Several Louisville police officers didn't get the lunch break they expected. They left the Taco Bell on Preston Highway with no food at all.
Five Louisville Metro police officers were working at the state fair and during their lunch break decided to go to Taco Bell. They left hungry and frustrated.
"The young man behind the counter turned to the other employees and said, 'I'm not taking this order' and walked away from them,” FOP president Dave Mutchler said.
Mutchler said a female employee walked toward the register to take the orders, but before she could, officers overheard a conversation between two employees who were making the food.
"One of those young men told the other employee, ‘I wanna mess with them. I wanna mess with them.’ And then he followed that up by saying, ‘I'm going to mess with them,’" Mutchler said.
The officers left.
"I think their reaction was kind of like, ‘Really? This is how it's gonna be?’” Mutchler said.
Mutchler said Yum Brands and the Louisville franchise owner apologized to the officers.
Taco Bell sent WLKY a statement saying:
“Taco Bell and Bells & Birds, Inc., the franchise owner of this Louisville Taco Bell, do not tolerate discrimination in any way. Bells & Birds, Inc. deeply regrets these officers felt unwelcome in the restaurant, and has apologized directly to the officers and the Louisville Metro Police Department, who made it clear they did not want anyone to lose their job over this incident. We appreciate their ongoing support, and the franchisee is working to re-train its staff at this location."
"Obviously the members aren't very happy about what happened, but at this point, at least they're satisfied that the franchise and Yum is going to address the issue,” Mutchler said.
Mutchler said problems like this aren't something they see a lot of in Louisville.
"I definitely don't think that the majority of teens working at fast food restaurants would do something like that, but there's always a few out there somewhere,” Mutchler said.
Mutchler said a lot of times, officers make sure to eat at restaurants where they can see their food being made because they never know if someone has a problem with polic
__________________
LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
An Alexandria police officer was denied service Monday evening at a local Noodles & Company, according to the department.
Crystal Nosal, a spokeswoman for the department, said the female officer in uniform went into the Duke St. location of the chain restaurant for dinner and stood in line behind a family. A female cook came out from the back of the restaurant and told the cashier, “‘You better pull me off the line, because I’m not cooking for,” then gestured at the officer, according to Nosal.
Nosal said the cashier looked confused before spotting the officer and laughing. The officer then said, according to Nosal, “‘I guess you don’t want my money,’” and left.
Police Chief Earl Cook went over to the restaurant Tuesday and spoke to the management. They had not finished their internal investigation, yet, Cook said, but the manager apologized for what occurred. “I just wanted to have a conversation. . .and get back onto a normal business relationship,” Cook said.
Nothing like has happened in the city before to his knowledge.
“I’m extremely disappointed; you don’t want your officers treated in this manner,” he said. “We have a very supportive business community — that’s the last thing I would have expected to happen.”
He said that given recent anger directed toward police across the country, “we are all sensitized to being careful and being safe.” He said he thought the officer handled the situation perfectly by simply leaving the restaurant.
Alexandria police union representative Pete Feltham told Fox5 that the business has agreed to put a sign in its window supporting the pro-police “Blue Lives Matter” movement.
In a statement, Noodles & Company said the restaurant is “working with the appropriate authorities and local police association representatives to get to the bottom of, and resolve this matter as quickly as possible.”
The company is reaching out to the officer but has not spoken to her yet, according to the statement.
__________________
LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
I've been to that noodles place. Used to travel on business to Alexandria often. If I still did you better believe I would have a loud conversation with management. This disrespect towards the police has got to stop.
__________________
Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
I would have fired every one of these employees on the spot.
As a restaurant manager, if I knew you were a cop, fireman, or military, your meal was free. Period.
It was a little something I could do to say thank you and with a uniformed officer sitting in my dinning room, I was less likely to have a problem with anyone.
Lots of times, they would come sit in my parking lot at night after closing till I left.
I'm really surprised that YUM didn't fire the Taco Bell employees. Perhaps because it is a franchise instead of corporate.
There is a lack of respect being encouraged among the youth today. I blame the parents and the media.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I have often times paid for the meals of LE if possible. They deserve it. I also have my boys say hello to the police when we see them. They wave at firemen, too. I have a thin blue line magnet on my car.
But sadly, this isn't done enough with the youth of today, raising them to know law enforcement and first responders are the good guys.
If a parent teaches their child to have a fear of authority instead of respect, then you get the people like in the OP.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I would have fired every one of these employees on the spot.
As a restaurant manager, if I knew you were a cop, fireman, or military, your meal was free. Period.
It was a little something I could do to say thank you and with a uniformed officer sitting in my dinning room, I was less likely to have a problem with anyone.
Lots of times, they would come sit in my parking lot at night after closing till I left.
I'm really surprised that YUM didn't fire the Taco Bell employees. Perhaps because it is a franchise instead of corporate.
There is a lack of respect being encouraged among the youth today. I blame the parents and the media.
This used to be the way of it. Apartment complexes rented to police at a discount to have their presence in the complex. The gym I worked for gave discounts to police, firefighters & EMTs. It was a form of respect & to acknowledge what they did for the community. Now there is just no respect & it is affecting society.
