This California coffee shop has a policy: No police

A California coffee shop booted a police officer from its store last month, claiming it has a rule of keeping law enforcement out for safety reasons.

"We have a policy of asking police to leave for the physical and emotional safety of our customers and ourselves," a clerk told the officer on Feb. 16, according to Hasta Muerte Coffee's Instagram page.

NBC Bay Area reported the sergeant left without coffee.

Hasta Muerte Coffee, a co-op in Oakland, boasts an inclusive atmosphere with non-hierarchical workspaces, its website states. It did not respond to a request for comment.

Its Instagram post, which is accompanied by a photo with text reading "talk to your neighbors, not the police," reports NBC Bay Area, directs frustration at law enforcement.

Law and order, the post said, "routinely criminalizes and terrorizes black and brown folks, especially youth, trans, and houseless folks. For these reasons and so many more, we need the support of the actual community to keep this place safe, not police."

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The incident, reports NBC Bay Area, prodded the Oakland Police Officers Association to send the shop a letter requesting it "open a dialogue" on the policy. The Oakland Police Department referenced the incident in a tweet on Thursday.

"The Oakland Police Department respects business owners right to serve anyone they choose. OPD along with other community members are reaching out to the business to have constructive dialogue in our efforts to unite our community," the tweet said.

The Oakland Police Department respects business owners right to serve anyone they choose. OPD along with other community members are reaching out to the business to have constructive dialogue in our efforts to unite our community #UNITE — Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) March 9, 2018

Follow Sean Rossman on Twitter: @SeanRossman