Meet & Greets Hosted By Portland Police At Starbucks Is Happening

Starbucks has been in the news (again) recently for asking 6 police officers in Tempe, Arizona to leave the store or move from a customers line of sight because that person didn't feel safe. The story went viral and the coffee chain apologized to the officers. Last year another incident went viral at a Starbucks in a Philadelphia shop after two black men were arrested while they waited for a guest. Starbucks later settled with the men privately, and then temporarily closed 8,000 stores across the U.S. for anti-bias training.

Now the Portland Press Herald reports that this month Portland Police will hold meet and greets at Starbucks beginning Friday at the store on Congress Street.

"Coffee With A Cop" begins at 2pm. Friday will be the first of three scheduled for July. The other meet and greets are scheduled for the 17 at 3pm at the Exchange Street location, and the 23 at 2pm at the Commercial Street store.

These meet and greets have nothing to do with the Arizona incident, these meetings were put into motion and planned weeks ago to connect with community members, the business community and residents, the article reports.

The Press Herald says Coffee with a cop began in California in 2011 as a way for police officers to interact with the public outside of emergency calls or confrontational situations. It has become a popular event across the country. This Friday will be the first Coffee With A Cop for Portland.