Florida Arby’s Refuses To Serve Pembroke Pines Police Officer

Arby’s refused to serve a Pembroke Pines police officer at a Florida restaurant. Officials from the fast food chain have now apologized for the incident, which occurred at the drive-thru window. Officer Jennifer Martin was shocked at what occurred after she ordered her lunch and pulled around to pay for the meal.

A Pembroke Pine police officer pulled up to the Arby’s window in a cruiser while in uniform, according to a report filed with the Florida law enforcement agency shared by USA Today. Kenneth Davenport, 19, the Arby’s worker who took the order, sounded “short” with the officer when taking the order, according to the incident report filed by officer Jennifer Martin.

When the Pembroke Pine police officer pulled up to the window to pick up the meal, the store manager appeared. Angel Mirabel reportedly said the employee “doesn’t want to serve you because you are a police officer.” The manager then reportedly had to order Davenport to slide the officer’s credit card and complete the transaction.

The Florida Arby’s manager told the police officer that the employee “has the right” to refuse service. After stating concern about the safety of the food being handed over and overall displeasure about the entire experience, the officer was given a refund, NBC 6 reports.

Pembroke Pines Police Major Carlos Bermudez said the Arby’s worker did not state why he harbored an animosity towards police. Both Arby’s CEO Paul Brown and Senior Vice President of Operations Scott Boatwright contacted Pembroke Police Chief Dan Giustino and apologized on Wednesday.

“We take this isolated matter very seriously as we respect and support police officers in our local communities,” Arby’s spokesman Jason Rollins said. “We will be following up with our team members to be sure that our policy of inclusion is understood and adhered to.”

An apology is not enough, according to the Broward and Dade County Police Benevolence Association. A statement released by the group urged supporters to boycott Arby’s until the Pembroke Pines employee who refused to serve food to a police officer is fired, the Daily Mail reports.

“This is yet another example of the hostile treatment of our brave men and women simply because they wear a badge,” PBA president John Rivera added. “It is unacceptable and warrants much more than an apology.”

Firing the Arby’s worker who denied service to the police officer is not out of the question, according to a statement made by Rollins. He said the company was following through with disciplinary action “up to and including termination of the employees involved, as appropriate.”

What do you think about Arby’s refusing to serve the Pembroke Pines police officer?

[Image via Pembroke Pines Police Department, Twitter/WSVN Screengrab, James R. Martin/Shutterstock.com]