Cops and donuts. It’s a stereotype that is burned into American culture. But is it true? And why did it start?

The association between Cops and donuts began in the 1950’s. The 1950’s were a much different time food wise than today.

There were very few late night food options. Fast food wasn’t really a thing yet.

If you were a cop working the late shift in the 1950’s and you needed to eat, you were pretty much screwed unless you brought your own food.

Enter the donut shop. By the late 1950’s both Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts had opened and begun expanding.

The donut shops had to work through the night to prepare for the early morning rush, and many began opening overnight

Cops who worked the graveyard shift started frequenting these new donut shops because they were the only places open for a quick sugary fix.

But it isn’t just convenience why our bravest love donuts.

Donuts were actually fed to our soldiers frequently dating back to WWI. Hundreds of “doughnut girls” were sent to France to fry up treats for the troops.

Donuts and women. Boosting troop morale for nearly a century.

So the next time you see a cop pull into a donut shop, just know there’s a history behind that.