Arby's apologizes after employee refuses to serve police officer

Aamer Madhani | USA TODAY

Arby’s said it has apologized to Florida's Pembroke Pines Police Department after an employee at one of the fast-food chain's locations allegedly refused to serve one of the department's police officers.

Pembroke Pines police says one of their officers was initially refused service at an Arby’s location in town on Tuesday evening when trying to order food at the restaurant’s drive-thru. The officer was in uniform and in a police vehicle, according to a police report filed on the incident.

The drive-thru clerk, who was identified as Kenneth Davenport, 19, sounded "short" with the officer when he or she was ordering, the police report says. Police would not divulge the name of the complaining officer.

When the officer drove to the pickup window, the store manager, Angel Mirabel, told the officer that the clerk "doesn't want to serve you because you are a police officer." Mirabel had to order Davenport to process the officer's credit card.

The officer expressed displeasure and concern about the safety of the food to the manager. Mirabel also allegedly told the officer that the clerk "has the right to refuse to serve" you. The officer felt "uncertain" about the safety of the food and was given a refund.

Major Carolos Bermudez said the employee did not specify why he or she might have had any animosity against police. Davenport told CBS Miami that he didn't serve the officer, because he was busy helping other customers. He said that the misunderstanding was the result of Mirabel trying to make a joke that did not go over well.

“We don’t hate cops,” Davenport said told the television station. “We don’t hate anybody. We’re just trying to get people out of the drive thru.”

Bermudez said Arby’s CEO Paul Brown and Senior Vice President of Operations Scott Boatwright, called Police Chief Dan Giustino on Wednesday morning and apologized.

Arby’s confirmed that Brown had apologized to Giustino.

“We take this isolated matter very seriously as we respect and support police officers in our local communities,” Arby’s spokesman Jason Rollins said a statement. “We will be following up with our team members to be sure that our policy of inclusion is understood and adhered to.”

The Broward and Dade County Police Benevolence Association said an apology was not enough and called on supporters to boycott Arby's until the company fires the employees.

"This is yet another example of the hostile treatment of our brave men and women simply because they wear a badge," PBA president John Rivera said. "It is unacceptable and warrants much more than an apology."

Rollins said the company would follow through with disciplinary action "up to and including termination of the employees involved, as appropriate.”,

Follow USA TODAY Chicago correspondent Aamer Madhani on Twitter: @AamerISmad