Much Needed Time Off
Karl Baker finally had a day off to enjoy after working hard all week. He was looking forward to relaxing and making the most of his time off especially after a 12 hour shift. He decided to sleep in and watch some TV.
Much Needed Time Off
Time for Lunch
Karl woke up at a leisurely pace with his beloved dog by his side. He felt refreshed after sleeping in, and after pouring himself a cup of coffee he decided he would go out for brunch at a nearby restaurant.
Time For Lunch
Back of the Line
Upon approaching the restaurant, Karl immediately noticed that there was a huge line to order. What he didn’t realize yet was that a seriously uncomfortable experience was waiting for him. He was used to getting treated well by people, especially considering his line of work.
Back Of The Line
A Bad Choice
Because of the huge line, Karl mentally prepared to be waiting for some time, but the longer it went, the hungrier he got. At this point, he had already waited for so long, he couldn’t give up and go somewhere else now. He chose the meal he wanted to order so that he could be ready as soon as it was his turn.
A Bad Choice
A Long Wait
Since it was such a long wait, it was safe to assume that the food was going to be quite tasty. Why would so many people be willing to wait like this? Karl was so hungry by the time he reached the front of the line and he was so excited to eat, that last thing he thought would happen was what happened next.
A Long Wait
Not Having a Good Day
After all this time, it was finally Karl’s turn. He politely greeted the cashier, who didn’t respond with politeness. Assuming that she was having a bad day, Karl continued being friendly, but that didn’t seem to move the cashier at all.
Not Having A Good Day
Unavailable
As Karl told her what he wanted to order, she said that it wasn’t available. He was surprised, but he quickly chose another option instead. The waitress told him that this second option wasn’t available either.
Unavailable
A Poor Attitude
This was Karl’s breaking point. He had spent a significant amount of time waiting in line while hungry, only to find out that the meals listen on the special offers chalkboard weren’t available. If he had known, he wouldn’t have waited in line all this time.
A Poor Attitude
Needing to Leave
As Karl explained to her why he was annoyed, she started to roll her eyes at him. The lack of available food along with her bad attitude was too much, and Karl decided that it was time to complain. However, the waitress cut him off and told him to leave before he had a chance to say much.
Needing To Leave
Making a Scene
Karl held his own and didn’t back down. He decided to ask to speak with the manager. Without directly responding to Karl, the cashier called out for the manager. A few minutes later, the manager showed up and told Karl that he was holding up the line.
Making A Scene
The Manager
Karl realized that he wasn’t going to get through to her either, and that it was no wonder that the cashier had such a bad attitude with a manager like that. He quickly shot down the accusation that the long line was because of him, and he tried to address what had happened. The manager’s reaction was totally unexpected.
The Manager
Laughing
Karl continued to try to explain to the manager what happened, and in the meantime, a cook came out from the back, said something to the manager, and pointed at Karl. She then said that he shouldn’t be in line because she refuses to cook for him. The manager then laughed.
Laughing
Not Listening
Karl came to the realization that the manager was not interested in hearing him at all. She went on to say that the restaurant will not be serving someone like him. Karl was taken aback, what on earth did she mean “someone like him?”
Not Listening
Enough is Enough
At this point, Karl had felt that it was enough. He would no longer be the polite nice guy now. He had tried to explain that he was letting her know what happened so that they could improve their service. However, Karl’s next move was not what they were expecting.
Not Doing Enough
Looking Down on Him
The woman seemed completely unfazed by what Karl was saying to her and she looked down on him. She told him that she didn’t have to explain herself to anyone and that he needed to leave immediately. Karl was absolutely stunned to be treated this way, as he had never experienced such meanness.
Looking Down On Him
Missing His Uniform
What the manager didn’t know is that she wasn’t dealing with an ordinary citizen. She had no idea how much power he had, and Karl realized that walking around without his uniform gave him a really good indication of how people intend on treating him. He took notes on how he was made to feel humiliated by this establishment.
Missing His Uniform
The Audacity
He looked around at the bystanders who looked on at what had happened. Nearly everyone looked on and saw him being mistreated. He didn’t understand how this place had the audacity of treating a customer in such a way.
The Audacity
Not Letting it Go Unpunished
When he realized that the conversation was going nowhere, Karl decided that it was time to leave. He felt angry, sad, and humiliated by this treatment. He knew that he had to do something about it, and so he began to plan.
Not Letting It Go Unpunished
The Man in the Uniform
The next morning Karl put on his uniform. He planned out his work day, thinking about everything he had to deal with as a police officer, but he knew that he needed to also confront what had happened the day before. Though he was nervous about it, he knew he had to go back there.
The Man In The Uniform
His Appearance
Karl decided that he would stop at the restaurant while on his way back from a call out. He pulled his cruiser into the parking lot and headed into the restaurant. When people saw him enter the establishment, their attention turned towards him immediately.
His Appearance
All Smiles
The staff started out being nice to him until they realized who he was. The waitress’s smile began to fade when she realized who she was speaking to. Now it was time for Karl to confront the rude manager.
All Smiles
Calling the Manager
The cashier called out to the manager, this time a whole lot less confident than the day before. Karl waited patiently for her to come out. He felt confident today, with one hand in his waist belt and the other holding his radio.
Calling The Manager
Going Viral
Once it was shared, the story about how Karl was treated by the staff went completely viral. The restaurant’s spokeswoman didn’t even try to deny anything. She told the media that everything had happened the way Karl described.
Going Viral
The Consequences
After hearing about how Karl was treated, the restaurant’s representative told the media that it was all true. Now what was the restaurant going to do? Would these disrespectful employees be reprimanded? What are the right consequences in a case like this?
The Consequences
The Discrimination
Once the public heard the story of what had happened, they had a lot to say on the matter. One commenter said that Karl should have sued the restaurant just like the couple that sued the Oregon bakery that refused to make them a wedding cake.
The Discrimination
Saving Face
Those in charge of the matter tried to get Karl to speak about what had happened, but they hadn’t contacted him directly. However, the restaurant assured the media that they would look deeper into what happened in order to take the necessary steps in rectifying the situation.
Saving Face
The Outrage
The public backlash was loud, and many people were so infuriated at the staff members’ behavior that they said it could be a breach of customer rights. Everyone seemed to agree that Karl was discriminated against.
The Outrage
Already Done
Representative Pete Feltham of the Alexandria Police Union thanks the restaurant for its swift apology, but the damage had already been done. Pete said that Karl’s handling of the situation was perfect.
Already Done
No Turning Back
However, nothing that Feltham said helped calm the public’s anger over the whole situation. Thousands of comments were left behind on the restaurant’s social media pages. Some even suggested that stealing from the restaurant was justified. However, Karl made his opinion about this known.
No Turning Back
Karl’s Stance
Karl said that he doesn’t believe in cancel culture and that he certainly doesn’t support any criminal activity as a retaliation. He wanting to make it clear that he was not in favor of boycotting the restaurant and he believed in taking the high road.
Karl’s Stance
Facing the Backlash
The restaurant faced a serious level of criticism from the public, and a week after the whole incident took place, the establishment’s management made an official announcement. They said that the staff member’s behavior was not excusable and did not represent the restaurant.
Facing The Backlash
The Dismissal
They went on to announce that the two employees’ behavior was so unacceptable that they were terminated because of what they had done. The restaurant said that they have the utmost respect for law enforcement and cherishes the relationship they have with the Alexandria Police Department.
The Dismissal
Going the Extra Mile
The night manager of the restaurant managed to get ahold of Karl, and he was finally able to offer the officer the apology that he deserved after that terrible treatment. Even the Mayor of Alexanderia, Allison Silberberg heard about the story, and she said she appreciated the restaurant’s apology.
Going The Extra Mile
The Reaction from the Police Department
The police chief shared that at first he was absolutely furious about what had happened. He said that given the current climate, it is difficult for the police to deal with mistreatment, and only adds to the anger felt by officers these days.
The Reaction From The Police Department
Being a Police Officer
The main issue is that the concern about the mistreatment only came after they realized that they had mistreated a police officer. Being a regular customer wasn’t enough.
Being A Police Officer
What Would Have Happened?
It begs the question, what would have happened if Karl wasn’t a police officer and was an ordinary citizen who was facing discrimination? Would the situation had ended differently?
What Would Have Happened
The Result
The silver lining is that Karl was able to use his power to make sure that the restaurant and its employees’ behavior was not ignored. While discrimination won’t be solved overnight, people facing consequences for their actions will help get us in the right direction.
The Result
In the End
Ultimately, the other customers at the restaurant had not even stood up for Karl and just let the discrimination happen. Nobody backed him up and treated him properly until they knew that he was a police officer.
In The End
Not Enough
While it’s true that police officer deserve respect, ordinary citizens do as well. People who are not in a position of authority should not be disrespected, especially if they are paying customers. That’s just bad business!
Not Enough
A Change is Going to Come
There is still a long way to go when it comes to correcting discrimination, but luckily this time the bad actors paid for their terrible behavior. Hopefully they’ll learn to treat others with respect and the world can become a more tolerant place.
A Change Is Going To Come