Who of us hasn't walked into a convenience store, only to see one of our "heroes in blue" standing in line with doughnuts and styrofoam cups of hot coffee? This is a long-standing image in the public psyche, but according to the Los Angeles Police Department, it isn't particularly an image they want their officers connected with.
It seems that the "diet cops" have struck the LAPD. Now those burly fellows with protruding bellies, squishy love handles and cute, jiggly jowls are being told by a dietician that it's time to get rid of the flab. They are being cautioned to switch to a healthier diet that will make them look and feel a lot better, plus possibly diminish the risk of them dropping dead from a coronary, when they have to run down a suspect on L.A.'s mean streets.
While some of the City of Angels' finest are not happy with being asked to make changes, others are actually giving it a try.
So, while you might still see cops standing in line at the 7-Eleven, next time they might be buying unsweetened apple juice and an energy bar, instead of a honey bun and sugar-saturated java.