Staff at the McDonalds store on North Main Street in Normal, IL have a message for police officers. It's not polite or family friendly, but it certainly has a lot of folks in Central Illinois ticked off. After ordering her lunch in the drive through, a female Illinois State Trooper paid for her meal Monday morning, February 12th, around 11am. The bold employee then told the cop, who drove her marked ISP squad car, "I just have to say this to you: F*** the police!"
At the next window, the stunned LEO was greeted by laughing employees. They had heard their fellow employee issue the rude refrain. The employee that handed the food out laughed with the others and added, "Wow, that's a female Trooper she said that to!"
A wise and prudent experienced cop, the Trooper threw the food away. After all, if employees feel emboldened enough to say, "F the police" to a uniformed cop, who knows what the kitchen staff did to the food. Yeah, all bets are off when it comes to assurances of unadulterated food at McDonalds Store #26619 if you're a cop.
The Bloomington-Normal McDonalds are now owned by Jack and Gail Millan, along with their daughter Nicole Petro and her husband Mikel Petro.
In an article in the Bloomington Pantagraph announcing the new owners, the new ownership team patriarch said this:
“We will continue to take part in many of the events that the Dobskis currently support, but we will also be looking to carve out our own niche within the community,” Jack Millan said in the statement.
Surely this sort of surly, offensive behavior is not the niche Jack Millan wants to carve out for his family's restaurants. Short of a sincere public apology, and a complete overhaul of the staff at this store, I'm not sure the decent people of Central Illinois will be lovin' it at Bloomington-Normal McDonalds anytime soon. Yeah, the entire staff needs the "you're fired" speech, including the management who hired the trash working the lunch crew at this location.
Here's the original post from Facebook by Tammy Weiland.
All my friends know my sister is a state trooper. I love her more than words can express. She just called me to tell ,me what happened to her at mcdonalds at 1607 n main st in normal store #26619 at 11 am today and I am beyond pissed. She ordered her lunch at the drive thru in full uniform and squad car. When she went to pay, the girl said to her " I just have to say this to u. F*** the police!" Tracy is much nicer than I am, I would have had plenty of words back, but she just drove to the next window to pick up the food. At this window, the guy was laughing and said wow that's a female trooper she said that to. All the workers inside were laughing. Tracy threw the food away and called corporate. My response is this. F*** McDonald's! You will never get my business again.
We've left a message asking for an update. We have also left a message with Mikel Petro. In the meantime, the story has been confirmed by another Illinois State Police Trooper. Watch this space for further updates.
Once more, political activism does not have to be difficult. It can be as simple as driving right on past a certain McDonalds that employs people willing to openly disrespect our law enforcement first responders.
UPDATE 10:59pm Monday: I have received a response from the ownership team.
I can assure you the officer’s experience goes against everything we stand for. We are appalled that this would come from one of our employees. While We can't control their thinking, we do control who works for us and we have taken swift action to ensure this person will not! We will not allow our organization to be a platform for harassment or hate. We have embraced and supported Law Enforcement in every community we are in and as long as we've been in business and will continue to so. Jack/Mikel
It's unknown if all the laughing conspirators have been discharged, but it certainly sounds like the female cashier has been terminated.
UPDATE:
I understand emotions are hot on this topic. However, if you cannot articulate your position without dropping the f-bomb, or calling people vulgar and profane terms (rhymes with Lunt), then maybe you should think twice (I know that might be tough) before posting.
Also the owners of the McDonalds talked to a Bloomington Pantagraph reporter. Here's the Pantagraph story's link.
The upshot is that they fired the rude employee.
From the story:
All new hires go through more than a week of in-depth initial training, including guest appreciation, hospitality and how to work in a respectful work environment, Millan said.
Does Hamburger U conduct their training with Crayons and Dr. Suess? Again: Call Chick-Fil-A for some advice on how to hire and train employees to be sickly sweet. I've been to Bloomington-Normal McD's more times than I care to admit (the wife loves their egg McMuffin and sweet tea) and I don't need a single finger to count the number of staff that are half as helpful, kind or caring as the worst employee at the local Chick-Fil-A (one of my favs).
In my opinion, the manager(s) who hired and supervised this employee should have received the axe first, then the employee. And every one of the crew who were laughing. They've got surveillance video in that McDonalds. They can see who was where in the store when that squad car rolled through.
Until that happens, it'll be a cold day in hell before I sail through again.
As for local cops? Can LEOs trust these "trained" McDonalds staff members not to do bad things to their food when nobody's looking?
Comments are closed.