This incident is interesting on a number of levels, not least the wording of the story, which treats the policemen's account as inherently suspect. For example, the headline is "officers claim" they were told to leave, even though there is no contrary account from anyone. I also find it interesting that Starbucks has "reached out to determine what may have happened in our store". Again, there is not so subtle distrust of the officers' veracity. By contrast, they immediately fired a white female manager at another store who called police when some non-customer black guys refused to leave. Apparently a different standard applies if they merely insult law enforcement. Tempe Police officers claim they were asked to leave Starbucks By Justin Lum, FOX 10 Posted Jul 05 2019 05:15PM MST Video Posted Jul 05 2019 09:45PM MST TEMPE, Ariz. (FOX 10) -- Some Tempe Police officers were forced to take their coffee to go at Starbucks in the East Valley city, where officers claim an employee asked them to leave the store on July 4th. FOX 10's Justin Lum spoke with the President of the Tempe Officers Association, who said a customer told a Starbucks employee they felt unsafe because of the number of officers in the store. According to TOA officials, a group of five Tempe officers had just bought their drinks and stood near the front of the Starbucks, and that's when a barista made the request for the customer, and so, they left. FOX 10 has learned that two of the officers, who are veterans, are offended and frustrated by what happened. On Friday, the association took to social media, and posted a "Dump Starbucks" photo. Rob Ferraro, President of TOA, is not necessarily calling for a Starbucks boycott, but calls the incident a new reality for officers. “It’s become accepted to not trust or to see police and think that we’re not here to serve you, and again, it goes back to -- we take great pride of the level of customer service we provide to citizens, and to be looked at as feeling unsafe when you have law enforcement around you is somewhat perplexing to me," said Ferraro, via a phone interview. Starbucks officials have issued a written response, reading: "We have deep respect for the Tempe Police Department and its service to our community. We have reached out to understand better what may have happened in our store, and to apologize for any misunderstanding or inappropriate behavior that may have taken place." http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/ar...cers-claim-they-were-asked-to-leave-starbucks
I way I see it, as a public servant, the officer answers to us. Our community has given the officer certain duties and responsibilities that citizens have the obligation to cooperate with the officer in most situations. Admittedly, my attitude that the officer works for me has gotten myself arrested three times. The same officers who either exceeded their authority or violated departmental policies ended up with career or attitude changes after my respective hearings. A officer acting beyond either the scope of his authority or being unprofessional can face heat after a defense attorney, judge, prosecutor, or even his supervisor hears about it. If a officer acts inappropriately and there are witnesses, one can either call out that officer’s behavior publicly or one take some time to cool off and contact the officer the next day. If the officer is still a asshole or did something that seemed particularly bad, one can contact their supervisor or a member of the court. In my opinion, and the result my extensive contact with law enforcement, either as a citizen or in professional situations, the vast majority of our officers are good and we likely have the best officers in the world by training and professionalism. However, as citizens, it is our obligation the “police” the police, so that unprofessionalism is never considered acceptable by that officer or his peers.
It never ceases to amaze me that Republicans and police would patronize Starbucks when they have shown their disdain for the police and Trump supporters numerous times! No over priced coffee is worth the aggravation and disrespect shown by Starbucks employees! If someone is not treating you right, why continue to patronize the business? They also, laugh at you behind your back for lining their pockets with profits while, they mistreat you. If you boycott Starbucks, there is a good chance those hateful employees will lose their jobs! Think about that!
A cop being a dick to someone in an unrelated event does not justify SBUX telling officers who bought coffee to leave the premises.
WTF? This isn’t 1950’s Mississippi with inbred Barney Fife’s running the local KKK chapter. Stuff like this is so bad for the country. Ironically, the same snowflake asswipe will be quick to dial 911 when “a group of teens” break into his house.