The San Francisco Police Officers Association (SPOA) applauded a local bakery that refused service to one of its officers last week because of a policy barring anyone “armed and in uniform” from service.
“Let’s put aside all joking — that’s directed at police officers,” SPOA President Lt. Tracy McCray told Fox News Digital. “Because who you see is always visible? So, just stop—, just say what you mean, and we can go on.”
Last week, Reem’s California Arabic bakery and restaurant would not serve an on-duty officer who reportedly walked off a 16-hour shift and worked overtime at the King of the Streets car show.
An employee at the bakery told the officer that they do not serve people who are “armed and in uniform,” according to SPOA.
McCray emailed the organization to ask about the policy.
He received a response from a spokesperson who claimed the restaurant actually “has a policy of not serving anyone armed in uniform.” Fox News Digital obtained a copy of the email.
“All officers are welcome to come to our establishment when they are off duty and unarmed,” the spokesperson wrote.
Last week, Reem’s California Arabic bakery and restaurant would not serve on-duty officers who reportedly walked off a 16-hour shift. San Francisco POA
McCray asked Reem if they would put up a sign about the policy, so officers would know not to frequent the business. He received no reply.
In a follow-up statement, Reem posted a statement to Instagram claiming the restaurant “has a deep commitment to advancing social and racial justice in our community.”
“This includes fostering a safe environment for our staff and customers. In a time of rising gun violence — particularly affecting people of color, youth and queer people — we believe that maintaining a strict policy prohibiting firearms in our restaurants makes us safer,” the Aug. 25 statement said.
We are not asking Reem or any business with bigoted policies to serve our officers. We ask them to own their discrimination policies & and put up signs so we know not to spend money at your establishment—on or off duty. We took the liberty of designing one for them. pic.twitter.com/aITQFLOFG0
— San Francisco POA (@SanFranciscoPOA) August 24, 2023
“Many members of our community have been affected by gun violence, whether it’s experience on the streets of San Francisco, coming from war or occupation, or growing fear as a result of a growing climate of political extremism. Often, black and brown people, and the poor are the victims of this violence,” it continued.
McCray said the statement was “dishonest” after he received only a two-sentence email confirming what SPOA deemed a “no police authorization” policy.
“How do you enforce it?” McCray asked about the policy. “Is this an honor system? You walk in, and everybody asks you, ‘Are you armed?’”
San Francisco Police Department vehicle.Getty Images
Reem is not the first business to refuse service to police officers in the liberal city. Restaurant owners Hilda and Jesse also refused service to three police officers on duty in 2021, citing the business as a “safe space,” and a pizzeria fired an employee in January for turning away several officers.
According to the San Francisco Standard, the San Francisco Police Department said in an emailed statement Friday that “while businesses have the right, within the constraints of the law, to decide who they will and will not serve, the San Francisco Police Department stands firm. in its commitment to meet the public safety needs of ALL residents, businesses and visitors to our city no matter who they are.”
Reem’s, which is temporarily closed until Sept. 5, did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
