Several Louisville police officers didn't get the lunch break they expected. They left the Taco Bell on Preston Highway with no food at all.
Five Louisville Metro police officers were working at the state fair and during their lunch break decided to go to Taco Bell. They left hungry and frustrated.
"The young man behind the counter turned to the other employees and said, 'I'm not taking this order' and walked away from them,” FOP president Dave Mutchler said.
Mutchler said a female employee walked toward the register to take the orders, but before she could, officers overheard a conversation between two employees who were making the food.
"One of those young men told the other employee, ‘I wanna mess with them. I wanna mess with them.’ And then he followed that up by saying, ‘I'm going to mess with them,’" Mutchler said.
The officers left.
"I think their reaction was kind of like, ‘Really? This is how it's gonna be?’” Mutchler said.
Mutchler said Yum Brands and the Louisville franchise owner apologized to the officers.
Taco Bell sent WLKY a statement saying:
“Taco Bell and Bells & Birds, Inc., the franchise owner of this Louisville Taco Bell, do not tolerate discrimination in any way. Bells & Birds, Inc. deeply regrets these officers felt unwelcome in the restaurant, and has apologized directly to the officers and the Louisville Metro Police Department, who made it clear they did not want anyone to lose their job over this incident. We appreciate their ongoing support, and the franchisee is working to re-train its staff at this location."
"Obviously the members aren't very happy about what happened, but at this point, at least they're satisfied that the franchise and Yum is going to address the issue,” Mutchler said.
Mutchler said problems like this aren't something they see a lot of in Louisville.
"I definitely don't think that the majority of teens working at fast food restaurants would do something like that, but there's always a few out there somewhere,” Mutchler said.
Mutchler said a lot of times, officers make sure to eat at restaurants where they can see their food being made because they never know if someone has a problem with police.
Five Louisville Metro police officers were working at the state fair and during their lunch break decided to go to Taco Bell. They left hungry and frustrated.
"The young man behind the counter turned to the other employees and said, 'I'm not taking this order' and walked away from them,” FOP president Dave Mutchler said.
Mutchler said a female employee walked toward the register to take the orders, but before she could, officers overheard a conversation between two employees who were making the food.
"One of those young men told the other employee, ‘I wanna mess with them. I wanna mess with them.’ And then he followed that up by saying, ‘I'm going to mess with them,’" Mutchler said.
The officers left.
"I think their reaction was kind of like, ‘Really? This is how it's gonna be?’” Mutchler said.
Mutchler said Yum Brands and the Louisville franchise owner apologized to the officers.
Taco Bell sent WLKY a statement saying:
“Taco Bell and Bells & Birds, Inc., the franchise owner of this Louisville Taco Bell, do not tolerate discrimination in any way. Bells & Birds, Inc. deeply regrets these officers felt unwelcome in the restaurant, and has apologized directly to the officers and the Louisville Metro Police Department, who made it clear they did not want anyone to lose their job over this incident. We appreciate their ongoing support, and the franchisee is working to re-train its staff at this location."
"Obviously the members aren't very happy about what happened, but at this point, at least they're satisfied that the franchise and Yum is going to address the issue,” Mutchler said.
Mutchler said problems like this aren't something they see a lot of in Louisville.
"I definitely don't think that the majority of teens working at fast food restaurants would do something like that, but there's always a few out there somewhere,” Mutchler said.
Mutchler said a lot of times, officers make sure to eat at restaurants where they can see their food being made because they never know if someone has a problem with police.
