Dysart resident and former Military Police Officer Charlie Cranston (center) chats with Dysart Police Chief Joe Hols (left) and Officer Jeremy Stenda (right) in the basement of the Dysart Community Building on Tuesday, Jan. 25. Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker

If you couldn’t make it to the second Dysart Police Department’s ‘Coffee & Donuts with a Cop’ chat last Tuesday, Jan. 25 in the Dysart Community Building, Dysart PD doesn’t blame you as the outside temperatures that morning felt like a cool minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit.

In an effort to break down barriers that can often exist between law enforcement and the community, Dysart Police Officer Jeremy Stenda started holding the coffee events in November of last year. The November event was well attended, Stenda said, with roughly a dozen folks sitting down in the community building’s basement to enjoy a cup of coffee, a donut, and learn more about their local officers.

This month’s event had one lone attendee in addition to Chief Joe Hols and officers Stenda and Ray Brady – Dysart resident Charlie Cranston.

“I think [the coffee chats] are great,” Cranston said. “I used to be a cop in the military.”

For roughly 90 minutes, the quartet chatted about life in a small town and how policing has changed through the years, as well as everyday chatter including why Brady wears a black hoodie under his uniform – plain and simple, because its warm, but also it gives off cool Hawkeye vibes from the Marvel movies, Brady admitted when told he reminded the Telegraph of the bow-wielding character.

Dysart Police Officer Ray Brady smiles while holding a cup of joe on Tuesday, Jan. 25, in the Dysart Community Building during the most recent 'Coffee & Donuts with a Cop' event meant as an avenue to both humanize the individuals behind the badge and further community outreach. Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker

The Marvel conversation seemingly proves Stenda’s point in holding the coffee chats – everyday conversation with law enforcement can humanize the individuals behind the badge.

“There’s no formal presentation,” Stenda said of the coffee chats. “It’s really designed to just be more transparent [as a law enforcement body] so if they see you in a squad car, they know who you are.”

Between the three of them, the Dysart Police Dept. has 65 years of experience in law enforcement. Chief Hols began his career in 1990, joining the Dysart PD in April of 2015. Brady began his career in 2000, joining the Dysart PD full time in July 2019, while Stenda graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in 2011.

Stenda – who became full time with the Dysart department this year on Jan. 18 having previously been only part time – is hopeful next month’s chat will bring out more community members much like the first event.

Scheduling the coffee chats while most people are at work is partially by design, Stenda said, as he’s trying to interact with older generations, but that doesn’t mean the events will always be held during the day.

Don't forget the donuts! Dysart Police Officer Jeremy Stenda always brings the good ones. Officer Stenda is considering mixing it up for future 'Coffee & Donuts with a Cop' events - watch for a possible ‘Burritos & Chips with a Cop’... Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker

Stenda has some ideas for possible evening events including the intriguing idea of ‘Burritos with a Cop’ or even ‘Pizza with a Cop.’.

“Hopefully it’ll be warmer,” Stenda said of those future events.

Warm or not, there will again be coffee and the chance to informally chat with the cops who keep the Dysart community safe.

Refer to the Dysart Police Department’s Facebook page for information on upcoming coffee (or burrito) chats.