Starbucks has offered an apology to six Tempe Police officers, who were asked to leave the company’s Scottsdale and McKellips roads location on July 4 after a customer claimed that their presence made him feel “unsafe.”
On Sunday, Rob Ferraro, head of the Tempe Police Officers Association said in an interview on FOX News that Starbucks officials were coming to Arizona to meet with the Tempe Police chief. Ferraro said they don’t blame Starbucks for the snub and called it an “unfortunate incident.”
The public first learned of the barista’s bizarre request after the Association tweeted about the incident on July 5:
Don’t appreciate @Starbucks asking our #Tempe cops to leave your establishment on the #4thofjuly2019. Several of those cops are #veterans who fought for this country! #ZeroRespect pic.twitter.com/oGaDKhlYX3
— Tempe Officers Association (@ToaAz) July 5, 2019
According to FOX News, Starbucks’ executive vice president wrote to the Department that she wanted to “sincerely apologize” on behalf of Starbucks after six officers were asked to leave the Tempe store.
“They should have been welcomed and treated with dignity and the utmost respect by our partners (employees). Instead they were made to feel unwelcome and disrespected, which is completely unacceptable,” she wrote according to FOX.
While there might be Starbucks’ customers who are uncomfortable with officers’ presence, the officers received invites from various supporters:
Unacceptable. Sorry you guys have to put up with this blatant disrespect. Many of us appreciate what you do each and every day.
I’m the meantime #AmericaRunsOnDunkin – would happily buy you guys a cup 🙂
— Fr Jim Chern (@FatherJimChern) July 6, 2019
@ToaAz I would like to Provide you all with some drinks on me from @TheCoffeeBean Tempe Marketplace! I am at loss of words that this happened, I invite you all to come try us out sometime! Please dm! I would love to do something for you guys!
— Boy Warrior (@HbicBlaqsheep) July 6, 2019
I’m happy to buy y’all coffee at Dutch Bros. on Rural and Guadalupe. Let me know…
— Sophie Girl (@SophieNLucy) July 6, 2019
A newly formed group with a questionable pedigree, known as the National Police Officers Association, tweeted a demand for “anti-police bias training.”
Time to close all 8000 stores for anti-police bias training @Starbucks https://t.co/2jnACOB58S
— National Police Association (@NatPoliceAssoc) July 6, 2019
The obviously snarky tweet refers to the April 2018 closure of 8000 Starbucks stores in the United States for one day to conduct anti-bias training after two black men were arrested after a white manager called the police. Starbucks reached an undisclosed settlement with those men and offered them a free college education.