UW-Whitewater Police Department’s Rock County Resource Officer Nicolas Thompson held an event where students and community members could sit and have conversations with him over a cup of coffee.

Officer Thompson’s “Coffee with a Cop” is an event he holds every fall semester at the Rock County campus. It is an event to give people an opportunity to learn more about UWWPD and its services along with getting to know Thompson and his duties on campus.

Being an officer for UWWPD is not just about law enforcement, but it is also about providing education for students.

“It’s not about us just writing tickets and doing things like that,” Thompson said. “We want to make sure we’re educating people on a lot of things you can and can’t do, or maybe how to make better choices and things like that.”

Part of the goal of the event was to make the image of police less intimidating and rather a more open resource for people to come talk to.

As Thompson wants to solve any problems or concerns students may have, he says, “Our department is the same as another tool in a toolbox.”

Even if he can’t find a direct answer, Thompson can help students find the proper resources that they need.

The event gives people the opportunity to sign up for programs to be better informed on public safety. From alcohol and drug awareness to self-defense programs, Thompson and UWWPD have programs to help the community.

Thompson started his policing career at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau. Working as a campus police officer for over 22 years, he worked both at the main campus in Whitewater and Rock County in Janesville. He is the university’s main resource officer at the Rock County campus.

But Thompson has had plenty of experience outside of the campuses, from providing security assistance for Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and helping with other departments nationwide for the 2024 Republican National Convention that was held in Milwaukee earlier this year.