The Providence Fraternal Order of Police wrote to the head office of Dunkin’ Donuts, expressing their concern over two recent incidents that occurred recently in New England when officers went into their establishments to order coffee.
The letter says the FOP is concerned about the welfare of its members after an employee created a situation that caused officers to be concerned about the safety of purchases made at Dunkin’ Donuts. FOP president Chuck Canterbury wrote, “Any profession that suffered from negative media and an anti-rhetoric campaign would and should be concerned about tainted food service especially when someone would take the steps to sign a container by hand.”
The letter followed an incident where a Providence police officer ordered coffee from a Dunkin’ Donuts establishment in the city last Friday. According to a Facebook post made by a fellow officer, the server was rude and appeared like she did not want to serve the officer. She did serve him and on the way out, the officer noticed the words, “#blacklivesmatter” written on the coffee cup.
The following day, another incident occurred in a Dunkin’ Donuts outlet in West Hartford, Connecticut when an officer of that city’s police force went in to order coffee. An employee said, in a loud voice, loud enough so other customers could hear, “He didn’t get the message. We don’t serve cops here.”
When the officer was leaving the store, he was confronted by the manager and the employee who used the excuse, getting so lame and old now, that the employee was just kidding. The manager offered the officer a free cup of coffee which the officer declined.
On Sunday, Dunkin’ Donuts’ head office issued a tepid meaningless apology, saying the worker “exhibited poor judgment and apologized immediately” and then said how the Connecticut franchisee supports the police.
This is not poor judgment; it’s an employee who can’t do his or her job properly and who hates cops. Expressing disdain for cops is more important than doing their job.
While the Providence FOP is not calling for a boycott of the franchise, they are making sure other police departments throughout the country know about the incidents in Providence and West Hartford.
Although there is no formal boycott, Americans who support the police might want to think twice before going into a Dunkin’ Donuts. And police might want to think about whether it is safe to exceed the speed limit when responding to a call at a Dunkin’ Donuts location.
