LEO freebies

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We are not allowed, and I think it is a good idea.

The problem with a discount or a freebie is the intent, which is very hard to determine.

I know some shop owners that simply want to provide a small measure of thanks.

Some really like the extra presence.

Some may think it will get them a break on a ticket or such.

A half price meal or a coffee when provided without expectation is not graft.

When it becomes an expectation or service is not equal then the slippery slope has been touched.

In my experience it is better to steer very clear from that slope.
 
I have seen this from both sides, as a LEO and as a business owner.

As a LEO, we had some convenience stores that gave free coffee/free fountain drinks to LEOs and some restaurants gave half price to LEOs. Once in a while a restaurant would give free meals, but our department would not let our officers eat there if they found out about that, and the restaurants stopped that, going to either no discount or half price.

Generally, there was no problem. Once in a while, a new officer would meet up with a new cashier who charged the officer full price and the new officer would insist on half price. This was handled by older officers "counseling" the newbie not to ever do that again. There was no "entitlement" to anything but full price and if someone gave food for less, that was nice, but failure to do so was to be ignored without comment.

There were lots of restaurants and, generally, the officers did not eat at the same restaurants every time they were on duty since one grows tired of the same menu day after day. They ate at some restaurants that gave a discount and some that did not. Me, too.

One restaurant owner said she gave the discount for two reasons-she liked cops and she liked to have their cars parked in the lot for the bad guys and the public to see (if the cops eat there, it must be good and probably it's not a good place to rob).

As the owner of a convenience store (don't ever buy one-don't ask me how I know) from the mid-80s to the late 90s, I had the clerks give free coffee/fountain drinks to the deputies who stopped by.

I had the same reasons, basically, as the restaurant owner, I like cops and I wanted the bad guys to see that marked car in my parking lot.

There wasn't anything corrupt about either situation. I, as the owner, can give anything to anyone I want to.

Just like the restaurant owners and convenience stores can, if they want to, today.

Graft is more than a "bit heavy" to describe this.

I have a friend who is in the military. From time to time, I give him shotgun hulls to reload or maybe a real good deal on a gun or pay for something for him.

That's no more graft than the free coffee for cops. I don't expect him to have a fighter circling over my home or a company of GIs at my beck and call just because I may have treated him better that I might treat you.

It's my money and I can do with it what I want. Just like it's their restaurant and store.

Bob
 
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Recently while doing a lot of ride alongs with our local department, I asked some of the cops why they chose certain establishments to get their coffee's, since anyplace around here gives them the half off discount. They told me something very easy to understand.

A lot of places will have an employee that will smile at a cop, then spit in his coffee before passing it out the drive through window, because some cop, somewhere, had once given him a ticket, so they tended to go to where they knew all of the employee's and could trust them. In turn, they provided an extra measure of security by their mere presence at those etablishments, more often than other places they could go to.

Sounds like a plan to me!
 
Just about everybody will take advantage of a good deal when it comes their way, although I try to avoid it just because of appearance and people like the OP.

Of course, that doesn't keep me from giving people breaks or warnings instead of tickets, even though there's nothing in it for me except, hopefully, voluntary compliance in the future. I'm guessing that the OP wouldn't insist on being written up if he got let off with a warning, just a little perk for being cooperative.
 
Many years ago, I was the night manager, wrecker driver, night mechanic, etc. at a gas station. Three interstates came together, truck stop about 1/4 mile away. We attracted many people, as it was between Charlie Sherrill's area and Cajun's area, you may have read about the types that could come around.

The policy was that if a sheriff's car, highway patrol car, came by, their tires were checked, windshield washed, or something checked if they requested, and coffee was always on.

Amazing how having an LEO visibly around, and known to be around, kept things in order.

When I went on a wrecker call @ 2AM, and it looked even slightly off kilter, amazing how quick a deputy could be there to check things out, while I waited in wrecker truck, with the engine running!

Worked both ways, they got help when they needed it, amazing what you can see when pumping gas, or on a night wrecker call, and their presense helped me!

Good citizen and LEO cooperation managed to keep the bad guys somewhere else (well most of the time)! :)
 
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The S.O. where I worked had a strict policy of no gratuities, none- no free coffee. no discounts, nada. Had a number of people get offended when things were offered and i declined but accepting anything would likely result in termination.
 
I don't take them. There is one breakfast place we frequent that insists on a 50 percent discount - I just add a giant tip so that the bill comes out the same as it would without a discount. Makes the waitress happy, too.
 
When I went through state police training the message was clear, no freebies and I abided by that standard.

When more than 20 miles from our headquarters we were provided a lunch stipend by the department. Officers often ate at diners that provided a meal for the cost of the stipend. I often did that and regarded it as legitimate. Restaurant management liked the coming and going of patrol cars. Did they get any better service than other folks? Not that I ever saw, because when the radio call came in, we rolled on it.

It is a matter of integrity and common sense.
 
It was against policy where I worked, but not rigorously enforced by admin.
It was looked on as a way for a businesses to show their appreciation, nothing more. And a slight financial help to the officers since the cost of living in this city precluded ANY patrol personnel from living in the city limits.
 
3rd Gen Neal said:
Coffee, fountain drinks, meals...why? At least once a week I will be having lunch or dinner with friends, forking over our hard earned cash while HPD officers stroll in and order at will without having to pay a dime. Yes police work is dangerous but geez so is being a roofer or store clerk. That irks me big time.
Click to expand...

Seems you are easily irked.
 
I would have to say that being a police officer or a fireman is a little more dangerous than being a roofer. I don't know of too many roofers (and I am a contractor) that get shot at or run into a burning building when everyone else is running out. Look at the guys and gals that lost their lives on 9/11. If I can spring for a cup of coffee or offer a detail cop a cold drink on a hot day, it is my personal way of saying thanks for all they do and risk. Gee guys, compared to nuclear war, cancer, or losing a child, if this is the worst life throws at you, be grateful.
 
I imagine coffee shops, cafes, give cops free meals so they will be there more often. It's not rocket science, cafe with cops in it = cafe don't get robbed. Duh!

Now if the Police think they are entitled to "freebies" thats a differn't story.
 
AJW said:
The majority of departments around here do not allow it. Mine does not. No freebies or discounts.
Click to expand...

The first agency I worked for didn't allow it. My chief told me if you go in and get a fountain drink or a cup of coffee and you go to pay for it and they tell you it's "on the house" we are required to slap a dollar (or two - depending on what the item is) on the counter, cheerfully say "thank you" and head out the door.

This was 20 years ago when I learned this and I still use it today.

Now then...

I'm a firm believer in LEO discounts on job related gear. Guns, ammo, holsters, belts, cuffs, pouches, yaddida, yaddida, yaddida. Yes, I work for an agency who doesn't issue our gear to us. They issue our weapon - a 2nd gen Glock 22 - but we are required to provide everything else. Uniforms, pants, boots - EVERYTHING! I don't feel guilty at all about asking for an LEO discount on things like that.

Call me a thief, but this isn't high school football.
 
If I was easily irked, which I am not, I think the place to focus that "irkedness" would be on the stores/restaurants, not the LEOs.

"Hey, Clerk, how come I can't have free coffee? Or, "How come I have to pay for this meal? Can't you just give it to me like you do to those officers?"

For all those eat up with the irks, why don't you make an issue of it with the real offender, those stinking, LEO loving, badge kissing, blue light sniffing clerks, servers and cashiers who actually perpetrate this outrage?

Bob
 
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