The Creative Thinker Series...
The Creative Thinker Series is a set of original analyses of thought processes and analyses of some of the most interesting minds of our times. We look at their career trajectory, choices made along the way, and attempt to elicit their philosophy and approach to innovation. Over extended conversations and subsequent follow-up discussions, supported by a thorough examination of information available about their work (website, published information, and on occasion, speaking to their colleagues) we try to put together factors we think summarizes their thinking and approach to social innovation and enterprise.
We are forever grateful to them, for taking the time to talk to us about their work and approach, giving us insight into several issues, including the not-so-obvious and invisible ones.
Chris Cognac, From Enforcement to Engagement
Chris Cognac. Former Sergeant at the Hawthorne PD and founder of Coffee with a Cop
If there is one area that lacks social innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives, it is law enforcement. This is consistent around the world! So, when something like Coffee with a Cop (CWAC) comes along, it is heartening to see it catching on and spreading, around the globe.
So, why did it take all the way till 2011 for something like this to start? Why is it so hard to be socially entrepreneurial (or intrapreneurial) and innovative in law enforcement? What are some barriers and advantages to being socially entrepreneurial in the field of law enforcement?
Sgt. Chris Cognac of the Hawthorne PD in the state of California USA, seems to be the go-to man. The man who started and continues to actively manage and nurture CWAC lends his expertise here. Growing it from one event at Hawthorne to over 10,000 sessions in 6 years, he is involved in several communally beneficial activities (see box below). He retired from active service in early 2018, but continues to work on CWAC.(See details below).
Sgt. Cognac weighs in with his expertise in community engagement about innovation and law enforcement.
Background Image credit: CWAC Website ; Sgt. Cognac image credit: Hawthorne PD website
the analysis
We split our analyses on Sgt. Cognac's work (on social innovation) into two parts. The first being an analysis of Coffee with a Cop. The second, his general perspective on what Social Innovation in Law Enforcement means and how one could incorporate that into their agenda.
coffee with a cop
The idea is simple enough, chat with a policeman from your neighborhood over a cup of coffee, ask questions, get clarifications and if your problem is simple enough, they fix it for you right there. And you don’t pay for the coffee!!
The idea has grown from a spontaneous event that the Hawthorne PD put up in 2011, to an international phenomena with CWAC events being held regularly all over the USA, events being held from Africa to Australia, North America to Europe with inquiries coming from Asia as well.
Coffee with a Cop is now (as of early 2018) a bonafide nonprofit (a 501 c(3) entity, registered in the United States) with a 5 member Board of Directors, comprising of police officers who were all instrumental in either setting up the program or now running it. It is run entirely on volunteer basis.
So what does it take to make a program like this succeed? Over several conversations and communication with Sgt. Cognac, we compile data to arrive at factors that were a combination of spontaneity and strategy.
The following graphic shows the various factors that have been crucial to CWAC's success.
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Sgt. Cognac has a long history in being involved in communally beneficial activities. He has also had a stint on network TV as 'The Food Detective' and is the go-to person who manages to get ideas into implementation mode! Over several discussions and emails and clarifications, Sgt. Cognac explains his own personal philosophy toward societal betterment. We have focused on how to move past the idea phase and into planning and implementation, esp. in areas like law enforcement, where barriers are plenty- from regulations to citizen safety, this is not an easy area.
The following graphic shows some mantras Sgt. Cognac swears by! The key drivers are in bigger boxes, with explanations and comments in text boxes.
The yellow callouts are direct critique and advice from Sgt. Cognac
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just doing my job!
Sgt. Cognac's pointers on getting your (socially) innovative idea off the ground.
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Coffee With a Cop --https://coffeewithacop.com/
What is Futsal and what are the Futsal/Hockey Initiatives? - https://theiacpblog.org/2016/09/09/youth-engagement-via-non-traditional-sports/
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