# Cops and donuts. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 1, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295 "2018-06-01T23:40:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CastletonSnob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ea924/32.png) [@CastletonSnob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/1 "2018-06-01T23:40:44Z")
In fiction, cops are often seen eating donuts. What is the origin of this stereotype? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/2 "2018-06-01T23:44:18Z")
Around here at least, Dunkin Donuts is one of the few places open all night and the cops often stop in take a break, pee, and yes, often get a donut and coffee. I have many gripes against the police but that is not one of them. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2018, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/3 "2018-06-01T23:44:32Z")
Cops eating donuts. Seriously. Donut shops are open late at night and early in the morning and often give the cops free coffee and donuts. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/4 "2018-06-02T00:04:50Z")
In my previous life, 7-11 would give LEO’s free coffee and donuts. I think they liked the extra security. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/5 "2018-06-02T00:58:14Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Around here at least, Dunkin Donuts is one of the few places open all night and the cops often stop in take a break, pee, and yes, often get a donut and coffee. I have many gripes against the police but that is not one of them. [It goes back at least to the late 1940s,](http://time.com/4800386/donuts-doughnuts-police-cops/) when all-night donut shops spread around the country. > [@TriPolar](#): > > Cops eating donuts. Seriously. Donut shops are open late at night and early in the morning and often give the cops free coffee and donuts. And because donut shops are open late at night, of course they are vulnerable to stick-ups. They want to encourage cops to be around and regard them favorably. At one time, my cousin and her husband were both working in law enforcement. (He still is.) Whenever they came by our house they would always bring donuts as a joke. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/6 "2018-06-02T01:12:05Z")
Don’t all the cops in the donut shop say, “Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh?” ---
**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:** [June 2, 2018, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/7 "2018-06-02T02:02:48Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > [URL=“[National Doughnut Day: Why Police Are Associated With Donuts | TIME](http://time.com/4800386/donuts-doughnuts-police-cops/)”] > > At one time, my cousin and her husband were both working in law enforcement. (He still is.) Whenever they came by our house they would always bring donuts as a joke. A line I’ve heard in at least one movie and numerous times in person when police cars come rushing by with lights on and sirens screaming, “Must be a donut shop getting robbed.” One time a donut shop was being robbed near me, even the newspaper joked about the idiot being nabbed as soon as he stepped out the door. On a quiet night all the cars were less than a minute away on the short commercial strip in town if they weren’t already at the donut shop. A little observation bias on my part, but I’m surprised that guy got in the door in the rare minute or so when there wasn’t a town or state cop parked there already. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2018, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/8 "2018-06-02T04:41:33Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > And because donut shops are open late at night, of course they are vulnerable to stick-ups. They want to encourage cops to be around and regard them favorably. In biological terms, donut shops and cops represent a form of symbiosis called a mutualism. Like [ants and ant-plants,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrmecophyte), donut shops provide a sugary lure to attract protectors. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/9 "2018-06-02T11:28:48Z")
a local radio station did a bit where they called donut shops to see if a cop was there. It lasted a few months ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/10 "2018-06-02T11:43:32Z")
I asked my uncle (who was a cop) this when I was a kid: “Because we’re already up at 5am when the donuts come out. Have you ever tasted a donut fresh off the press?” Me: No Him: Well, I’ll take you one of these days. He did, and he was right. Donuts so fresh they’re still warm from the frier are worlds above those donuts mere mortals eat! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/11 "2018-06-02T12:09:55Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > In biological terms, donut shops and cops represent a form of symbiosis called a mutualism. Like [ants and ant-plants,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrmecophyte), donut shops provide a sugary lure to attract protectors. You win the thread with science. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/12 "2018-06-02T13:12:48Z")
Possibly the cleverest use of the stereotype is in the car chase scene in _Con Air_, a movie noted for its subtle story telling. Marvel at this: [https://youtu.be/SQ7a\_TATFY0?t=48](https://youtu.be/SQ7a_TATFY0?t=48) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/13 "2018-06-02T13:51:22Z")
Also a factor is that cops can get called off of their break at any time. So if you’re going to eat anything at all (which is generally considered a good idea), it needs to be something that you can order quickly, take with you quickly, and eat in the car, and which will still be good if you have to set it aside for an hour before resuming your break. Donuts fill the bill. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/14 "2018-06-02T15:59:00Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > You win the thread with science. That’s my job.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/15 "2018-06-02T16:03:08Z")
Cop stops a car that’s weaving in and out of traffic. Cop: Your eyes look bloodshot. Have you been driving alcohol? Driver: Your eyes look glazed. Have you been eating donuts? ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/16 "2018-06-03T05:19:03Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Also a factor is that cops can get called off of their break at any time. So if you’re going to eat anything at all (which is generally considered a good idea), it needs to be something that you can order quickly, take with you quickly, and eat in the car, and which will still be good if you have to set it aside for an hour before resuming your break. Donuts fill the bill. I’m not much of a doughnut eater, but this is one explanation. Another is one or 2 will satiate your appetite quickly as they’re loaded with calories. The caffeine in coffee uses the fats and sugar in the 'nut for a good burst of energy when you’re feeling tired. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/17 "2018-06-03T05:25:15Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Around here at least, Dunkin Donuts is one of the few places open all night and the cops often stop in take a break, pee, and yes, often get a donut and coffee. I have many gripes against the police but that is not one of them. I worked for a year after high school at a Dunkin’ Donuts in West Texas. I later learned it was the only one in the entire area, but I had no idea at the time. It was a franchise owned by a school friend’s father. But I digress. My point is we always gave free stuff to cops as a way of keeping them close by on the graveyard shift, as it was a 24-hour place. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/18 "2018-06-03T11:20:32Z")
I remember as a kid asking why liquor stores were robbed a lot. My dad said it was because they were open late at night , back then there were no regular stores open late. I guess cops can’t hang out in a liquor store. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-and-donuts/815295/19 "2018-06-03T11:43:29Z")
I had a summer job in a local sandwich shop and my second day I took an order for two sandwiches and soft drinks from a uniformed cop. As I was making them, the owner tugged my sleeve and said, “No charge.” “Gotcha.” A few months later we took a bad bill\* and called HQ saying we’d just gotten a bad sawbuck. “No problem!” and about five minutes later frog-marched in a young guy in cuffs. “That’s him!” They must have picked up already, it was so quick. \*I mean really bad; the cashier who took it was totally embarrassed.