Jan 3, 2013
An Illinois police chief has banned his officers from a Belleville Denny’s Restaurant after a manager told five on-duty detectives they had to leave because one of them had a firearm.
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“The Belleville Police Department is very disheartened by the lack of respect shown to on-duty sworn police officers, Capt. Don Sax said in a statement to Fox News. “Until further notice all on duty Belleville Police officers are banned from Denny’s Restaurant unless responding to an official call for service.”
The incident occurred on New Year’s Day when five detectives were eating at the restaurant. A manager approached their table and told one of the detectives that she had to take her weapon out to her car or leave the restaurant.
The detectives initially thought it was a joke, Sax said, noting that all of the officers had displayed their badges and several police radios were on the table.
“(The manager) stated that he had a complaint from another customer about the weapon and she had to take the weapon outside or leave,” he said.
The manager told the detectives that Denny’s only allows officers in uniform to carry weapons. The detectives said that wasn’t going to happen so they got up to leave.
Sax said the restaurant’s general manager eventually came over and said it was fine for the detectives to be in the restaurant.
“At this point the detectives were very embarrassed and felt the situation was entirely too awkward for them to remain and all left the restaurant,” Sax said.
A spokesperson for Denny’s told Fox News told Fox News the restaurant manager made a mistake. They do allow both uniformed and non-uniformed officers to carry weapons in the restaurant.
The spokesman said it was a case of miscommunication. They said the manager was trying to do the right thing after a diner had complained.
Denny’s said they regret any misunderstanding.
