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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTeen buys a brownie for a cop and is fired from his job because a customer complained
Teen buys a brownie for a cop and is fired from his job because a customer complainedA Texas teenager who was fired after he paid for a brownie for a police officer in line at his cookie stand will be reinstated.
Zachary Randolph, 18, is an employee at Great American Cookies in the Katy Mills Mall in Katy, Texas.
But his employment was in jeopardy for a few days after a moment of generosity on the job.
One week ago, a police officer came to Great American Cookies and ordered a brownie, a $2.75 purchase. Randolph offered to pay for the officers brownie out of his own money. The police officer thanked him and walked away.
It was the conduct of the next family in line that got Randolph in trouble. When they got to the counter, they asked if hed be paying for them, too. In a viral Facebook post, Randolphs mother said her sons job was threatened and that he was accused of being racist:
My son replied with Im sorry I bought his because he is wearing a badge then this customer started verbally attacking him, calling my son a racist, & threatened to beat him up. His wife threatened to go back there and slap him.. The middle aged man sat down his little daughter and tried to come behind the counter to attack him. Thankfully his coworker defused the situation. The man then said I will get you fired.
The next day, Randolph was summoned to a meeting with his manager and upper manager. While upper management supposedly wanted him fired for the incident, his direct manager would not fire him, saying he was a good worker and under consideration for management at the time of the incident.
No good deed goes unpunished, and they did issue Randolph a warning and a one-week suspension. Not everyone agreed; Zachary certainly didnt.
A lot of people I know my age dont support police officers. I dont think its fair, he told Fox26 Houston.
But things were about to change again. As the story got more attention, Great American Cookies executives got the decision reversed. Biju George, the owner and operator of the Katy Mills Great American Cookies, issued this statement:
On behalf of Great American Cookies Katy Mills, we owe the employee an apology. It was never an issue that he purchased a brownie for a police officer, but rather the events that unfolded with another customer in line at the time. However, after further review, we realize that the employee was in fact in the right and we continue to reach out to him and his mom to issue an apology. The corrective action and suspension was reversed immediately and we hope to connect with him today.
In an emailed statement to the Houston Chronicle, Great American Cookies Executive Vice President David Kaiser wrote:
Great American Cookies proudly supports Law Enforcement, First Responders and all who serve our country. [ ] Though our stores are independently managed and operated, when the situation first arose, we reached out to the franchisee to ensure that the situation was addressed and handled appropriately.
(The article's headline says he was fired, but it seems he was suspended)
lapucelle
(18,373 posts)WhiskeyGrinder
(22,475 posts)"Rare exists because a group of journalists set out to present news and editorial content in a way that is consistent with the values of real people. We value truthfulness and independence a plainspoken approach to delivering the news of the day....Being Rare means being engaged and bold. We respect service and bravery, and have a bias toward liberty. We believe every American has a unique story behind what makes them Rare."
Sorry, couldn't hear you over all those dogwhistles!
Marengo
(3,477 posts)obamanut2012
(26,165 posts)He paid for the brownie, or fake paid, the enxt customers complained to cCorporate, and he made up the story about being threatened. Totally didn't happen.
Marengo
(3,477 posts)WhiskeyGrinder
(22,475 posts)Marengo
(3,477 posts)WhiskeyGrinder
(22,475 posts)employer fumbled whether to suspend, fire or commend him. I also don't doubt that the employer will talk to anyone who calls in order to get free publicity, I mean, the story out about how they support cops. I also don't doubt that '"MSM outlets" are "picking up" this story -- from rise.us or whatever local TV station barfed something up about it. What surprises me is that anyone thinks these stories become "news" organically.
obamanut2012
(26,165 posts)I've worked loads of retail in the past, and loads of public service since then, and this didn't happen. Oh, I'm sure the customers complained, but they didn't threaten to beat him up -- no way. Bouncy story. Kid got in trouble and lied. And, having been a retail manager before: he probably should have been fired for that.
This story is such a conservative wet dream.
I am so tired of cop worship.
obamanut2012
(26,165 posts)Do not give those wingnuts the hits. The OP should state it's them.