By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Lewiston police officer Matthew Vierling flashed his crumb-coated tongue to judges and television cameras to claim top honors at a doughnut-eating contest Friday.

He beat out State Trooper Bob Burke by seconds, but Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Chaloux pushed himself away from the table with two doughnuts left on his plate.

Auburn officer Randy Robbins continued to casually chew his last two doughnuts.

“Hey, Randy! You can stop,” yelled an onlooker. “The contest is over.”

For the second year running, Vierling proved unbeatable – the fastest eater of a half-dozen glazed Dunkin’ Donuts.

This year, four police departments took part. Last year, Vierling went head-to-head with Robbins of the Auburn department.

The event, in its second year, is a fund-raiser for Special Olympics Maine. The idea was to attract a crowd of onlookers who would donate to the organization.

Organizers hoped doubling the number of contestants by adding officers from the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s department and Maine State Police would double donations. The effort raised $3,000 last year.

Friday’s take had not yet been tallied, but the event certainly drew a crowd. Athletes from Special Olympics Maine collected spare change from customers. Norm Boulet Jr., owner of the Main Street Lewiston Dunkin Donuts donated the space in front of the shop, as well as all of the doughnuts.

Meanwhile, local police from all four departments sold T-shirts from last month’s Law Enforcement Torch Run, another benefit for Special Olympics Maine.

For Vierling, being hungry helped. He’d just finished his overnight shift and said he’d kept his mouth in shape for the contest by chewing gum all night.

“I haven’t eaten a thing since 2 a.m.,” he said. “So, I skipped my dinner for this.”

Copy the Story Link