Starbucks is apologizing after an employee at one of its Arizona stores asked a group of police officers to either move or leave its location.
The organization issued a formal apology on Saturday to Tempe, Ariz. Police Chief Sylvia Moir and the entire department, according to Bloomberg News.
“When those officers entered the store and a customer raised a concern over their presence, they should have been welcomed and treated with dignity and the utmost respect," Starbucks said in a statement, Bloomberg News reported. “Instead, they were made to feel unwelcome and disrespected, which is completely unacceptable.”
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
2/4 and stood together having a cup of coffee before their long 4th of July shift. They were approached by a barista, who knew one of the officers by name, because he is a regular at that location. The barista said that a customer “did not feel safe” because of the police...
— Tempe Officers Association (@ToaAz) July 6, 2019
4/4.. at all was offensive. Unfortunately, such treatment has become all too common in 2019.
— Tempe Officers Association (@ToaAz) July 6, 2019
We know this is not a national policy at Starbucks Corporate and we look forward to working collaboratively with them on this important dialogue.