Stingray Chevrolet was the safest place in Florida on Wednesday, October 2 from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. Dozens of PCPD officers and HCSO deputies were on location for the annual Coffee with a Cop event. Law enforcement squad cars, motorcycles, and special operations vehicles and equipment lined the parking lot. This is the one time citizens didn’t have to worry about rolling up the windows and locking the doors of their parked cars. Citizens rolled in and out during the event.
“We have been doing this for many years,” Steve Hurley, owner of Stingray Chevrolet commented. “There have been a lot challenges that went along with the discourse in many of the cities during the Covid times—a lot of law enforcement weren’t really understood or appreciated. We just wanted to give back and show our appreciation for law enforcement by putting on this event.”
“I came to see some of my friends and congratulate the Sheriff on another year of great service,” Plant Citian Doug Erskine said.
“I am here to support the law enforcement community,” William Thomas, Jr. President of the Improvement League of Plant City, said. “They are a vital component of who we are in the City of Plant City—tremendous supporters of a lot of things I personally do volunteer-wise. It is an opportunity for residents to come out and get to know officers first hand, build some fellowship, some camaraderie among those who live in our communities and protect our communities. I would encourage individuals to take the opportunity to get to know law enforcement.”
“We came here to show appreciation to our law enforcement and show the kids police cars and police trucks, and show community,” Plant City resident Chris Heynil said.
“One of the things that we try to instill in our deputies is to create these lasting relationships that will carry into the future,” HCSO Lieutenant Felipe Docobo said. “It gives us a better pulse on what is happening in the community, and allows us to respond in a better fashion.”
“I just want to thank Steve Hurley and his wife Susan for everything that they do for Plant City,” Mayor Nate Kilton commented. “I think it goes along with the ethos of who we are as a Plant City community. We really do appreciate and value our first responders, so we’re having an event where we can have engagement between them and the community to show them the respect and appreciation they deserve.”
“Steve Hurley has always been a friend of Plant City,” PCPD Chief Richard Mills commented. “He is a very valuable asset to the community. He does a lot for the community and for law enforcement. This is a perfect example of what I have talked about since I first came in. Our motto is, “Cops, Community, Collaboration,” We have a bunch of cops out here being together, getting to know one another, collaborating with one another, and then we are interacting with the community.”