Restaurant chain issues apology after refusing service to Virginia police officer

A cook at a Virginia restaurant refused to serve an Alexandria police officer in uniform Monday night, according to the police union.

As the officer stood in line, a cook exited the kitchen, approached the cashier and pointed at the officer, Alexandria Committee of Police Vice President Peter Feltham said he was told.

The cashier and cook then exchanged words and started laughing at the officer.

The restaurant plans to put up a sign in support of “Blue Lives”, Feltham told Fox5, and the store has reached out to the officer herself.

On Tuesday, Feltham met with a Noodles & Company manager where he said he received an apology.

“We have concluded the two team members in question acted inappropriately and we immediately terminated their employment”, the company statement said.

In Texas this week, a McDonald’s employee was was sacked for refusing to serve an off-duty officer and his family.

“Noodles & Company expects the highest ethical and personal behavior from its team members”, the statement reads. Amid the tensions between the police and minority communities, many cases of employees refusing to serve law enforcement officers have been reported.

Two police officers and one sheriff’s deputy were shot and killed during an ambush at a gas station in Baton Rouge on July 17 by Gavin Long, a black former Marine, who was later killed by a long-distance shot by a SWAT officer. “We do not tolerate any form of discrimination”.

“There should never be any discrimination in America”, Silberberg told The Alexandria Times.

“We want to thank the entire Alexandria Police Department for their assistance in this investigation”.

The encounter followed a series of incidents shortly after the Dallas police ambush involving police officers who felt restaurant customers and staff treated them less than respectfully.

‘We value each of our guests and are committed to treating every one with dignity and respect, ‘ the company said. “We hope that the business is not judged by the actions of a couple of individuals”.

PHOTO of sign courtesy of Noodles & Co.