."

Tomas returns the cheers with his own coffee, "By all means." he replies with a chuckle watching her wander off to finish what should have been done before going back to sipping his coffee kind of muttering to himself.

The office approaches the stage and muscles the five foot tall roll up onto it, laying it down with a thumb that could disturbingly enough, pass for the sound of a body's deadfall. She whistles cherrily to herself as she starts to unravel the reams and reams of saran wrap.. trying to contain it first in her hands, but then wrapping it around her arm as it gets to be too unweildy. "Let the hazing begin.." she mutters to herself with a small smirk.

Tomas glances up with the loud thump, chuckles shaking his head a bit. Taking this break in thought to rummage through a pouch on his chair to pull out a notebook.

Raise ducks into the patio and looks around with a smile. Seeing Tomas he nods and heads over that way, "Hey there..." he pauses and steps back and inspects the chair, "Something is differet...." he looks up to Tomas, "Did you get a hair cut?"

Ofc. Shackleford comes in from Prospect Roasters - Coffee Shop

Tomas shows a warm grin when his friend first greets. Light laughter with the question about the haircut. "Very funny. The Chair. New and improved. Electric was the way to go. Though, watch this." He extends the handlebars upward and pulls himself to a standing position to which he extends his hand to his buddy..

Flap-flap-flap-flail! Streamers of saran wrap designed to keep the banner rolled tight zip loose with a wild sproing, as the coiled steel frame overcomes the threshold strength of it's bindings, leaving the officer to battle with a suddenly unfurled 20' x 5' banner decorated with the symbol of the Prospect Police Department. In order to keep it from flying off the stage, Officer Donahue pounces on the wild thing and looks up from her less than graceful four-point landing. Her expression reveals nothing of her emotional state as she sniffs lightly, seeing another unifomed officer arrive just in tame to catch the whole thing. "Totally under control.." states Faith, while wearing most of the saran-wrap packaging.

Raise shakes Tomas' hand and then his attention is turned to the stage and he looks like he is going to jump into action until the Officer says she has it under control, though he is not sure is she actually does or not at this point he remains next to Tomas just watching for the moment.

Ofc. Shackleford carefully carefully doesn't crack a smile at Faith's predicament. She just goes to help get the banner set up. "I heard you needed backup," she tells Faith, deadpan.

Tomas can't help but turn his attention to the comotion on stage. This is entertainment that can't be paid for. Real life as it comes. Shifting his goggles up to his forehead as if to get a better look at the ruckus. "You need a hand?" he calls over to her. An expression of amusement on his features all the same. "Go help the lady." he nudges Raise.

Officer Donahue's eyes snap to Raise, clearly she caught his tensing - and then Tomas' barely concealed ammusement. When Shackleford steps up, Faith rolls over and tries to shake loose some of the cling wrap. She waves at the civilians and then accepts Shackleford's hand up. "I think we've got this, now. I knew I should have taken the domestic disturbance call instead." She stomps her left boot and then shakes her leg, trying to dislodges some of the clear sticky film. "Why do I have the feeling there's a hidden camera somewhere?"

Ofc. Shackleford just points to the corner. "Security cam," she tells Donahue. "You might want to offer to buy the disk." She pulls a piece of cling wrap off Faith's back. "I think that's all of it. What's the plan? I was just told to come by and drink coffee, so I told the sergeant I can drink coffee with the best of 'em."

Raise smiles and turns back to Tomas, "Well I like it. How fast does it go?" he is obviously admiring the new wheelchair as he talks.

Tomas looks proudly to his friend, "It'll do 0 to 60 in a split never." chuckling, "Ohhh, It'll hit 45 on the open road. Thats only when I link it to the Chariot though." giving a shrug. "In pedestrain mode, it fits the standards for most electric wheelchairs with 2 speeds."

Securing a corner of the banner, and gesturing to the other side, Donahue answers "I know the owner, she'll probably post it on You Tube... hell I would if it had been you." She grins again and then counts down from three to one so they can hoist up the banner together. "I'm just glad it was you and not Sergeant Harkness who walked in. We'd have had to give him CPR." She glances back towards the men, then explains to Shackleford, "We're supposed to drink coffee, and impress the community with our ability to serve and protect. I think I already failed the mission. Your lead."

Raise puls out a chair at the table Tomas is at and sits down. making the extreme height difference a bit less, "So what else is new?" he glances to the officers with a smile as they hoist the banner.

Ofc. Shackleford ohs "Yeah, we're in trouble," she says to Donahue. She gest the banner hoisted and relaxes. "Harkness isn't so bad." Ofc. Shackleford doesn't sound convinced though. She looks around. "Bit of a crowd."

Mikael comes in from Prospect Roasters - Coffee Shop

Tomas releases the lift on the handlebars to slowly drift back into a seated position in his Ez-Go Especiale. "Ahh, not much. Have devoted the last however many months into this chair. I mean its not my original idea, but the mods are all mine. Hows the gym goin? I been slacking on the physical lately."

Raise sits down at Table 1.

Caerus wanders out onto the patio to see what is going on. He has a mug of tea in his left hand. He smiles casually and looks for a place to sit.

Tomas sits down at Table 1.

"Harkness is a piece of sh.." *cough* "Uh.. yeah, not that bad." Officer Donahue finishes securing the banner on the stage with Shakleford and then looks out over the growing crowd. "No kidding. But then I heard this place gets packed at night anyways, so maybe most of them are here for the coffee, not necessarily the comedy relief?"

Raise nods to Tomas, "It is going really well. Though I am there every morning still for my wake up work out I have not been there as much as I use to. Been working on my portfolio. I tripled my last goal last quarter. Quite a large return." his attention stray here and there taking in the crowd.

Caerus chuckles at the officer and raises his mug to them, "Some of us support our Police." He slips into a seat.

Caerus sits down at Table 3.

Tomas gives his friend a big smile, "That's great to hear. I'll be sure to roll by once my current research project is completed. You been watching the news at all?"

Ofc. Shackleford doesn't comment on Faith's near slip. "The coffee here is good," she says instead. Caerus gets a wave in return. "Evening," she greets him. "Glad everyone's here..." She looks at Faith, "You need a coffee 'fore we get cornered?"

Mikael is hurrying for once, as he is running late but things at the cafe had been hectic this morning. He arrives to find that at least not everyone had left yet, so relaxes and looks around. It's Saturday, and he is dressed very casually, wearing jeans and a tee shirt, with large sunglasses over his tired looking, bloodshot eyes. He glances around, not spotting any familiar faces at the moment, but with a smile on his face he joins the others looking over any information available, and checking out the officers who are present, especially any in uniform. ( http://coh.spork.com/images/thumb/4/42/Mikael5.jpg/800px-Mikael5.jpg )

Officer Donahue looks around for a moment, then secures the coffee cup she had set down on the stage before the fiasco. "Survived, and still hot. I'm good to go partner. You need a cup? Or shall we just mingle and try to look.. however we're supposed to look at these things?"

Raise looks over at the sudden movement of the man rushing in. But when he slows his attention goes back to Tomas, "I... well does the financial section count?" he gives a bag grin and then orders a coffee and a plate of pastries from the waitress when she appears." he gestures to Tomas, "You want anything? My treat."

Mikael orders a large dark roast, double expresso from Jacob.

Jacob smiles and runs to get the order.

Tomas nods affirmatively, "One o those fancy coffees would be nice. I think you can text your order in an they bring it out for you."

Jacob hands Mikael a large dark roast, double expresso and heads off to the next table.

Raise adds one of those fancy coffee's to the order with a smile and then looks back and talks quietly with Tomas at the table.

Ofc. Shackleford goes over to Jacob and orders a coffee as answer to the first part. "I hae no idea," she tells Faith. "MIngle, I guess...." She gets her coffee, a latte, and looks around before stepping out of the way of the counter and waiting to see if anyone wants to talk.

Tomas nods to whatever his friend said in an almost exagerrated way.

Raise asks Tomas, "So is this a fund raiser? Or... I came to help but now I am not sure what the thing is here?" he looks to his friend for direction.

Officer Donahue splits off from her partner, wandering over toward the table where Tomas and Raise are seated. She waits for a break in the conversation, without getting close enough to eavesdrop, "Actually it's just a chance for us to meet the community, and for the community to get to meet some of your neighborhood patrol officers. I bet you feel safer already." She lets go of a little good natured smirk. "I'm Officer Donahue, it's nice to meet you both."

Caerus says, "Officers there is a lot of talk of the gang activity in the area, and some say it is getting better due to your diligent service. What state of affairs do you think the more dangerous gangs are in about town?"

Mikael nods his head as he is approached, "Merci, Jacob, quite busy day, non?" He slips the man a large tip as he takes his cup. Noticing an officer, he decides to take the plunge and walks over to Officer Shackleford, and gives her a deep nod of his head, "Bonjour, it pleases me greatly to be able to come out and support more of the men and women in blue of Prospect. Allow me to introduce myself... I am Mika?l Rousseau, owner of Vieux Carre, and Bourbon & Bedlam."

Tomas looks up to the officer, noting the gang unit badge. "Name's Tomas, an this is Raise. I was curious, you being in the gang unit. Like that guy asked," glancing to Caerus, "Whats goin on with the street racing? I mean that last race where the folks died was only a few blocks from my neighborhood."

Ofc. Shackleford takes a few steps toward Caerus, "I'm not sure I understand the question, sir. Do you mean what are the gangs up to and is activity going down?"

Raise smiles broadly to Officer Donahue and motions an invitation to join them at the table, "I am Raise Devlin. I own the New Hope MMA Gym and have invested heavily in Prospect. It is a pleasure to meet you." he seems interested about the racing as well.

Caerus nods to Shakleford, "Yes, that is a topic of conversation I hear all about town. Talk of gang this or gang that. Is the violent activity going down or getting worse?"

Tomas responds with, "Well isn't the street racing a gang event? How are both divisions working together to combat this activity? Have the city considered street cameras, gunshot sensors, or anything of the like?"

Ofc. Shackleford wavers a hand. "Hard to say since it changes pretty often. It's in a slump from the storm, and," she nods toward Donahue, "The gang division has been working hard. But it's sort of like swatting flies. You get one and three more pop up somewhere else. It's really more a question of location as to whether things are on the rise or ebb."

Raise seems to just be listening. He has not had any experience with gang activity so far. But he still seems interested.

Mikael finds a seat, and sips at his coffee just listening for the moment.

Donahue smiles over at Mikael, having caught his introduction in the flow of conversation. "Good evening Sir, a pleasure to meet you." She turns back to Shacklford with a thumbs up, then explains to Tomas. "The racing is just a cover for moving drugs, people, or another more fiscally advantageous activity Sir. I can see by the mods you've made to your own vehicle, which is impressive by the way.. that you probably realize the funds won on gambling barely cover the cost of upgrades and fuel, let alone repairs. So, what we have to do is monitor the activity, and stike a balance between shutting down events like street racing that endager the lives of the participants and innocent citizens, while at the same time, gathering enough information to persue the money-making activities that provide the liquid assests the gangs operate on. Most of the gangs you'll see in Prospect these days are not your 1970's hoodlums with bad fashion sense. They're full scale criminal enterprises who use the thugs for distraction."

Caerus says to Donahue, "Now that is interesting about them being a full scale criminal enterprise. I have dodged through many different gangs but did think along those lines."

Tomas raises a curious brow in thought. "Interesting. I hadn't thought of all that in the equasion. That puts a different spin on my theories. Though you would think making a nuisance of yourself would be less advantagous to such entities." the final sentence seeming to be said more to himself than to the officer.

Mikael sits down at Table 2.

Raise smiles and shrugs, "I don't know much about street racing or gang activity. But I would like to help in some way if I can. Is there a youth element? Maybe I could fund the building of an inter-city gym owned and run by the city? Would that be something that might be a help to get under privledged youth to focus there aggression productively and possibly keep them out of the gangs?"

Ofc. Shackleford nods to Caerus, and adds, "Oh there's a little of the turf wars still but it's more commercial, and about making money. Drugs is probably the biggest thing, of course." She makes a face, hiding the brief grimace behind a sip of coffee. "Biggest money maker...lots of things go into hiding or misdirecting us and competition from what they're doing with drugs."

Officer Donahue turns slightly from Tomas and Raise's table to give Caerus a lift of her cup. She repondes then to Tomas with a soft lift of her shoulder, echoing Shacklford. "Distraction is almost always the best tactic in the twenty first century, hell, it can even get someone elected President." The officer's jaw ticks as she winces slightly. "They really ought to send the public service division out on these events. The security tapes from this are gonna cost me a fortune." She turns then to Raise and opens her gloved hands. "Actually, just getting the kids off the street two hours a week and into physical fitness, an activity that boosts self esteem, and healthy competuition that breeds mutual respect and honor over rivalry, has been shown to reduce youth related violence by over fourty six percent in urban areas."

Mikael gives a nod of his head and a smile to Officer Donahue at her words to him, but doesn't interrupt the conversation at the moment. He appears interested though, and seems to be mulling over some of their answers.

Caerus nods to Donahue seeming impressed by the effect of a program on youth.

"Father figures," Ofc. Shackleford tells Raise, following up on Faith's reply. "Most of the kids' fathers are missing....single mothers on welfare, so the gang takes the place of Dad. Part of why the sports are effective," she nods at Faith again, "Is the coaches. And the more involved the coaches are, the better the results. Big Brothers Big Sisters works too, it helps alot in fact."

Tomas pulls out his watch after a series of electonic beeps goes off. With a look of excitement, "It's almost done!" He turns to Raise and the Officer, "It was nice talkin to ya. I'll see you around, Raise. I have to go check on an experiment thats been running for the last two days. I should finally have a reaction." and with that, he spins his chair around and rolls towards the door in a slow, yet steady pace.

Tomas goes home.

Raise smiles and nods to his friend, "Travel safely."

Stepping back, Donahue waves after Tomas. "Thank you for coming Tomas, it was nice to meet you." She nods in Officer Shackleford's direction and taps her nose. "Family ties.. blood or otherwise. Belonging to something bigger than yourself is a human need. These kids are going to join something, anything. What we do as a community to provide them with options, shapes their lifes and our futures." She turns back to Raise and smiles. "Any programs for these kids would be awesome."

Mikael speaks up finally and asks, "What of those who are not that interested in sports? I have noticed murals about the city that show great potential in artwork. Could this also not be developed and encouraged among the youth of the city, as well as music, and other areas that tend to be overlooked and thus open to suggestive negative factors? Perhaps an addition to a recreation center for youth might be classes in such. I would be happy to donate time to aid in such an endeavor." His eyes go to the man in the wheelchair leaving, Tomas, and he gives him a polite nod of his head.

Officer Donahue looks to Shacklford to field Mikael's input on the arts.

Mikael adds, "And funds as well, of course."

Caerus says, "I have seen some cities that have mural walls just so taggers can tag, and other walls for the more talanted or group work that is more permemant. The tag walls are whitewashed every month."

Ofc. Shackleford umms at Mikael. "Any activity...hte nature of it doesn't really matter in my opinion. I havent' seen research on other than sports. Sports is easy to measure. I think, though, it's the father figure. Like Faith said, we all want to belong, we want to be looked after, or be responsible for others. When that's missing, well, we'll find substitutes. Usually bad ones."

Raise smiles and shrugs, "Well I don't have much on free time but as I said I would be willing to fund a project." he offers a card to Officer Donahue, "Just have the right person get in contact with me and I would be happy to allocate the needs funds to a project of that sort."

Caerus offers a small round of applause for Raise, "Oh, that is just wonderful thing for you to do sir."

Mikael nods to the officer, "But then those not interested in sports are likely canidates for those recruiting, and alter their life to become soldiers instead, often because of peers, or the need to belong. My offer still stands. And I will look into this 'Big Brother' program."

The card is accepted and placed carefully in her pocket. "Thank you Sir, I'll make certain to pass your interest on to public affairs." She glances over at Caerus and the applause with a slight laugh. "I think you have a fan Mr. Devlin."

"Oh, I agree," Ofc. Shackleford tells Mikael. "They have the same need to belong as anyone else. Somethign..." she looks at Raise, "You talked about gyms? One thing we're noticing is that the gangs are getting real training, and this is bad. It used to be that they couldn't fight. Well, a few could, but more and more of them are turning up with real martial arts training. They still can't shoot, as a rule, but I'm scared that one day they'll learn they need to learn to use a gun. That'll be a bad day, when they start actually practicing. So if you do set up a gym...just, umm, have a care about that?"

Caerus nods to Mikael, "Well said sir," but there is no applause. He does stand, "Nice to meet you officers. Thank you for putting your lives on the line for ours and for the future of those that live here." He gets the offers a small round of applause even if no one else joins in.

Caerus stands and leaves Table 3.

Raise nods in appreciation, "I am open for it to be more than just a gym. Maybe have some extra rooms that could rotate purposes." he shrugs. I am not in the construction field though. I will leave that to those smarter in such things than me."

"Agreed Mr. Devlin, I'm sure there are folks out there who are already skilled at program development, and they'll be thrilled to have the suport of folks like yourself and Mr. Rousseau." Officer Donahue peels off to mingle with a few more of the citizens as the event begins to wind down.

Raise looks to Ofc. Shackleford with a smile, "Ohh I understand. I am not offering to run the facility just build it. It would need to go into the public works or recreation departments I would guess. But I am sure they would be happy to get a new facility to use in the effort for our youth."

Caerus nods in appreciation to the officers and makes his way out giving Raise a small nod as he exits.

Caerus moves to Comet St. and Ash St.

Ofc. Shackleford shakes her head. "Sorry, I guess i wasn't clear. My concern, and you can pass this on," she tells Raise, "To whoever runs the program is please please make sure you don't have current gang members in the program. They'll be there for the training which makes them that much worse. It's about prevention. Getting someone out of a gang." She shakes her head. "Now that's hard."

Mikael glances over at Raise, and offers a hand to the other man, "Mika?l Rousseau, Monsieur, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Perhaps we might work together to benefit the city, non?" He turns his head to listen to Officer Shackleford, and nods his head. "Oui, some look for 'family' in such, and once accepted it is hard to help them understand that their new 'family' is not that at all. I have an ami who is also attempting to aid those who have already ended up in prison become a part of normal society again. Such is important if there is to be any change in the cycle."

Raise shakes Mikael's hand, "Raise Devlin. If you are offering to add funds to my offer on a gym slash community center for the innercity I would like that very much. You are welcome to add your contact information to mine and when the city makes a decision we can discuss the finacial terms at that time. I mean if that is acceptable?"

Officer Donahue looks on as Raise and Mikael interact, turning to look for her partner in law. She nods to Shackleford and taps the face of her watch.. time to start winding this down apparently. "Hey," offers Faith, "I didn't blow anything up - does that count as a success?"

Mikael says, "Why, of course, Monsieur Devlin, I would be more than happy to do such," he takes out a thin card case from the pocket of his jeans, and takes out several business cards, extending one in his hand to Raise, as well as the two officers. "These are my businesses currently in the city, and contact numbers. Please feel free to call upon me, and our offices can get in touch, oui?" He glances back to the officers, seeing that they are about to wind up the meeting, and seems glad he had been able to at least make it in time to get involved."

Faith's question gets a grin. Ofc. Shackleford nods "It's a win. Didn't have to arrest anyone. You know what that means of course?" She lifts an eyebrow in Donahue's direction.

Raise stands and tosses money on the table. A large tip by the looks of it. Dispite his large stature Raise does present a friendly demeanor, "Well it was a pleasure to meet you all. I appreciate all you do for the city ladies. We do offer a discount at the gym for all first responders so feel free to swing by on your off time if you like."

"In LA it means no beer.. so, we roll up the banner then go walk through the shittiest neighborhood in town on the way back to the precinct?" Faith turns to accept the cards from Mikael and adds, "Joking.. really. Maybe. Probably not. God damn - I'm never getting out of here with that security tape. Eloise has got rights to my soul."

"It means no paperwork," Ofc. Shackleford answers. "And yeah, a walk through the bad neighborhoods." She lets Donahue take the cards. "THe tape is between you and Eloise. At least she's nice."

Mikael makes a soft chuckling sound at the Officer Donahue (Faith I think?), "Mademoiselle Eloise is a wonderful woman, I think she would hold your soul with care."

Raise moves to Comet St. and Ash St.