Agua con la Chota

Helping break down barriers and build trust between the community and police

Agua con la Chota or “Water with a Cop” is an educational program that engages local farmworkers to speak about the topics that matter to them.

The program was established by the Watsonville Police Department in 2017, in collaboration with community-based organizations, to help break down barriers and build trust between the community and police.

The goal is to build trust with members of the community who may traditionally fear the police. This outreach program also allows the police department to humanize the person behind the badge.

The department holds three sessions at local agricultural fields, per work crew, in late spring and early fall. During the gatherings, farm workers have the opportunity to chat with officers over a variety of topics such as immigration, affordable housing, and local and state laws. The department’s final session includes a luncheon for the farmworkers and presentations from local organizations. 

For more information or to request that Agua con la Chota come to your workplace, please contact Patricia Mata at patricia.mata@cityofwatsonville.org