Do you think Police officers should have free coffee & donuts ?

Question

Should they be allowed free things ? why or why not ?
Should they be allowed to run traffic lights in non- emergency situations ?

Do you think they abuse their powers ?

Answer 1

I've often wished to be a coffee barista and yes, I would give anyone in uniform 1 free coffee and muffin. I would include other uniforms though. I think it is a good idea to encourage law enforcement to frequent your establishment and develop a law abiding clientel. But not running red lights, high speed chases, and all that. That's dangerous and they should be setting the example for safety.

Answer 2

If one shop offered police officers free coffee, and another did not then what would happen in the case of a riot when both shops are on the same street? If the police officers try to stop rioters at one shop and not the other then that would be preferential treatment, and that's not fair.

Police Officers do get breaks, some places offer to feed them for free, thinking that if a lot of police officers come to their place to eat it will reduce the chances of them getting robbed. Sounds like a good idea, unless you own the restaurant down the street.

Police Officers are normal people and should be treated as such. Giving them special treatment isn't fair, and where does it stop, what about firefighters, or police dispatchers, or soldiers?

Special treatment for Police Officers does happen, and it is illegal by their own Code of Conduct, because it can lead to unfair treatment of the citizens.

I don't have a problem with police officers running traffic lights in non-emergency situations, except that if there is a traffic accident then the police officer is responsible. Even if they run the traffic light with their lights and sirens on they are still, at least partially, at fault if there is an accident. And how do you explain to the family of the teenager that you just killed that you ran a traffic light because you were late for an appointment?

Answer 3

Most coffee and donut shops give them the free coffee and maybe donuts to have them hang around, esp late at night.

Most of the gas station "quickly marts" only have one clerk all alone at night, all night, and are often game for theives and robbers. So by allowing the officers to stop by and use the bathroom, get a cup of coffee or soda and sometimes a donut they feel safer.
And people feel safer stoping there if they know police hang out.

also places like McDonalds, Wendy's, BurgerKing and other places give 1/2 to most uniform officers. Many of the waffle houses and places do for police and correctional officers.
But for them, they are still making some money at 1/2 price and it helps soften the rough late night crowd.

I can remember a funny story, about two weeks after I "retired" I went into one of the stores I had stoped at for years, Well I had never paid for a coffee ( I used my own cup so it did not cost them much) well I walked in and got my coffee, went up to the clerk ( she was new) and talked to her and then started just to walk out. The manager started laughting, and I figured out what it was. The manager said I could still have any free coffee anytime I wanted, since they knew I still always carried my weapon and would do something if there was a problem in thier store.

Answer 4

If I owned a donut shop, I'd give the local cops all the coffee and donuts they wanted. That way, they might hang around more and my customers and I would be safer.

As to the other questions:

-- Plenty of people get free things because of their jobs. Retail employees get discounts. Travel agents get trips to familiarize themselves with resorts. Doctors get paid trips to speak at conventions conventions in prime locations. Music critics get free concert tickets. And on and on. Why shouldn't cops get free coffee and donuts?

-- If it's an emergency, police officers should be able to do whatever they need to do, as long as it doesn't endanger anyone else. If it's routine patrol, they should follow the same traffic rules as everyone else. Most of them do.

Answer 5

Where I work, we have an ordinance that prevents officers or any city employee to accept any gratuity, gift or discount based on their position. I personally don't mind paying for things, after all, I'm just a citizen as well. I am not above the law. I'm there to serve my city.

No, officers should not be allowed to run red lights in a non emergency situation. Does it happen? Sure. I've ran them before when I was on midnights and tired. Just wasn't paying attention.

Answer 6

Free things? Only if the store wants to. Personally if I owned a store that sold coffee and donuts I would give cops free food. Not too much but if all they wanted was coffee and a donut, sure.

And no to the second one. In emergency situations they can.. not in other times.

Answer 7

i have done numerous ride alongs, and never have we run a red, or have i seen any officer run a red, with out their warning lights. except for times when we were gathering evidence against a speeder, checking his speed. Plus most police cars and stoplights have a system where the cars have an inferred emitter on the car, and a sensor on the light pole. both times the light changed just as we entered the intersection because of this. And what the hell i never got free coffee!!!!!!! (angry face) and we don't actually eat donuts! ps. computersrandd, im sure im alot slimmer than you are.

Answer 8

I think the police have a tough job to do and if they get free coffee, that’s fine with me. Better than drinking booze I guess. But, I think police should obey the traffic laws perfectly and set an example for the rest of society. I’d love to see a cop pulled over for speeding.

Answer 9

In a way, they do have a dangerous job and little perks like coffee and donuts are a nice way of saying thank you. Hopefully they would have self control and not eat too many. Granted it could be looked as a "borderline" bribe....anything else.....money, etc is out of line.
No they need to obey the traffic laws like everyone else.

Answer 10

I think they deserve free things- I mean they put their lives on the line to protect others and believe me they don't get paid near enough for what they do. I don't, however, believe they should be able to run traffic lights in non-emergency situations.