Cops kicked out of Denny's for having guns

Reba

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Cops kicked out of Denny's for having guns; chief bans Denny's

By Matt Pearce

9:41 AM PST, January 3, 2013

Are you a cop? Do you carry a gun? Don't go to the Denny's in Belleville, Ill.

You are not allowed, the police chief says. Not after what happened Tuesday.

The flapjacks -- sorry, the flap -- began when several on-duty detectives with the Belleville Police Department dropped in to Denny's for some on-duty noshing, according to local media.

They had their badges and their guns, but as detectives, not their uniforms, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This bothered a patron who then complained to a manager, David Rice, who then complained to one of the detectives: Please take your gun to your car or leave. No guns allowed.

"Upon further discussion, we became aware the individual was a plain-clothed police officer," Denny's spokeswoman Liz DiTrapano said in a statement, according to the News-Democrat. "Denny's policy permits law enforcement officials to carry their firearms in the restaurant, and we regret any misunderstanding."

Denny's sure does, because despite the efforts of a general manager who tried (and failed) to clear up the misunderstanding before the detectives left, the department's chief banned on-duty and off-duty police in uniform from returning to the restaurant.

"This was an insult, a slap in the face, to those detectives and to all of the men and women who proudly wear the uniform or badge and serve in law enforcement," Police Chief William Clay said, according to the News-Democrat.

"This individual [Rice] was the manager of Denny's. He therefore speaks for Denny's, in my mind. This policy effectively prohibits on-duty sworn police officers from dining in a Denny's Restaurant, but allows 'registered sex offenders,' 'felons' and or 'pedophiles' to enjoy a dining experience in Denny's."
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Cops kicked out of Denny's for having guns; chief bans Denny's - latimes.com
 
Sometimes the stupid things that happen are just amazing! :lol:
 
"This was an insult, a slap in the face, to those detectives and to all of the men and women who proudly wear the uniform or badge and serve in law enforcement," Police Chief William Clay said, according to the News-Democrat.
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sounds like... he's saying cops are above the law? I see.
 
CrazyPaul said:
No, he didn't say that. You did.
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hence..... "sound like".....

ever heard of - "it's not what you said, it's how you said it" and based on how he said it... it certainly sounds like he thinks his department is above the law and should get a free pass on everything.
 
Reba said:
It goes beyond "misunderstanding."



It's common for those in command to make places "off limits" due to discrimination by the business. The military does the same thing.
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What if they like Denny's? I love Denny's.

IMO, the manager at the restaurant made a mistake and should apologize to them. And that the chief bans the cops going to Denny's to retaliate is ridiculous.
 
Me neither, I don't see cop as above law in this case.

I see that Denny's is putting police officers in very dangerous position, and I agree that cops need not go there anymore.

I am not going to Dennys anymore! They are advertising themselves as gun free zone and I don't want to get in middle of crossfire if there is armed robbery.

Reba said:
Who said cops are above what law? :confused:
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diehardbiker said:
Me neither, I don't see cop as above law in this case.

I see that Denny's is putting police officers in very dangerous position, and I agree that cops need not go there anymore.

I am not going to Dennys anymore! They are advertising themselves as gun free zone and I don't want to get in middle of crossfire if there is armed robbery.
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me too! and i never like to eat at Denny's (too much fatty on the foods)
 
CrazyPaul said:
No, you always say cops are above the law, cop hater.
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you might want to check old threads. pissed off a lot of people for supporting cops :lol:

so you a cop lover or what?
 
Reba said:
I still don't understand. To what law are you referring?
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it's an expression. he believes the restaurant policy doesn't apply to him even though it technically does but looking at his reaction toward this incident... it certainly felt like an arrogance.
 
Jiro said:
hence..... "sound like".....

ever heard of - "it's not what you said, it's how you said it" and based on how he said it... it certainly sounds like he thinks his department is above the law and should get a free pass on everything.
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What law are you talking about? A policy of some restaurant chain is not anything to do with a law at all...
 
Bottesini said:
What law are you talking about? A policy of some restaurant chain is not anything to do with a law at all...
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see above.

I don't see any reason to throw a hissy fit over this. the patrons weren't comfortable about people with guns. the manager was well within his right to ask the gentlemen to either kindly leave the gun in the car or leave.
 
I suspect other hidden motives in the Chiefs actions. Why publicly escalate a misunderstanding with a local business?
 
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