Tampa police horse eats doughnuts for fundraiser

Justice was served at the Krispy Kreme doughnuts shop on Kennedy Boulevard this morning.

The Tampa Police Department horse nosed his way through the drive-through at least twice for an apple-cinnamon-filled doughnut to help kick off the department's annual fundraiser for the Special Olympics.

"Cops on Doughnut Shops," in its fourth year, is one of several events to raise a combined $30,000 for the Special Olympics, said Cpl. Larry Timmer, an organizer.

The fundraiser started at 6 a.m. with about a half-dozen officers on the roof of the doughnut shop lowering buckets to customers for donations. Krispy Kreme gives coupons for doughnuts and coffee to people who donate certain amounts.

The fundraiser lasts until 11 a.m. Saturday. Customers can donate at the Kennedy store as well as one at 2128 W. Brandon Blvd. in Brandon and 32130 U.S. 19 N. in Palm Harbor.

Officers will be on the roofs of the Tampa and Brandon stores Friday. Collection buckets will be displayed at all the stores during business hours.

Justice, a 20-year-old male Tennessee Walker-quarter horse mix, stepped in for doughnut duty after Mr. Bill, the fundraiser's regular doughnut muncher, wouldn't come in from the pasture this morning.

"He's a monster when it comes to food," said Justice's partner, Officer Tim Pasley. "He gets pizza Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in Ybor City."

The horse's favorite treat is peppermint.

Interestingly, doughnuts have about as much affect on the horse's physique as a breath mint does on a human's, added Cpl. Mike Morrow, Pasley's supervisor.

"If you weigh 1,200 pounds, what are five doughnuts gonna do?" Morrow said.

Justice was curious about more than doughnuts, sniffing the drive-through speaker, poking his nose into the donation bucket and nudging a reporter's notepad.

Each time through the drive-through, he gently plucked a plump, powdered doughnut from an employee's gloved palm. The doughnut was gone in about a bite, but the horse licked his lips for several minutes afterward, as if pacing himself before another round.