It’s happened yet again. Another franchise telling police officers they won’t be served because they put their lives on the line to uphold the law. This incident brings us to New England, where a Dunkin’ Donuts employee in Hartford, Connecticut told an officer standing in line that they don’t serve law enforcement (via PIX 11):
According to police, the officer was standing at the back of the line when an employee looked over at him said loudly, “He didn’t get the message. We don’t serve cops here.”As the officer left the store, he was approached by the manager and the employee who apologized, stating it was just a joke.
The officer told the employee she should apologize to the people in the store who appeared to take offense to her comment. The employee then apologized to the patrons and offered the officer a free coffee.
He declined and said he would go to a different store.
This idiocy, and other like-minded incidents of disrespect, has been occurring across the country. In Texas, a Whataburger employee was fired after refusing to serve two off-duty two police officers, both of whom were working security at a construction site. A police officer from Newton, Kansas received his Taco Bell order with the word “PIG” written on the wrappers. In an incident similar to Dunkin’ Donuts, a police officer in Florida was told by an Arby’s manager at the drive-thru window that an employee doesn’t want to serve her. In the end, it seemed to be a misunderstanding, and the whole incident was meant to be taken as a joke. It was costly. The manager was fired and the clerk was suspended.
Dunkin’ Donuts’ senior director for global public relations, Michelle King, said in a statement that the coffee and donut giant is aware of the situation, with the franchise owner–and long-time supporter of police, reaching out to local law enforcement to apologize as well.
Protip for all the comedians out there: don't joke about refusing service to police officers in light of current events. It could cost you your job, you look like an idiot, and you'll rightfully experience the wrath of social media. It's not fair to the people who employ you, so cut it out.
