Grab your mug and your concerns because the Johnson City Police Department is holding its December Community Roundtable at The Well Coffee Shop, offering a chance to meet and converse with the top brass over a hot brew. In a step towards increased transparency and better community relations, Police Chief Eric Dougherty, along with Deputy Chief Mike Adams and Major of Operations Tim Hensley, will be available for an open dialogue with residents, according to the City of Johnson City.
At this event there's no script, no podium speeches—just real talk with the command staff, the department is pitching it as a unique opportunity for folks to directly engage with law enforcement leaders to ask questions, share feedback, or just put faces to the names making decisions that affect public safety in their neighborhood. "Listening to our community helps us serve Johnson City better," Chief Dougherty was quoted as saying in a statement; he's encouraging community members to drop by and share their perspectives, iterating that open dialogue with the people they serve is foundational to their mission, as stated by the City of Johnson City.
For anyone planning to attend, the schedule has changed. The meeting will now be on Thursday, Dec. 4, at The Well Coffee Shop at 820 W. Walnut St., from 8:30 to 10 a.m.—a different time and place than usual. It's spelled out that anyone can drop in; the Community Roundtable isn't exclusive, there are no VIP lists or memberships that gatekeep who gets to have a word with the Johnson City Police Department honchos. Everyone in the city is invited, as per the City of Johnson City.
