A Pembroke Pines officer was denied service at a local Arby's on Tuesday night simply for being a police officer. According to the Pembroke Pines Police Department, the uniformed cop went to get some food at the Arby's located at 11755 Pines Blvd. but was told by a worker there she wouldn't be getting her order because she's a cop.
Pembroke Pines Police Department Chief Dan Giustino called the incident "unacceptable" and said he would be demanding an apology from Arby's CEO, Paul Brown.
"I am offended and appalled that an individual within our community would treat a police officer in such a manner," Giustino said Wednesday morning.
Pembroke Pines Police did go on to say in a statement that they regard this as an isolated incident "confined to a single individual within our city and appreciate the outpouring of support we continue to receive from the residents of Pembroke Pines."
"We are very proud of the partnerships we have built within our city, and for an incident like this to have happened is very disappointing for everyone," Giustino added.
Soon after the department put out a news release on the matter, the PPPD posted about the incident on its Facebook and Twitter feeds, while Giustino made good on getting that apology and contacted Arby's himself.
Giustino called the Arby’s corporation, the PPPD
"Both gentlemen assured Chief Giustino that the employee’s behavior was unacceptable and not representative of the company’s values," a PPPD statement reads.
Giustino says he's appreciative of the phone calls and accepted the men's apology. The Pembroke Pines Police Department now considers this matter closed.
A call to the Arby's in question from New Times was not immediately returned.
Some on Twitter caught wind of the incident and tweeted directly at Arby's, calling for action and boycotts.
@Arbys appalled to hear your store in Pembroke Pines,FL refused service to my friend because she is an officer and was in uniform last night
— Erin Jones Shaw (@ErinJonesShaw) September 2, 2015@Arbys manager refuses service to cop in Pembroke Pines, FL. #ArbysHatesCops
— Sushie Chan (@sushi022583) September 2, 2015Arby's at
11755 Pines Blvd
Pembroke Pines, FL 33026 REFUSED to serve a Police Officer. Manager thought it was a laughing matter!
— Suzy (@Nurse_Suzy) September 2, 2015@Arbys Shame on your Pembroke Pines store for refusing service to an officer. They risk their lives to protect us. You lost this customer.
— Vanessa Goldwasser (@VanBuzzy) September 2, 2015The manager of the Arby's located at 11755 Pines Blvd. Pembroke Pines, FL refused to serve a uniformed police officer. @Arbys @Wendys #foul
— R. Todd Brown (@rtoddme) September 2, 2015@arbys pembroke lakes, Pembroke Pines, FL refused service to a #policeofficer yesterday. please spread this far and wide. UNACCEPTABLE
— Diane (@Dianepmny) September 2, 2015
