Story and Photos By Kyla Hurt
A “Coffee with a Cop” event was held from 9-10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at Hardee’s on West Morton Avenue in Jacksonville. The gathering was open to all and was an opportunity for the community to meet the new JPD Police Chief Doug Thompson, who replaced Adam Mefford as he retired.
Additionally, the event is a time for retired police to meet up. The Coffee with a Cop is a monthly happening and was started in May 2014 by retired Illinois State Police officer Henry Rosenberger, of Waverly. Rosenberger said, “We get together and tell stories.” Also present was Ron Cox, retired from the Bureau of Investigations with DHS. Cox takes photos at the events and brings his albums holding many of those photos along with old photos from his time with BOI to the events.
The albums proved to be interesting for attendees at the December 2024 Coffee with a Cop event. Officers with the Jacksonville Police Department were also present and enjoyed conversation with members from the community and the several retired officers.
