Cup of Coffee

[Deland Jessop]

You are working as a police officer on uniform patrol. During your shift you walk into a coffee shop and order a cup of coffee. The server behind the counter gets your cup of coffee and tells you it is on the house. Is there anything wrong with this? How would you respond? (All poll answers are confidential, and no data is collected on your answer choice.)

[tan leather]

well I'm not sure this is a trick question.....I thought it was standard practice for police to be offered gratuitous coffee while on the job. A well-intentioned public servant expressing gratitude for ensuring the safety of the community-no harm in that is there? Now, if there was mention of a dozen crispy cremes on a regular basis, well then, that might be pushing the ethical envelope.......:)

[Froz]

I would have to go with following the police service policy - that's' just me. If the policy states not to accept gifts than that is what I would follow. Take the dollar amount out of the equation, whether it is free coffee of free Krispy Kremes, it is still considered a gift. If there is a policy in place, than both are in the wrong to accept. I would thank them and and acknowledge their kind offering and state that you are unable to accept it. I am sure they will understand.

[tan leather]

I would have to go with following the police service policy - that's' just me. If the policy states not to accept gifts than that is what I would follow. Take the dollar amount out of the equation, whether it is free coffee of free Krispy Kremes, it is still considered a gift. If there is a policy in place, than both are in the wrong to accept. I would thank them and and acknowledge their kind offering and state that you are unable to accept it. I am sure they will understand.

Yes, very diplomatic of you Froz, and makes sense. I wonder if police policy discusses how to handle these ethical situations. Of course, following policy is paramount. I'm fairly certain police get gratuitous offers on a daily, regular basis. There is a limit of course, coffee notwithstanding. Let's not even consider the crispy cremes.

[pretty]

A tricky question but i think it would be safe if you know already the coffee shop or much better maybe the server is your friend. We never know he/she might a bad intention on you.

[AuxPolice]

Free cup of coffee? No thanks!

[fjacky]

i like free coffee :)

[tan leather]

fjacky you're hilarious. however, I think we all know the 'ethically correct' response to this question.......
i like free coffee :)

[Lynch]

Nothing is 'free'. When you show up to a coffee joint, you are providing a service. It's free security. Why do you think timmies dont see a lot of robberies? :P

[pretty]

Coffe is great for the body. :)

[smilton]

Nothing is 'free'. When you show up to a coffee joint, you are providing a service. It's free security. Why do you think timmies dont see a lot of robberies? :P

Lynch, I think this may be a bit of the problem. So Timmy's gets cheap security, while an independent shop down the street gets less police presence because they can't afford to hand out free coffee? Is that fair? I don't think that is how the system should work. I had a friend who worked at a coffee shop, and he was always annoyed / disgusted at the fact that he was making $10 / hour and handing out coffee (and sometimes other things) free to police who were making $100k +. Not sure how other members of the public feel about it who witness it either.

I'll pay, and if they are adamant about not taking the money, I'll drop a tooney in their tip jar or charitable box they have.

[fjacky]

Free coffee...... take it...... flip the Timmy's worker a couple of Toonies and ask them to cover the car's order behind you. You see a lot of smiles with that

[Lynch]

I never said I dont pay, I leave a loonie every time I stop, however, I only go to the timmies that dont charge us. They treat us better, not because they dont charge for coffee.

Why the hell does your friend care that the company gives me a free coffee, he still collects his 10$ an hour. And not everyone makes 100k+, sounds like someone has been reading the Toronto Star.

[lavics79]

Timmies...pretty sick. Now Starbucks, that's what you call coffee. ;)

[wortman]

Free coffee...... take it...... flip the Timmy's worker a couple of Toonies and ask them to cover the car's order behind you. You see a lot of smiles with that

Great idea!

[smilton]

I haven't talked to my buddy about it in too much detail, it just annoys him that certain officers come in all the time, never offer to pay, and walk out with free coffee. He did mention once of an officer expecting a free sandwich, but my guess is that is rare. You are a cop, you have to realize that this could rub a lot of people the wrong way. It's something to think about when a lot of working people who don't make nearly as much money as serving police officers, give "unofficial" free perks out to police or feel that they have to in order to get them to patrol their store / area.
Free coffee...... take it...... flip the Timmy's worker a couple of Toonies and ask them to cover the car's order behind you. You see a lot of smiles with that

[smilton]

Sorry, I think I replied to the wrong posting, see below (or above).


I never said I dont pay, I leave a loonie every time I stop, however, I only go to the timmies that dont charge us. They treat us better, not because they dont charge for coffee.

Why the hell does your friend care that the company gives me a free coffee, he still collects his 10$ an hour. And not everyone makes 100k+, sounds like someone has been reading the Toronto Star.

[n2006]

Hey guys, in my opinion, here is a text book answer:

Offer to pay right off the bat, when the server insists that the coffee is "on the house", thank the server for the kind gesture, but explain that you are an ordinary human being, just like him/her, and therefore don't expect any special treatment.

Smile, confidently and enthusiastically offer to pay..

If regular society can picture police officers as human beings first ( the same way with any other CEO, celebrity or politician), I think relations between society and police with grow.

What do you all think??

[captainonion]

I like free coffee because 90% of the time I dont get to drink it!! I always offer to pay but they insist its free.