'Bagelgate' leaves businesses, police to question officers' ethics

Citizens Voice (Wilkes-Barre, PA) ^ | 9/26/09 | Bob Kalinowski

[DuncanWaring]

If he didn’t have his wallet, did he have his driver’s license?

[Silly]

This is a real black eye to cops. I hope this guy learns his lesson — have enough money, even if you think you’ll get it for free. If/when you get it for free, be grateful and don’t take it for granted.

This story really saddens me.

[TheThinker]

He didn’t have his wallet so he couldn’t pay. Big deal. I’ll give the officer the benefit of the doubt over a $1.30 bagel.

[rawhide]

Many long years ago when I worked at McDonald’s, we used to give all the police who were in uniform their entire meal free, no matter what they ordered.

[rawhide]

It was just an excuse to not pay. But if he was lying to his chief, which I tend to believe he did, that is a different story. Dishonestly breeds corruption.

[bboop]

What if — he just didn’t have his wallet? I don’t understand why the owner had to make such a huge deal about it, if, as she said, usually the policemen are so nice. Then this one’s aberrant. Let it GO. She even could have given it to him for free, while mentioning that they were not usually included in the ‘free’ offer.

We’re talking about a DOLLAR.

[Born Conservative]

As a previous poster pointed out, if he didn’t have his wallet, did he have his driver’s license? If not, he shouldn’t have been driving.

The donut shop was in a town different than the one he worked; they were nice enough to give the cop a coffee-they don’t even have to do that. What entitles the cop to free anything, even if the bagel was $1.30?

[pyx]

To be consistent, all truck and tractor trailer drivers as well as all firemen should expect free coffee and doughnuts. After all, its just as important for them to stay awake on the job. And while we're at it, nurses, emergency dispatchers and distress center workers should get free coffee and doughnuts. In fact, there's likely a few hundred types of workers that should get free coffee and doughnuts because its important for them to stay awake on the job. Who's to say that ANYONE doing anything isn't performing important work and should therefore get free coffee and doughnuts.

[pyx]

Oh yeah, I forgot the /s.

[bboop]

It’s a DOLLAR.

[Grizzled Bear]

To be consistent, all truck and tractor trailer drivers as well as all firemen should expect free coffee and doughnuts.

I think a lot of businesses give cops freebies because they LIKE having a police presense at their establishment. It causes the thugs and low lifes to go elsewhere.

[nufsed]

Off duty!!!!!!!

[WVKayaker]

"A dollar here, a dollar there, soon we're talking real money!".

Let it go?????

Have you ever run a business? How much stuff should be "free"? Why should anything be free? Do you think the product or service has no value?

I taught my kids the value of a dollar, one at a time! They are all under 40, own houses, and have low debt. Hmmmm....

[nufsed]

It’s the owners call. If I had 24 hour place, I’d comp on-duty cops during the late night and early hours, just to have them there.

[AUH2O Repub]

I hate local Law Enforcement - SO unprofessional.

[bboop]

Well, I’d comp them too, just to have them there. I’d call it ‘advertising’ in my budget. And ‘community relations.’

[Owl558]

"Many long years ago when I worked at McDonald’s, we used to give all the police who were in uniform their entire meal free, no matter what they ordered." That was my youthful fast food assistant manager experience as well. I liked it when the cops came by and ALWAYS tried to give them free food. If they hung out doing paperwork, all the better. Here's the thing, and it was many, many years ago, I say 'tried' because I can say that the Sheriffs or the Highway Patrol ALWAYS insisted on paying - to a man. We always made sure some extras got into the bag, but I remember my local cops had high degree of integrity about the whole thing.

[rawhide]

Now that you mention it, the state patrol always paid for their meals too.