Holly MatkinLas Vegas, NV – A restaurant employee who refused to serve two uniformed Las Vegas police officers on Thursday night has been suspended and faces potential termination.
The incident occurred at The Lodge Cactus near Southern Highlands Parkway and Cactus Avenue, KTNV reported.
Details regarding what occurred were shared on the Las Vegas Metro Police Officer Wives Facebook page the following morning.
According to the post, the two Las Vegas Metro Police Department (LVMPD) officers were working the graveyard shift when they stopped by the restaurant to have a meal.
“As officers entered and approached the bar, the bartender shook his head, ‘No’ and motioned his fingers across his neck as if to say, ‘Stop,’” the post read.
When the officers asked him if they could sit down and place an order, the bartender refused.
“We don’t serve you guys here anymore,” he said, according to the post.
The officers initially thought the employee was “joking,” but he quickly “emphasized that he was serious,” the post read.
They immediately left the restaurant without further incident.
An on-duty manager later confirmed to KSNV that multiple managers were looking into the allegations, and said that the situation would be “rectified” by the end of the day on Friday.
The Las Vegas Police Protective Association (PPA) later released a statement about the incident, noting that it had “sparked outrage” throughout the law enforcement community, KSNV reported.
According to the PPA, the owner of the corporation reached out to the union and explained that the employee’s actions were not indicative of the business’s beliefs about law enforcement officers.
“The bartender in question is on indefinite suspension facing potential termination,” the PPA said. “The Lodge has the highest respect for the men and women of LVMPD and love nothing more than to have them in their establishments, whether on duty or off. They explained that one man’s actions are not indicative of the feelings of The Lodge Corporation and they hope that officers will still come to the establishments.”
The PPA said they had a “great conversation with the corporation owner, and that they believe “the issue has been addressed and handled by ownership,” KSNV reported.
“Corporate would love to see officers and their guests come to the establishments this weekend,” the PPA added.
The LVMPD also released a statement about the incident.
“While we consider this behavior unacceptable, we firmly believe that the refusal was an employee acting solely on his own, and it does not represent the viewpoint of the establishment,” the department told KTNV. “The involved employee has now been suspended from work.”
“According to management at The Lodge, it welcomes law enforcement at its business,” the statement continued. “The LVMPD has worked hard establishing relationships with its’ business partners in the community and the presence of officers is welcomed by business owners.”
It is unclear when the decision regarding the employee’s potential termination will be made.