Ludwig

"Even something as seemingly benign as free doughnuts for flabby coppers could be seen…and I’d suggest should be seen….as a serious infringement."

I agree totally. Just makes you wonder what else the 'flabby coppers' have their hands out for too, doesn't it?

david f

"Doughnuts are a nutrition free food which really shouldn't be given to charities or cops."

Exactly!

"I love them, but my wife keeps a healthy house."

You'll thank your dear wife one day, David!

Ah Ludwig how you stir some distant memories in me.

During the 70’s I was managing a restaurant with a restricted licence – ie. no grog to leave the premises, no grog served without consuming a meal.

In the regional town, those in the business were aware that every pub in town was supplying free liquor to the liquor “D’s.” Often the "D's" arrived with wives and friends to consume even more freebies.

When two “D’s” showed up at my cocktail bar indicating that they wanted a free drink, I refused. Their vengeance was swift. The licensee (not me) was charged because the band played 5 minutes overtime. I permitted a young couple (clearly tea-totallers) to take home a half full bottle of champagne they’d purchased during their engagement dinner etc etc.

Low and behold one evening, I attended to the needs of the Minister for Police and his entourage. They were most impressed with the Penfolds St Henri I supplied them with their meal and the Minister’s aide requested that I send some St Henri’s to the adjoining motel rooms they were occupying. They’d planned to have a night cap.

I refused, informing them of the restricted licence and then suggested they attend another hotel to witness almost the entire police force illegally drinking after hours, behind closed doors.

The evening after the Minister for Police’s visit, I received a visit from the two liquor “D’s” who by then, strangely enough, knew my name. “When you ready thanks “Dickie,” they chortled.

I permitted them to cool their heels for some 15 minutes whilst I attended to imaginary restaurant duties. Anyhow they were most courteous and extremely apologetic, having had no idea that they had created the impression of wanting a free drink.

I never saw them again and the other pub burnt down soon after. Yay!

Motto of the story: “Never give a cop a freebie!”

Do not call me anti police it is just not true.
But the big yellow arch has been doing this from day one, fresh food not left overs.
Surely most know a police uniform is called the discount suit?
In a doco about police in Redfern in Sydney some years ago a young female constable made fun of getting her food free, from a very small shop.
Police use the uniform even of duty, to settle traffic disputes their wife had during the day.
But a good cop is worth more the the community could ever pay them.
years ago I and others had to stand and watch as police removed undamaged goods from every truck that rolled or smashed.
Sometime has passed many of those have been removed from the force many went themselves, a few will be at big macs for a free breakfast this morning.

I agree with Ludwig and StG

To ask for something for free or at a discount for what one could reasonably be expected to pay, is the thin edge of corruption (the position of the cop).

To offer something as a gratuity is not (the position of the Donut Shop).

To suggest “Give them the doughnuts...They get chucked out at the end of the day anyway.”

Is simply an attempt to find mitigating excuses for corruption.

Like Ludwig points out, today a free donut, tomorrow “payola”

Mhaze… I am chuckling anyway

David f – in your life does your wife represent “the donut police”?

Col Rouge wrote:

David f – in your life does your wife represent “the donut police”?

Dear Col,

No. If a policeman told me not to eat donuts I would regard it as an abuse of police authority.

To my wife I am bound by the silken cords of love to which I respond more readily than to the ukase of a representative of any political entity.

My wife represents compassion, wisdom, common sense, grace, humour, beauty, warmth and a refuge from the batterings of outrageous fortune. Her being, words and presence are far dearer than the maunderings and blatherings I find on OLO.

Right now she is doing the laundry

Thanks Dickie for sharing your experiences.

I worked in a restaurant in the early 80s. I witnessed the cops come in hundreds of times for free meals. The boss complained vigorously about the ‘parasites’, to his staff after hours. He clearly hated dishing out freebies but felt that he had to. I’d have to agree that he was probably wiser to do so than to stand up to them.

But then, he was inclined to bend a few rules here and there! I could see a strong connection between his ‘appeasement’ of the cops and his infringements, which were generally of the minor sort that could either be overlooked by authorities or be pounced on, depending entirely on their discretion.

So, even though he was the scrooge of the century, he knew perfectly well that handing out free meals and drinks was a whole lot less expensive than having them take a strict line of enforcement with him and keep him in strict accordance with the law, and impose a few penalties and tarnish his reputation as well.

He considered the moral of the story to be just the opposite of yours Dickie.

.
How inappropriate mhaze!

But funny. Mm mmmmm mhaaa hahahaaaa haaa…. huh…….. oow |:C(