A Kansas City police officer did not get the surprise he was hoping for when he went to meet his family for his birthday lunch at a local Olive Garden.
Officer Michael Holsworth said he was looking forward to celebrating with his family at the Independence, Missouri establishment when something completely unexpected happened.
He was waiting on the bench when an employee walked up to him, and said that he had to leave because he was carrying a weapon. She stated that “guns were not allowed in the restaurant.”
Holsworth said he thought it was a joke, at first. It was completely shocking to him, since he was on-duty and in full uniform. Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police president Brad Lemon tweeted about the incident on Sunday, saying Olive Garden “should be ashamed.”
@olivegarden Today a uniformed officer was told that he had to leave your Independence Mo store because he had a gun. You should be ashamed
— Brad Lemon (@FOPLemon) October 11, 2015
@olivegarden Your manager took the position that it didn’t happen. A rally will be held in front of the store.
— Brad Lemon (@FOPLemon) October 11, 2015
A restaurant spokesperson said that it was a complete misunderstanding and that the employee made a mistake. Dave George, the president of Olive Garden, personally called Officer Holsworth to apologize to him — according to The Kansas City Star.
“Olive Garden welcomes members of law enforcement all the time in the restaurants. We love serving them. They serve our community. The least we can do is provide them a great meal,” an Olive Garden spokesman said.
No word yet if Holsworth will be returning to that Olive Garden location or if the employee involved in the incident will receive any sort of punishment.
This is unfortunate but does not appear to be malicious. I have had this happen to me (before all of his ugliness started) because an employee thought they were doing the right thing. This should not be turned into more than what it appears to be, an honest mistake. If Olive Garden apologized I would have no reservations of going back.
the employee still working there? unless they terminate him or her, i wont be sharing my money with the olive garden anymore……
I am so glad that Olive Garden and Darden Restaurants are taking full financial responsibility for any and all injuries or deaths that might occur in their restaurants to patrons unable to adequately defend themselves against a prepared and organized armed assailant who decides to use them as targets while waiting for the police to be able to respond to the distress calls. I doubt that Olive Garden maintains an armed security presence at all times-that would be too costly but so will wrongful death payouts or the cost of providing lifetime care for critically injured patrons. Hmmm, somehow I just don’t trust them and although I appreciate their apology to Officer Holsworth, I am not very inclined to patronize Olive Garden or any Darden Restaurant until their short sighted policy is changed.
I am totally shocked at hearing this. I have always heard the Darden Group that owns Olive Garden is very Po Law Enforcement and Pro Second Amendment. I eat at there Seasons 52 in Santa Monica Ca. a lot just for that reason.
Olive Garden’s food sucks now anyway. No reason to ever go there again.
The problem is these businesses deny that they feel this way and they are happy to serve law enforcement but you never hear anything about the employee being fired. Therefore I will choose never to visit such places again.
BOO HOO.,…..
I guess if the employee needs help, they will have to use clubs, since she may not allow a gun..
That’s absolutely unacceptable!!! That employee is an idiot!!!
Typo! *Mad as a Bull
Well my local Olive Garden will not be visited any time soon!
So when they have a hostage or active shooter, I guess they’re shit out of luck if uniformed officers as well as swat aren’t allowed in their restaurant.