“There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.” ― Ayn Rand
That said, eating is as much a distraction as holding a phone and creates an equal danger, so I can't say the cops are wrong.
That said, these same LEOs are immune from the same Laws foisted upon the masses.
As one poster had already noted, they have a laptop, radio, sometimes even the K-9 unit. Let alone, IIRC (maybe just here in Jax, FL?), they are exempt from the ‘talking on phone while driving w/out hands-free’ Laws.
Hell, I was pulled over, not that long ago for ‘speeding’ on my way to work (she came up fast, then stared pacing alongside). Cop asked me how she know I was speeding...”I was speeding”. Guess in any school, fishing may net a few.
I can’t even count the times when they would light/siren through a light to turn it off on the other side; let alone driving the posted limit and watching the po-po car out-pace everyone else (again, no lights, no sirens).
Yep, cop dash-cams w/ instrument read-out and body cameras...I’m all for it. But I expect the back-lash when it starts getting used again the blue wall.