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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2008 > June > 18 > Entry
The History of Doughnuts: By a cop
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Inevitably the week doesn’t pass without some poor guy making a pitiful stab at the fabled doughnut joke.
Along with “He did it” and “It wasn’t me,” it remains one of the top five lamest lines to deliver to an officer.
But did you know how the historical pasts of the doughnut and police officers came together? Read on.
The first recorded history of the doughnut goes back several centuries.
Archaeologists turned up several petrified fried cakes with holes in the center in prehistoric ruins in the Southwestern United States. Because of the difficulty in identifying recipes from fossils, except for what would later be known as the convenient-store burrito, it wasn’t until the 19th century when recorded history gave us the first peek at the doughnut - or olykoeks - as the Dutch called it.
Olykoeks, not to be confused with Oly-Oly-In Free, were composed of dough balls fried in pork fat.
Fast forward to the early 1900’s in Brooklyn, New York. Irish cop Brannagh O’Toole, working a foot beat on Montague Street and Court Street stopped by a sidewalk stand to look at something that he had never seen—a convenient-store burrito.
Deciding on something a little less likely to cause him problems later, he opted for an Olykoek, a name that he couldn’t pronounce. Maybe this was the beginning of the relationship with cops and doughnuts but who knows.
Do cops like doughnuts?
Beyond the mythical association with doughnuts, cops, like just about everyone else, like doughnuts. The association probably had to do more with the convenience of locations and hours. Not many eateries are open at 3 a.m. so the doughnut shop was convenient. Actually, it had more to do with coffee than doughnuts although the sugar in a doughnut was good for the extra boost to get an officer over the 4-7 a.m. hump prior to the Red-Bull days.
Although I have been doughnut-free for several years, thanks to rehab and convenient-store burritos, I preferred the chocolate something or other at Dunkin-Donuts and the hot glazed doughnut at Krispy-Kreme.
For those of you lucky enough to enjoy international travelling, Spudnuts is a favorite in Panama City on West 23rd Street, across from Horacio’s House of International Convenient-Store Burritos.
As far as trends, wings have become popular with the evening-watch cops but unpopular with the fleet-maintenance manager who has to clean all the chicken bones from under the seat.
More health-conscious police traditions have failed to catch on. Most cops will pass on establishments called “The Tofu-Tavern” and McAlphalfa’s” but will dig in at “Sid’s House of Pork-Fried Dough.” Yum.
Now, doughnuts are getting an gourmet dunk.
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Comments
By Uh Clem
June 18, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
LT. STEVE ROCKS!!!!!!!! He is so smart and so funny!! I bet his whole family is talented in many ways! Especially his brother.
By The truth about cops
June 18, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
This article is absolutely adorable. What’s next, “The history of why cops refuse to arrest illegal aliens”? What about “the history of cops writing b.s. mickey mouse citations”? Oh, I know, “the history of cops using entrapment”! Any news on making cops meet certain weight (and height) requirements? No? Guess we’ll just settle with this cutesy-poo article.
By Southern Born
June 18, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
ttac @ 2:23…
Get over yourself, butt-cheese.
By Wazzup
June 18, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
Next blog title: “The History of Cops Smacking Wise-guys Who Aren’t Funny”…that’s a truth about cops I’d like to see! Yeah, it’ll be a cutesy-poo article too- and dang funny!
By Dixie
June 18, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this
So we’re less likely to get caught if we rob a Tofu place?
By Dixie
June 18, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this
Judging from the hostility of some of these bloggers it sounds like they got caught with thier pants down and are now looking for an anonymous way to stike back.
By atl20g
June 18, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
Sounds like it’s time for the “screen Test” story..
By atl20g
June 18, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
Sounds like it’s time for the “screen Test” story..
By Tony
June 18, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
You’re so right Dixie. A lot of them do it this way because they’re way too cowardly to do anything when they get caught.
By Stone
June 18, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
THE TRUTH ABOUT COPS needs to be tazed a couple of times to check that lame attitude of his. Take it from me, a cop can be your best friend or your worst enemy. It all depends on what side of the law you’re on. Sounds like TRUTH is on the wrong side.
By Dixie
June 18, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
Look out THE TRUTH ABOUT COPS ! You get Stone and Elbubba after you and your name is mud.
By The truth about cops
June 18, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
Yeah, Stone- you’re right. It would be anarchy if these noble cops weren’t dolling out expired tag tickets to hard criminals. There would be rioting in the streets if our “best friends” weren’t there to strike up those right-on-red citations. Can you imagine the crime rate if these heroes weren’t available to catch the evildoers who aren’t wearing their (gasp) SEATBELTS! I’ll just keep waiting on that hard-hitting article about the cops refusal to enforce immigration laws. Can’t wait to read next week: The history of the excuse, from a cop.
By Dixie
June 18, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
OK, The truth about cops, Those issues are only a problem for the people who are breaking laws. I’m glad those lawbreakers are getting tickets. More revenue from tickets means less burden on the honest taxpayers!
By Slem
June 18, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
Truth if you are so worried about the enforcement of immigration laws maybe you should write to the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Something tells me they may specialize in this field a little more than your local PD.
By Dixie
June 18, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
If Truth were to write to a government entity they would require a real name and that goes against the whole “anonymous crybaby striking back” thing.
By Eric
June 18, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this
Who does not like doughnuts?
By Dixie
June 18, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
I do. Thay’re best around 4:30am on Sat & Sun mornings. That’s when all the bar hopping drunks stumble in. Then you get a show along with your snack!
By Stone
June 18, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this
Truth, you have a valid complaint about cops not enforcing immigration laws. However, the laws they are enforcing, the scumbags and perverts they are getting off the street, the drunks they are getting off the roads, the protection they are giving to the citizens in this area more than make up for the lack of immigration control which is out of their hands. In my earlier life, I got arrested more times than I can remember, but I never met a cop that treated me with any less respect than I treated him. Now, with a home, a wife and kid, I appreciate everything they do for us and feel they need our support rather than our insults and condemnation. Try it sometime.
By Gern
June 18, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
Uh, Truth About Cops You get fired from your bar-back job and now you’re bitter? Dude, you are the poster child for birth control.
By TheFury
June 19, 2008 6:11 AM | Link to this
The worst case of judgment I ever saw was one Saturday about 3 a.m. I was sitting inside a donut shop with officers from 4 jurisdictions when a very drunk person decided maybe a snack would help sober him up. He was apparently unclear on the concept of “drive-thru,” however, and made his own opening in the building. The ensuing argument about who was going to arrest this clown was very entertaining.
By Radio guy
June 19, 2008 6:51 AM | Link to this
According to a Fire Chief I know, they’re not Donuts, they are POWER RINGS! A necessary part of a good public safety diet.
By JR
June 19, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this
Regarding those who constantly slam police and act like they are picked on, here is my take on that.
What I have learned is that in many instances those who complain are the ones who got caught and booked instead of let off.
Many years ago when I was in a blue&white, we tried to respect those we pulled over on those “bogus” traffic stops (blowing the stop sign, weaving across three lanes into oncoming traffic). Or the better ones where you went to a family disturbence call and ended up getting cussed out by both the one who did the beating and the one who got beat up because you were arresting the beater. Voices could get loud and sometimes fights would occur. But when something broke out, it was instigated by others not us.
Granted, like any organization, you have power hungry and authority abusing people. CEO’s or Chiefs, line workers or patrol staff it can happen and hopefully it gets corrected. We all know it doesn’t, but the vast majority of departments try to keep things on the up & up.
Too bad that departments can’t take the complainers out in the field with them and get a real tast of life out there. Those departments that have been able to do that have had some of the complainers change their tune when they have been chewed out along with the officer.
Have I gotten a bogus ticket? Sure have. Did I paint a blanket comment about all police, nope. Went to court and got the ticked dismissed. End of story.
By Bob in Sandy Springs
June 19, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
Hey STONE..Take another toke and “Blow That $hit OUT” of your brain….
By Wazzup
June 19, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
Frankly, we need to double the amount of cops on the beat. When they spend all their time running from call to call, they have no energy left to be proactive (as in, developing relationships in the community to help find those under the radar). Yeah, it would be nice if cops would begin searching for illegals, etc, but how can they?
If you don’t break the law, you’ll never have anything to worry about. (Wish I’d learned that BEFORE some of my escapades)
By spence
June 19, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
I’ve never had a bad doughnut.
By Stone
June 19, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
Bob, I’d love to, really, but I reluctantly quit when my boy was born. The only time I get high now is when I’m dreaming.(seriously, I wake up short of breath because I’m holding in a bowl hit) Thanks for your thoughts though.
By BossLady
June 20, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
Why let someone come in a take control of this blog like that?
The donut story was a gem and it is always good to hear nice positives.
By jimbo
June 20, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
I always go to court when I get pulled over (Which hasn’t been for years knock on wood). Sometimes you can catch a deal because the place is overcrowded or they charge you a lower fine. Anyway the fun in going is listening to the voodoo excuses of everyone who is innocent. I’ve only plead innocent a couple times and it was when I was truly innocent (aren’t we all?). I never understood why people couldn’t just take responsibility. The cops sort of give me a look when I congratulate them on a well placed ambush point or sort of shrug and say, “nope, no idea how fast I was going, I was paying attention to the traffic and enjoying this song.”
Of course the first thing I have to say is usually “Officer, I feel I should inform you that there is a loaded weapon under my seat. Along with my license and insurance I am presenting you with my concealed carry permit”
By Lulu
June 20, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
I knew this cop once. In Detroit. he was my fraternity brother and my best friend. he worked undercover and would come home with the funniest stories about the state of humanity you ever heard.
He smoked pot. True. He also took this one female cop home with him and let me tell you this woman was a godess. She had it all, and I couldn’t believe any of it. This cop and I used to play guitars and work out beatle songs and simon and garfunkel and eagles and stuff trying to harmonize and pick out d chords. But his guy could get the women. I did okay, but I always picked a safe girl, you know, some defect that would be easier to swallow when she wised up and dumped me, which is what always happened.
But this friend for life (he was a leo), had the best eye of any man I’ve ever known.
The point is that he was a cop, but he was you and me, man. Cops are people 2.
I really hope you all appreciate our finest, cause they be fine, (their women 2)
I still howl at the moon over that one female cop. Wow. If you could have seen this gal. OMG.
Stop it.
By catlady
June 22, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
Lt. Steve, I know you are not the spelling police but could you PLEASE get the AJC to take off or fix the title of the article about the black “fraternAties” at Morris Brown that is on line? It has been up for hours and someone needs to be held accountable! Could you DO something about this?