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A longtime doughnut maker has gone into partnership with the owners of a commercial building at 4701 S. Kingshighway and opened "Eddie's Southtown Donuts" in the structure.

The building's owner, Brad Arteaga, then allowed the أغر؟´«أ½ Police Second District to use leftover space as an office. It includes a phone line, desk, rest room and a keypad locking system.

"It's too small for two businesses, but it's too big for just a doughnut shop," said Arteaga, the part owner of Arteaga Photos Limited, 5212 Delor St.

First, let's dispose of a common misconception. Police are not the doughnut hounds people think they are, Second District Commander Mary Warnecke said.

"They have to stand in line behind the firemen," she said.

The doughnut shop is operated by Eddie Strickland, who spent 20 years making doughnuts at places like Dunkin Donuts and Donut Drive-In, 6525 Chippewa St.

Arteaga came to know Strickland from his regular stops at the Donut Drive-In. "I asked him if he wanted to open his own shop," Arteaga said.

Arteaga and Strickland started acquiring equipment and opened early this year.

So far, business at the shop is doing well, Arteaga said.

The day starts early at Eddie's - 1:30 a.m., to be exact. That's the way to make them fresh, Strickland said. "I always did get up early. Graveyard shift," said Strickland, 44, who has help at the shop from his wife, Roxanne, 43.

Next door, the police are kept busy making calls, doing reports, and, yes, buying doughnuts.

The approximately 400-square-foot office used by police gives them a presence on South Kingshighway, Arteaga said.

"It keeps me visible to the public out on the street," said Second District Problem Properties Officer Michael Dempsey.

Police officers can stop at the substation to follow up on reports and make calls without going all the way back to the station, said Second District Public Affairs Officer Don Veile.

And they can pick up a dozen doughnuts at the same time.