A glaze of glory
Sink your teeth into this succulent story about a 9-year-old boy whose journey to
thank law enforcement across the country brought a sweet message to NJ officers
Story and Photos by Amber Ramundo
Donut Boy arrived at the Egg Harbor Township Police Depart-
ment like a superhero on a magnanimous mission. His spar-
kling cape blew behind 9-year-old Tyler Carach carrying into
the department a stack of Dunkin Donut boxes, the sweet treat
that has become Tyler’s trademark on his tour across America
thanking law enforcement.
On Aug. 3, Tyler the Donut Boy skipped into the Egg Harbor
Township Police Department like a celebrity who has traveled
6,000 miles across 16 states. More than 20 Mainland Local 77
officers in uniform stood in the department’s break room wait-
ing patiently to meet the young Florida boy whose story has
gone viral on social media and who has become even more fa-
mous by making an appearance on the Steve Harvey Show of
daytime television.
The group of officers greeted the national phenomenon with
applause and cheers. But the room quickly grew quiet when the
Donut Boy surprised them by shaking each officer’s hand and
naturally taking command of the room with his noble and lov-
ing gesture.
“I’m here because I want to thank you guys,” he began. “I
want to thank you because you’re my best friends and you keep
me and my family safe.”
As he spoke, the words on the back of his donut-print cape
glittered under the florescent lights: “I donut need a reason to
thank a cop.”
The phrase has become the slogan of Donut Boy’s quest to
thank every cop in America that began in his hometown of
Bratt, Florida in August 2016. He, of course, wouldn’t be able to
carry out his mission and travel the distance if it weren’t for his
mother, Sheena Carach, who has been the organizer, commu-
nicator and driver on the road to accomplishing his goal.
“We’ve always taught our kids that no one can limit you,”
Sheena shared of the values she and her husband have impart-
38
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ AUGUST 2017
“Donut Boy” Tyler Carach shakes hands with Mainland Local 77 members
during his delivery at Egg Harbor Township Police Department.
ed to their three children. “If you believe it, you can achieve it.”
The donut dream began in a Pensacola, Florida gas station
more than a year ago when Carach and Tyler ran into four dep-
uties on a summer afternoon.
“You know mom, cops’ favorite drink is coffee and their fa-
vorite snack is donuts,” he told Sheena matter-of-factly before
asking her if he could use his allowance money to buy them
each a donut. Tyler could barely understand when the officers
responded with such enthusiasm to his gesture, asking to take
pictures with him.
“I explained to him that cops were having a really hard time
these days and, unfortunately, a lot of people choose to judge