Arby's apologizes after employee refuses to serve police officer

[w0nderer]

Last edited Thu Sep 3, 2015, 05:39 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: http://www.usatoday.com

Arby’s said it has apologized to Florida's Pembroke Pines Police Department after an employee at one of the fast-food chain's locations allegedly refused to serve one of the department's police officers.

Pembroke Pines police says one of their officers was initially refused service at an Arby’s location in town on Tuesday evening when trying to order food at the restaurant’s drive-thru. The officer was in uniform and in a police vehicle, according to a police report filed on the incident.

The drive-thru clerk, who was identified as Kenneth Davenport, 19, sounded "short" with the officer when he or she was ordering, the police report says. Police would not divulge the name of the complaining officer.

When the officer drove to the pickup window, the store manager, Angel Mirabel, told the officer that the clerk "doesn't want to serve you because you are a police officer." Mirabel had to order Davenport to process the officer's credit card.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/09/02/arbys-apologizes-refuses--serve-florida-police-officer/71580310/

---

Original timestamp 5:11 p.m. EDT September 2
New timestamp 9:12 a.m. EDT September 3
the article was changed by usatoday to add
--
Major Carolos Bermudez said the employee did not specify why he or she might have had any animosity against police. Davenport told CBS Miami that he didn't serve the officer, because he was busy helping other customers. He said that the misunderstanding was the result of Mirabel trying to make a joke that did not go over well.

“We don’t hate cops,” Davenport said told the television station. “We don’t hate anybody. We’re just trying to get people out of the drive thru.”

--

[mwb970]

1. A pointless act.

This reminds me of the Kentucky lady who won't issue marriage licenses. Do these people think they are taking some kind of Rosa Parks-like stand, in the form of refusing to do their jobs? Good luck with that.

[gopiscrap]

71. The difference being that the Kentucky lady

is an elected public official and the Arby's clerk isn't

[rpannier]

3. Your fix is a good example of... Yeah right... I don't think so

One moron won't serve a police officer at Arby's so the police should stop doing the job they get paid for because they may be all hurt because the clown behind the counter wouldn't do his job

Is that you solution every time anyone gets their feelings hurt? Stop doing the job they're paid to do

[romanic]

4. The employee sounds like an asshat.

And yes in a way it's no different than that idiot clerk who refuses to do her job and issue gay marriage licenses. You don't want to follow rules and do the job you hold? Well then, no job for you!

[Flying Squirrel]

83. You're not the only person who didn't bother to read the article

Pretty much every reply in this thread ... Makes ya wonder why even bother reading replies.

But for the record, the employee in question was busy with other customers and either he or his manager made a stupid joke, telling the cop that he didn't want to serve a cop. it was a dumb teenage joke, blown out of proportion by the police who are on edge already (as they should be).

[left-of-center2012]

5. On the other hand

Maybe the employee was reacting to the number of unarmed people being killed by police around the USA?
Maybe he knew someone who had been shot in the back by a cop,
'cause the cop "feared for his life"?

[7962]

8. By THAT cop? Doubtful. And we've heard nothing of the sort from the "employee"

Which I would imagine is now a former employee

Your same example could be used in many instances. Should the clerk refuse to serve a black patron because a friend got robbed by a black person? Refuse to serve a Jew because the clerk is Palestinian?
No, not here.

[bigworld]

9. By that reasoning, it's OK for a white person to refuse to serve African Americans

because of some random crime by an African American.

Yes SOME cops are bad -- but demonizing them all is really, really stupid.

[marble falls]

13. I don't believe cop violence is random. If he'd refused to serve Dick Cheney from conscience, we'd..

be cheering.

[marble falls]

17. How about this:

http://www.wsvn.com/story/24650879/pembroke-pines-police-officer-arrested

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/08/08/video-shows-pembroke-pines-cop-punching-mentally-ill-girl/

I don't think its random.

[jtuck004]

56. You sound like a very passionate person. I think Donald Trump would like you a lot. n/t

[marble falls]

87. Obamacare? Are you referring to the ACA?

[still_one]

24. That would be wrong too. The person is working at a public place which serves the public. If the

employee has feelings of conscience that they can only serve certain people, then they shouldn't be doing that job. That is the same excuse some people are using for refusing to fill control prescriptions.

They should find another line of work

[marble falls]

62. As a bartender I can refuse to serve anyone I want without having to explain it. My manager can....

fire me over it and I am all right with that.

[whathehell]

36. Exactly

The employee was being an ass, and yes, demonizing the entirety of any one group is stupid.

[romanic]

11. The employee probably had no reasoning beyond "Fuck Tha Police"

well that and/or he was just fucking lazy.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

18. Makes no difference whatsoever.

You have a job description. You agree to do the job. They pay you to do the job. Now you say, "I won't do the job". Either shape up immediately or you're FIRED!

Or you can stand up for your principles and QUIT the job. Only 2 choices, moron, pick one.

[Fred Sanders]

21. The level of outrage on the thread should be reserved for 80K a year clerks refusing to obey SCOTUS??!

Not for a 19 year old making $8 an hour having a bad day.

What difference to anything does the 19 year old make....in comparison? Folks thing he should be humiliated and then fired??? Not that losing a fast food job is the end of the world for a 19 year old, but......

One employer should be fired and not protected by the full weight of State government and the entire RW media universe...the other needs a little lecture.

Do not be victim of the Outrage Industry of America!

Victims of perpetual outrage often then end up making huge false equivalency claims and demands.

[reddread]

26. outrage is the appetizer of our buffet

Divide and Conquer.
who needs information when we can be manipulated so cheaply?

[Fred Sanders]

32. Without massive outrage industry spewing massive media attention over a 19 year old's bad manners, where would America be?

That it was a police officer not served his Big Mac on time is so irrelevsnt that, to me, being outraged over this morning's media supplied "outrage" is the real outrage!

I am outraged that anyone would be outraged...over this??

[reddread]

34. garners more outrage from some

than the relentless unjustifiable murders of citizens by police.
add to that the hunger for gun control which seems to fall short of
demanding the police be disarmed.

some serious shortage of what America was made of.
how did we get here?

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

27. She can't be fired - she's elected.

And you are the one trying to conflate the 2 situations. I think the kid should be fired. I think the clerk should be fined up the ass and jailed for contempt until she either complies or quits.

What's so wrong with that?

[Fred Sanders]

30. Now there is another true outrage....elected clerks..who CAN be impeached for flaunting their oath

of office..same thing..but where is the push from the government issuing the pay checks?

Where should the focus of any outrage be, which is my point....focus the outrage where it belongs.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

35. They are Republicans. And I think my anger goes right to the clerk.

The fact that she won't be impeached by fellow republicans means focusing outrage on them serves no purpose (at least where I'm concerned). I want the clerk punished for refusing to do her job.

[yeoman6987]

51. First time republicans won't impeach a democratic politician

That has to be a first.

[Ms. Yertle]

54. Didn't you know that she's a Democrat? n/t

[Fred Sanders]

57. The elected court clerk is a Fundie, elected by Fundies and protected by her Fundie religious

extremist zealots...all else is irrelevant.

Dr. Ben Carson is a prime example of how religious zealotry is all you need to know about why they all do what they do.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

68. That was a reasonable assumption, but I find now she is a DINO.

People like this don't belong in the Democratic party.

[Ms. Yertle]

69. Not the point--

As long as she runs, wins, and holds office as a Democrat, there is no chance for the people of that count to elect a real Dem.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

75. Agreed!

[cmkramer]

55. She is a Democrat

ITA she should be fired. However, as an elected official, I'm not sure she can be.

[whathehell]

39. Not at all. There's plenty of bad behavior going on..

and who picked you to decide which one we should "reserve" our supposed 'outrage' for?

Taking issue with more than one incident is hardly "being the victim of the 'Outrage Industry of America'",

whatever that is.

[yeoman6987]

50. They are both the same in my book.

[IronLionZion]

37. Some liberal somewhere did something wrong

so I am going to punish YOU!

[Fred Sanders]

40. 19 year olds working at fast food joints do not usually even know they are liberal or anything else ...zero politics in this inflated story...zero

value except to push the Outrage Button and see who jumps.

I weep for all the residents of Outrage Nation.

[IronLionZion]

44. If someone somewhere does something wrong

is it OK to punish a completely different person who has nothing to do with it?

[Fred Sanders]

45. No fast food is "punishment"? Did you read what the chief cop said about not getting a burger on time?

[IronLionZion]

46. Refusing service is discrimination

would it be different if it was because of race or religion or gender or sexual orientation?

[Fred Sanders]

52. Misuse of the two words now....did you read the chief cops statement..why are folks avoiding that?

19 years old.....living in a town of apparently racist cops...I would refuse the service the cops refuse to provide to the 19 year olds...ever thought about that?

[ileus]

65. refusing to serve anyone is 100% politics.

[randys1]

76. And righty will find this reaction, not handing him a burger, equivalent to something

absurd and will say that those Black folks are just out of hand.

Is this server Black?

[Truprogressive85]

6. aww

Well at least the police officer got an apology

When will an apology be issued to the families of the black families ? or when will we disciplinary actions be given to police departments that continue to harm and kill unarmed black people

[Vinca]

7. I imagine if the Arby's was being robbed the clerk would be happy to see a police officer.

[Ino]

49. This clerk wasn't too happy... cop killed him "accidentally"

It didn't look accidental in the video. The cop took him down and shot him.
http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120907/morrisania/grief-rage-merge-at-memorial-for-slain-bodega-clerk

And this clerk isn't too happy being sued by a cop who shot off his own finger...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/13/cop-shoots-finger-gun-store_n_6463984.html

[Vinca]

70. You're perpetuating the meme that all cops are bad and that isn't fair to the good ones.

[Ino]

73. Au contraire...

Your comment was promoting the meme that people are always happy to see a "police officer" if they're in trouble (therefore we should all be nice to all of them always). You don't know that, and I posted two links showing that's not always true.

I said nothing about all cops being bad. Calling out bad cops is not being unfair to good cops.

Here are just a few of the many people who ended up not happy to see a "police officer" after calling 911 for help...

Man calls 911 for help - cops kill him
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/02/10/1363567/-Beloved-Atlanta-area-man-Kevin-Davis-wrongly-killed-by-police-after-he-called-them-for-help

Mother of Two Shot in the Chest, Killed by Police After She Called 911 for Help
http://filmingcops.com/mother-of-two-shot-in-the-chest-killed-by-police-after-she-called-911-for-help/

Mother of man killed in police shooting regrets calling officers for help
http://kdvr.com/2015/07/14/mother-of-man-killed-in-police-shooting-regrets-calling-officers-for-help/

South Carolina Cop Shoots Homeowner Who Called for Help
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/south-carolina-cop-shoots-homeowner-who-called-help-n356146

Georgia police shoot man and kill his dog after responding to wrong house
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/01/georgia-police-shoot-man-kill-dog-wrong-house

Let me know if you want more examples.

[Vinca]

74. If I was as interested in googling as you seem to be, I could post hundreds of good stories.

FYI, I used to be a cop and can personally attest to a number of very, very good police incidents including a fellow officer who got to a baby turning blue before paramedics arrived and yanked something out of its throat and saved his life. You have to remember that it's only the horrible events that make for good ratings on the news networks. They aren't going to cover the cops finding an Alzheimer's patient in the woods or running into a burning building to save kids before the fire department arrived (true and true). They won't cover the multiple agencies turning up for a robbery alarm at a local bank and arresting the bad guys without incident (last week). I've pretty much kept out of the "bad cop" threads, but enough already. There are good cops, too.

[randys1]

77. Until good cops routinely, daily, hourly, turn in bad cops, which are everywhere, you have

no case at all.

[Ino]

84. I never said there weren't good cops.

You're making up something, and then being all outraged about it.

Your headline says you could post hundreds of good stories, then you claim no one covers the good stories. Which is it?

I suspect you can probably "personally attest to a number of very, very" BAD police incidents too, couldn't you?

FYI, my brother was a cop. Now he's one of those police union lawyers. My nephew is a cop. My sister was a court reporter and secretary to a police captain. So I have my own stories, but why should anyone believe them without corroboration? Hence, I post links to verified incidents instead of "personally attesting" which rightly doesn't mean squat.

Here's an interesting statistic...
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cops-beat-wives-girlfriends-double-national-rate-receive-promotions/

Law Enforcement officers beat their significant other at nearly double the national average. Several studies, according to Diane Wetendorf, author of Police Domestic Violence: Handbook for Victims, indicate that women suffer domestic abuse in at least 40 percent of police officer families. For American women overall, the figure is 25 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So good news, at most 60% of cops don't beat their wives! But no one talks about them

[bigworld]

10. More details here

http://www.local10.com/news/pembroke-pines-police-officer-refused-service-at-arbys/35060020

[Demit]

16. Wow. Police seem to want to escalate this.

From your link:

"...a group of police officers' wives held a protest outside of the restaurant Wednesday.

Broward County Police Benevolent Association President Jeff Marano said that the police union is calling for a national boycott of the fast-food chain. He said that Arby's should not only apologize to the Pembroke Pines Police Department, but to every police officer.

"This behavior is unacceptable," Marano said. "The disdain and lack of respect for law enforcement, as well as the fatal attacks on the men and women in uniform in America, is due to a lack of leadership -- starting with our commander-in-chief, President Barack Obama." "


That's really melodramatic of the police. Not a good sign.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

20. No apology required.

The employer had nothing to do with this rogue employee not doing his job. And you won't be getting an apology from the employee.

What needs to happen is that the employee get fired.

[whathehell]

41. Employers apologize for their employess all the time..

It's up to the employer to decide if it's required.

[progree]

22. I KNEW it was Obama's fault. Glad we got down to the root cause of the problem (again) <g>

The disdain and lack of respect for law enforcement, as well as the fatal attacks on the men and women in uniform in America, is due to a lack of leadership -- starting with our commander-in-chief, President Barack Obama." "

I'm surprised he didn't say "Barack HUSSEIN Obama"

[Fred Sanders]

42. Where are you quoting from? The chief cop? The chief cop commenting on this...unbelievable....the outrage is

strong in that one.....racist cop...maybe the fast food clerk was aware of the racism in the local department - made rather evident by the comment!

The 19 year old should be given a medal, not fired!!

[progree]

47. I'm quoting from #16 - Broward County Police Benevolent Association President Jeff Marano

And yes Marano's statement is outrageous and mind-boggling. Something I'd expect to hear in a bar near closing time, not a public statement by the Broward County Police Benevolent Association President .

[DustyJoe]

48. And

What if it was an officer-of-color ?
Same racism claim still apply ?
If so, what medal is he eligible for ?

[Fred Sanders]

53. The "Exposing White Privilege Medal of Honor" of course!

[Person 2713]

72. That's right it is all Obama's fault . WOW If this is what the police union leader is telling his

Officers then maybe the Arby's clerk who lives there knows more about the local cops' attitudes than newsstory readers. Perhaps they are a despicable group worth losing a low pay job over to just get in a personal fuvk you to the police force there.

[randys1]

78. They are a privileged lot, and this does not surprise me. This is our fault, by the way, seriously

we allow police to be armed like armies, we train them fight and kill first, negotiate as a last resort, etc.

This is our problem, and we are doing nothing about it

[Demit]

82. So what is your idea for what "we" should do?

I know I didn't give permission for police to be armed like armies, nor did I train them. But since you are making this extravagant claim for all of us, what do you propose we should do?

[randys1]

85. We have to start with interpreting the 2nd amendment by reading it, then removing ALL guns

to well regulated militias. Including guns of the police.

I suppose you could conclude the police are a version of said militia and allow them to have a handful of guns like they do in England.

Then over time you fire and rehire all police and administrators, retraining them drastically different away from confrontation and also hire within the community.

But WE wont do ANY of that.

[Gore1FL]

12. Profiling by occupation makes as much sense as profiling by race. n/t

[randys1]

79. Oh gosh no, I guess you havent heard of the thin blue line.

Police are by definition, due to the thin blue line, a profession or occupation where corruption is rampant or violent and improper behaviour is.

[Sunlei]

14. escalation of another situation due to tone of voice, in a drive through

'sounded short'

'gave credit card to person at window'

'handed food by window person'

situation escalated from there

[Taitertots]

19. Getting "short"? Let's see the video.

Or at least we should hear both sides of the story.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

23. It's STILL the black mans fault!

"This behavior is unacceptable," Marano said. "The disdain and lack of respect for law enforcement, as well as the fatal attacks on the men and women in uniform in America, is due to a lack of leadership -- starting with our commander-in-chief, President Barack Obama."

[philosslayer]

25. The young man may have been genuinely afraid

Based on experiences that he's had with the police, he may have been so scared he just shut down. There are two sides to this story. While of course police officers should be served, I would like to hear the young man's side before I render any opinion.

[reddread]

28. back to reeducation camp for you

cops and judges and lawyers and politicians are completely trustworthy.
Write that sentence 1000 times.

[whathehell]

61. Oh No! They are all utterly untrustworthy, which is why

one must fear even serving them a sandwich at an Arby's.

[reddread]

64. different people have different perspectives

may depend on how significantly you are impacted by the potential threat.
I prefer an open mind and some thoughtfulness to quick judgement lacking
factual input.

please amend the list above to include corporate media sources.
some folks like to blame the lackies instead of the owners.
thats how shortsighted things can get.
more outrage!
MORE!

[whathehell]

91. Yes they do and that's why I'm sharing mine.

My mind Is quite open and I'm reluctant to judge.

That being said, I know crazy when I see it.

[reddread]

92. what difference does crazy make?

majority rule.

[whathehell]

93. Uh, no.

Apparently, we don't communicate well. It's probably best to leave it there.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

29. Why don't we wait to hear the other side instead of making things up whole cloth.

[whathehell]

43. Oh please..

Through a window at an Arby's?...I don't think so.

[Evergreen Emerald]

31. See normally people just spit in the burger

He handled it all wrong.

[d_r]

38. maybe his religion

says he can't serve pork

[jtuck004]

58. Maybe didn't want to be murdered for getting the order wrong.

Lots of folks, especially black ones, have been killed for less.

[left-of-center2012]

59. From the linked article:

"The Broward and Dade County Police Benevolence Association said an apology was not enough
and called on supporters to boycott Arby's until the company fires the employees."

Police organizing a boycott of the business and demanding an employee be fired is totally inappropriate.
They're saying "If you disrespect us, and don't give in to our demands, we will shut you down."

If I owned the Arby's, I would say:
"Broward and Dade County Police are welcome here, but they have the freedom to eat anywhere they wish.
I will manage my restaurant without being intimidated by police."

[Fred Sanders]

66. Is that for real? The cops making bullshit mountain out of a burger not served by a kid?

[left-of-center2012]

67. Is that for real?

It's in the article.
They want all the cops, families, and friends to boycott the place until the guy is fired.

"You will do as we say, or else."
Sounds like police intimidation.

[davidthegnome]

60. Yeah...

To refuse to serve someone based on their profession (it could be a Doctor who performs abortions, a clergy member who performs ceremonies for GLBT weddings, a cop, a judge, whatever) is wrong. I could understand it if there was some kind of personal issue with this particular cop, perhaps, but even then, why? The worst that you can really do is force them to go somewhere else for a burger.

I don't think that's what happened here though.

From the article:

"Davenport told CBS Miami that he didn't serve the officer, because he was busy helping other customers. He said that the misunderstanding was the result of Mirabel trying to make a joke that did not go over well."

Now THAT, I can definitely see happening. It also indicates that the officer felt uncertain about the safety of the food, which reminds me of Super Troopers - "Hey! Don't spit in that cop's burger!"

Seems like it was something kind of stupid and petty that got blown way the hell out of proportion. I could be wrong, but it seems like the Manager was more to blame for this than the clerk.

[TexasBushwhacker]

81. I agree about the manager

If that was her idea of a joke, it was in really bad taste and not funny at all.

[RobinA]

63. More Tales

from the Outrage Derby.

[left-of-center2012]

80. What about those signs ?

[former9thward]

88. Putting a sign in the window does not tear up the Constitution.

You can't discriminate if your discrimination is based on your opposition to a legally protected class. In this case cops are not a legally protected class. So they can be discriminated against. And they are free to protest and organize boycotts.

[Freddie Stubbs]

90. UPDATE: Manager fired, employee indefinitely suspended

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-pembroke-pines-arbys-flap-20150902-story.html