According to the Kansas City Star, Kansas City Police Officer Michael Holsworth and his family went to lunch at the Olive Garden in Independence, Missouri, on Sunday to celebrate his birthday. But Holsworth, who was on duty and wearing his uniform, said his plans were ruined when an employee asked him to leave the restaurant because he was carrying a firearm.
"I actually thought it was a joke at first, so I asked her, 'Are you serious?'" he wrote on Facebook. "She replied back with 'Yes.' So I told her, 'Well, I can leave I guess.' She then replied back, 'Yes, please leave.'"
His post has been shared more than 8,600 times.
>> Click here to read Holsworth's post
Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police President Brad Lemon shared his outrage on Twitter, telling the chain, "You should be ashamed." Olive Garden responded, "This was a misunderstanding. Law enforcement are always welcome to dine w/ us – we ️[love] serving them and have great relationships."
"Olive Garden welcomes members of law enforcement all the time in the restaurants," Olive Garden spokesman Rich Jeffers told the Star. "We love serving them. They serve our community. The least we can do is provide them a great meal."
Lemon wrote on Facebook that the incident appeared to stem from "a poor decision of one employee," not a company policy.
"What I hope comes out of this event, and the others like this around our country, is that the narrative needs to change," Lemon wrote on Facebook. "It's not OK to treat law enforcement poorly. We deserve, and have earned, the same level of respect due to each and every member of society. However, if a person or company chooses to do otherwise, we will not stay silent any longer."
>> Click here to read Lemon's post
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