On Sunday, an on-duty Missouri cop was reportedly kicked out of an Olive Garden because he had his firearm with him.
Officer Michael Holsworth took to Facebook to relay the incident to other users, hoping to shed light on how the establishment treats local law enforcement.
In his post, Holsworth states he went to the restaurant in order to celebrate his birthday with his family. However, since they were running late, he decided to enter on his own and wait for them. After entering, he sat down on a bench when a female employee told him that he couldn't have the gun inside the eatery, eventually forcing him to leave.
"Sir, we don't allow guns in here," she said upon seeing the firearm.
Considering that Holsworth was on active duty and in full uniform, he thought the comment was a joke and asked, "Are you serious?"
After the hostess affirmed she was serious, Holsworth decided not to press the issue and told her he would leave.
"Yes please leave," she responded.
What made this incident puzzling for law enforcement was not only was Michael Holsworth in uniform, but in the state of Missouri it's legal to to openly carry handguns, according to the New York Daily News.
Olive Garden has since apologized for the incident, claiming it was a misunderstanding.
"Law enforcement are always welcome to dine (with) us - we heart serving them and have great relationships," an Olive Garden spokesman said.
In the meantime, the city's Fraternal Order of Police has promised an undisclosed level of "retribution" for the incident, alluding to plans of holding organized protests outside the restaurant, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
This is another incident in a growing trend of officers or service members being kicked out of restaurants for carrying a firearm, or other unavoidable reasons associated to their station. Last month, a soldier was kicked out of a Waffle House in Kentucky for carrying a firearm while inside the restaurant.
