Authorities say an unnamed, police officer who stopped at a McDonald’s restaurant in Junction City, Kansas on his way to work was handed a coffee with an expletive and the words “fucking pig” written on it in marker. So, Herington, Kansas Police Chief Brian Hornaday decided that he would post on Facebook when he found out.

In part he wrote, “the U.S. veteran that continues to serve deserves much more than this. We deal with enough frustration in our daily duties every day. To have something like this to start off your workday while you’re driving to the place where you are going to serve its citizens, is just very frustrating,” said Hornaday.

https://kdvr.com/2019/12/30/mcdonalds-owner-says-video-shows-their-employee-didnt-insult-herington-officer-tmw/

What else has this drama queen police chief had to say?

Hornaday wrote the officer was offered a “free lunch” and that “A Big Mac and large fries doesn’t make up for it.”

“This behavior has been, is and always will be wrong,” Hornaday said.

“Acknowledgment that something was done wrong is kind of what we always want,” Hornaday said. “Whether it’s something like this that happened at McDonald’s or in the criminal justice system.”

Makeshift Timeline

12/27/2019 – Now McDonalds clearly tried on shift to offer a free meal as compensation, which is apparently fully inadequate according to Hornaday . On shift, this is exactly what can be offered in most cases. I was a restaurant manager for 28 years. This is classic offer the free meal and the general manager would usually followup by phone with the customer.

So the officer proceeds in to work and bitches about it… I have no issue with this, we all need to vent.

Hornaday posts on Facebook about the incident without ANY PROOF accusing the restaurant and it’s employees.

The post disappeared hours after the officer’s claims received national attention and McDonald’s claimed security footage shows none of their employees wrote on the cup. I personally think his “please share” should be deemed as inciting a riot.

To me this is a BIG ASS DEAL. Firstly, why doesn’t the police chief set the example by having “tougher skin”. Secondly, this is slander is not a legal means of dealing with “name calling”.

slander

1 : the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another’s reputation

2 : a false and defamatory oral statement about a person

MERRIAM-WEBSTER

Mcdonald’s has been cooperative, even though no law was broken and they DO NOT have to cooperate in any way. They clearly understand that an accusation like this can end a restaurant.

Hornaday spent Saturday 12/28/2019 at the McDonald’s looking at the security tape, but couldn’t find any evidence. The restaurant owner’s had NO legal requirement to even allow this.

On Sunday 12/29/2019, the owner of the Junction City McDonald’s told him they found new video that proves it wasn’t their employee. They are supposed to deliver it today…. But it doesn’t matter.

The police have NO BUSINESS berating a local business and it’s employees without proof. Most importantly they should have let the whole thing slide. I am very concerned that this police chief is out there providing guidance for an entire force of officers. This could get very heated and dangerous very quickly. Even if the kid at McDonalds wrote it on the cup, so what…. Is is really serious enough to create such a dangerous environment over it.

As you can see the chief’s post has been removed, smart move after acting like he did. However, the Geary County Sheriff’s Department’s post, felt it necessary to “weigh in” pour fuel on the fire, which is still very active.

The Geary Department’s post first speaks out about becoming “quick to judge” and then they are saddened by the incident…. But then moves in and outright accuses the restaurant and it’s employees again without any proof. In fact Hornaday already viewed security footage and could find ZERO evidence. Now they claim that “as a show of faith” they are going to:

As a show of faith in our community the Sheriff and some of his command staff will be visiting to have a cup of Coffee Monday morning.

Geary County Sheriff’s Department

This sounds like an incredibly stupid idea… if these are the professionals then we are doomed. This is going to either cause a riot, intimidate the restaurants employees or start an altercation…. All of the above?

Doesn’t matter, the owner will likely have to close this restaurant as the police have ruined it’s reputation without NEED, nor proof. I think they should sue the department and the chief should be fired for behavior unbecoming a police officer. Clearly slander of the restaurant and it’s employees is not only illegal, but “over the top” for an alleged name calling incident. Has anyone even considered that the employee who allegedly did this “high crime” could very easily be a minor. This is a legal nightmare for the police forces involved.