Today I Found Out, host Simon Whistler gives us the most practical and likely reasons that the idea of cops eating doughnuts became such a pervasive cultural stereotype.
In the mid 20th century, late night and 24-hour dining restaurants were scarce and there were few choices available, so police officers who were working nights doesn’t have a lot of options to get something to eat and a cup of coffee, and doughnut shops was one of the best options available.
Members of law enforcement stuffing their faces full of doughnuts is one of the most enduring stereotypes about the boys and girls in blue. In virtually every media representation of the police that isn’t deadly serious, the stereotype is played out in some way- Police Academy, The Simpsons, Family Guy, hell, in Wreck-it Ralph the police officers are literally sentient doughnuts. So where and when did this stereotype start?
