Officer Dining Habits Defy Stereotypes

Jokes based on the stereotype of the doughnut-dunking, overweight cop have abounded for what seems like an eternity.

Now, in the age of health foods and billboards detailing what those jelly doughnuts can do to your body, not only have police officers altered their diets, but the restaurants they eat at have also changed the way officers are treated when they come in.

And not so surprisingly, cops, like just about everyone else, are looking for a few basic qualities in a restaurant: convenience, quality and a bargain for their buck.

“We are no different than the general population in the way we eat,” said Devonshire Division Capt. Vance Proctor. “Officers want to be able to have a friendly face and a decent meal at the same time.”

Solley’s, a well-known 24-hour deli, has been a frequent stop for cops for years. The deli’s two San Fernando Valley locations are close to two police divisions, the Van Nuys and West Valley stations. On their lunch breaks, with only 45 minutes to eat, officers drop into Solley’s for a roast beef sandwich or a salad.

Employees say they provide a home away from home for many officers.

“It’s always been that way here at Solley’s,” said manager Shauna Dunne. “They are treated well when they come in here. They are greeted on a first name basis by a server who usually knows them well.”

Dunne said her restaurant, which serves mostly American food, has always had such a large police clientele that many officers have memorized the menu and know they can get that sandwich prepared just the way they like it. Solley’s and the In-N-Out hamburger chain lead the late-night restaurants favored by officers working the graveyard shift.

Not just in the San Fernando Valley but all over the city, restaurants have traditionally had an open-door policy for police officers. Not only does law enforcement provide a steady, reliable customer base, but a couple of cops at the corner table provide a deterrent for criminals looking to knock off the cash register.

But the days when an officer simply showed up at a favorite restaurant and was given that special booth in the corner and a free meal are long gone, say both cops and restaurant owners.

“We are working in a different climate nowadays,” said LAPD spokesman Vince Aguirre, who worked in the San Fernando Valley before moving downtown. “In the past, the owners gave us a table and looked out for us. But now people frown on officers getting a table ahead of them. We have to wait in line just like everybody else.”

Plus, with all the headlines about the perks officers supposedly receive, it’s rare now that a restaurant will discount a meal for officers. “We don’t even get discounts at the Police Academy cafeteria,” Aguirre said.

And changing times have influenced what officers eat. Despite all the jokes about police living at doughnut shops, more officers are watching their waistlines. “Some guys might stop at a doughnut shop to get some coffee, but really that is a thing of the past,” said Aguirre.

Fast food restaurants like Taco Bell and El Pollo Loco, which offer food with less fat and calories than hamburgers and Chinese food, are becoming increasingly popular, not just for health reasons but also because the food comes fast.

Both Aguirre and Proctor agreed that with paperwork taking up so much of their time, many officers don’t eat out at all--they’re stuck at their desks eating last night’s leftovers, waiting for a phone call.