Cops Vow to Protect and to Serve--Lunch

How much should you tip a cop who gives you a ticket? Nothing. Unless, that is, you want to get locked up for attempted bribery.

But it was quite another matter this week at the Red Lobster restaurant in West Hills, where off-duty police officers not only raked in the cash, they later bragged about it in public.

About 30 officers volunteered their time as servers and bus-persons in a benefit for the Special Olympics and police-sponsored youth athletic programs. They raised more than $3,400 in tips from customers, said Sgt. Dan Mastro of the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Valley Division.

Last year, officers from the division raised about $1,600 at a similar fund-raiser at the restaurant, Mastro said.

Keith Birch, the restaurant’s general manager, said customers loved it. “They got to see the officers’ human side,” he said.

The event, which the LAPD had publicized, drew about 100 more patrons than the eatery usually serves during the course of the day, Birch said.

Wednesday’s event went off without a hitch--almost. One officer was serving water, Mastro said, and dumped a whole glass on a table filled with customers.

“Luckily, they moved back in their chairs in time, and they didn’t get wet, so they were lucky,” said Mastro.

And who were the biggest tippers?

Mastro declined to say who gave how much, but confided that Councilwoman Laura Chick and TV weatherman Dr. George Fishbeck were among the most generous.