Free Food for Duty Police Officers: A Common Practice Across McDonald’s Drive-Thrus

Have you ever heard the rumor that police officers receive free food at McDonald’s drive-thrus? In this article, we will explore the truth behind this claim and the protocols surrounding it.

The Origin of the Practice

The concept of providing free meals to state workers on highways can be traced back to Connecticut. Back then, theory contracts were in place for rest areas on I95, which stipulated that any state worker, including police officers, would receive free food. While this practice may have started at rest areas, it quickly spread to local McDonald’s drive-thrus.

McDonald’s encourages this policy for a simple reason: it keeps police officers around their stores more often, deterring crime. This is a small price to pay for the increased safety. As one franchise owner put it, “It’s free protection to do this.”

Local Policy: A Franchise Owner’s Initiative

While the practice is widespread, the exact policies can vary by location. In my local area, the policy was as follows:

Cops on duty, uniform or UC, get a 50% discount on their meals but not free food, as this could be considered bribery or theft. Coffee Refills: If officers want a coffee, they can get free refills as long as they purchase the first one. This policy applies before McCafe, so it was old-style pot coffee.

The policy regarding dinner time offer an additional discount. During dinner time, cops on duty could buy a family amount of food at 50%. However, this discount did not apply to off-duty cops or meals for others unless it was dinner time.

Other Independent Food Outlets

Much like McDonald’s, many independent food outlets offer discounts to on-duty police officers. Some offer a 25% discount, while others provide a 50% discount. This practice is still common today.

The Impact on Officer Well-being

It’s important to recognize that duty police officers have limited time and resources to prepare meals, unlike the average person. Most officers are forced to buy their meals during their shifts, which can be challenging and expensive. By providing a discount, McDonald’s and other food outlets contribute to the well-being of these officers.

Conclusion

The rumor that police officers receive free food at McDonald’s drive-thrus is, for the most part, true. While the specific details of the policy may vary by location, the overall goal is to support and encourage the presence of police officers in the community. While the discounts may be small, they add up over time and help provide a marginal but significant benefit to these hardworking individuals.