# Cops and Donuts **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 6, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035 "2012-05-06T00:34:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SticksAndString](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@SticksAndString](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SticksAndString)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/1 "2012-05-06T00:34:42Z")
Why are cops always associated with donuts? When did cops first become associated with donuts? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/2 "2012-05-06T00:44:42Z")
Probably because years ago the only places that were open all night where a cop on patrol could take a coffee break were diners and donut shops. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/3 "2012-05-06T00:57:17Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Probably because years ago the only places that were open all night where a cop on patrol could take a coffee break were diners and donut shops. And because said places were open all night, and therefore prone to being robbed, many would provide freebees to the cops to encourage them to stay a while. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/4 "2012-05-06T00:59:51Z")
You will still see officers in cafe’s that open super early for breakfast. One around me opens at 4:30 AM and officers are there. No idea if they serve donuts, though. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/5 "2012-05-06T01:04:55Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > No idea if they serve donuts, though. I’m sure they serve donuts.🙂 My cousin’s husband is a cop, and for awhile my cousin was a court officer too. Whenever they came to the house they would make a point of bringing donuts.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/6 "2012-05-06T01:08:56Z")
Cops and donuts…what’s not to like? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/7 "2012-05-06T01:09:28Z")
The Dunkin Donuts in my neighborhood is practically a cop magnet. It’s not unusual to see a dozen of them in there at one time. If that place ever gets knocked over, whoever does it will surely get the chair. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/8 "2012-05-06T01:19:06Z")
According to a relative, a retired cop: Back in the 1950’s-60’s, there were very few businesses open 24 hours. So for cops on the late night shifts, it was hard to find a place to take their breaks, have a cup of coffee and something to eat. One common place that was open was bakeries or doughnut shops – the workers started baking about 3-4am. So cops would stop there for coffee, and hot doughnuts fresh from cooking. After that, it probably just became a habit for them. Also, doughnuts can be eaten on the run, or saved for later. It’s not uncommon for cops to be called to duty during a meal break. If that happens, the doughnuts work ok for later. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/9 "2012-05-06T03:53:40Z")
According to a local cop, they are no longer called doughnuts. The new vernacular is “power rings.” That way it’s easier not to get them confused with cops with muffin tops. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/10 "2012-05-07T16:28:36Z")
I remember a kid getting written up by the cops for spinning his wheels in a gravel parking lot. He had no realized this would spray gravel on a number of cars, causing paint and windshield chips. While getting his ticket, he was inappropriatly wearing a T-Shirt that said in large letters “BAD COP! NO DONUT!” There are chains in Canada, such as Country Style and especially Tim Hortons, that are often open 24 hours and noted for selling coffee and donuts originally. I assume Dunkin Donuts is a similar US chain. Again, one of the few places that are open overnight. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/11 "2012-05-07T16:33:49Z")
A witticism when hearing or seeing multiple police cars going by with sirens screaming and lights flashing: “Must be a donut shop getting robbed”. But yes, the overnight, late night, early morning hours. And the coffee and donuts are usually free for the cops. It’s so much of stereotype here in RI, we have more donut shops than cops. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/12 "2012-05-07T16:37:18Z")
One other factor which I don’t think has been mentioned yet: Lots of counter / tabletop space for spreading out and writing reports. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/13 "2012-05-07T16:44:32Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > A witticism when hearing or seeing multiple police cars going by with sirens screaming and lights flashing: “Must be a donut shop getting robbed”. > > But yes, the overnight, late night, early morning hours. And the coffee and donuts are usually free for the cops. > > It’s so much of stereotype here in RI, we have more donut shops than cops. Or, “there must be a sale on donuts!” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/14 "2012-05-07T17:47:33Z")
This actually happened here in Tucson. It took place in the 80s, so I don’t have a cite, but I remember the coverage in the local news. A woman had a form she needed to have signed by a policeman. Any policeman would have done, it didn’t have to be a specific officer. Instead of going to the nearest police substation, she went to a Dunkin’ Donuts in search of a cop, then called 911 when she couldn’t find any there. Needless to say, she was cited for abusing the 911 system. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/15 "2012-05-07T22:15:20Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > While getting his ticket, he was inappropriatly wearing a T-Shirt that said in large letters “BAD COP! NO DONUT!” A friend who’s a cop (deputy sheriff, actually) had this happen – he bought the T-shirt off the kid, and he & other deputies gave it to their boss for his birthday. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/621035/16 "2012-05-07T22:59:04Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > But yes, the overnight, late night, early morning hours. And the coffee and donuts are usually free for the cops. The issue of free product varies by city/county/state, I’m sure, but both Washington and California have policies that prevent cops from taking anything for free, including doughnuts and coffee.