Starbucks apologizes for not serving 2 U.S. police officers

Starbucks has apologized after baristas refused to serve two sheriff’s deputies in Riverside County, California on Thursday.

Customers line up inside a Starbucks Coffee shop in Washington, DC, April 17, 2018. [File photo: AFP/ SAUL LOEB]

The company soon started taking criticism after Chad Bianco, the Riverside County Sheriff, tweeted Friday, saying “the anti police culture repeatedly displayed by Starbucks employees must end.”

An ABC News report cited an officer with the company saying the two deputies were not refused service but ignored by the workers for about five minutes.

Reggie Borges, Starbucks spokesperson, expressed their regret for the incident saying “We really want to connect with the two deputies, apologize directly, and hear their stories.”

“We take full responsibility for any intentional or unintentional disrespect to law enforcement,” he added.

This is the second such incident after a police officer from Oklahoma saw his name was printed as “pig” on his coffee cup at a local Starbucks two weeks ago. Starbucks latter fired the employee involved in the incident and apologized to the police.