By Police1 Staff
PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. — A Pembroke Pines Police Department officer was denied service at Arby’s “due to being a police officer,” Sun Sentinel reported.
Police Chief Dan Giustino released a statement demanding an apology from the restaurant’s CEO after the Sept. 1 incident.
The officer has been identified as Sgt. Jennifer Martin, WSVN reported.
According to the police report obtained by the publication, Martin drove in to the Arby’s drive-thru and noticed abrasive behavior from the employee while she was placing an order. When she drove up to the window, the 22-year-old store manager, Angel Mirabel, approached as Martin attempted to hand the clerk, 19-year-old Kenneth Davenport, her credit card.
The manager told Martin the clerk “doesn’t want to serve you because you’re a police officer,” then ordered that Martin’s credit card not be processed. Martin told the manager that she was uncomfortable and Mirabel asssured her everything was okay while joking that Davenport is allowed to refuse service.
Martin was worried about the safety of her food and didn’t eat it. She entered the restaurant and Maribel gave her his contact information. Davenport refused to talk to Martin and provide his contact information.
“I am offended and appalled that an individual within our community would treat a police officer in such a manner,” Giustino said in a news release.
Several protestors stood in from of Arby’s in protest Wednesday afternoon, WSVN reported.
Less than two hours later, Arby’s contacted the chief to apologize. The statement reiterates the company’s “respect and support for police”, and that they “will be following up with our team members to be sure that our policy of inclusion is understood and adhered to.”
“We recognize that this is an isolated incident confined to a single individual within our city, and appreciate the outpouring of support we continue to receive,” Giustino said in the press release.
Giustino now considers the matter closed.