At an Eat N’ Park restaurant in Homestead, Pennsylvania, four police officers were having dinner when a server started to lead another couple to a booth near them. As soon as the man saw the police officers, though, he told the server, “No, I don’t want to sit here,” and asked to be moved to the other side of the restaurant.
“I looked over and said, ‘It’s okay sir. “Don’t worry, we won’t hurt you,” Homestead police officer Chuck Thomas told the man. “He gave me another hard look, told me he wasn’t going to sit here, and left.”
The officers know that tensions have been high between police and the people in the communities they serve, so they chose to rise above the rude encounter.
When the bill for $28.50 came, there was a note on the receipt that said:
“Sir, the police officers you didn’t want to sit next to paid for your check. Thank you for helping us.”
Thomas said, “The main point was to let him know that we’re not here to hurt him.” “You can count on us. We do our jobs for the people. And all we want is for the community and the police to get along better.”
Their move seems to have had the effect they wanted. As the officers left the restaurant, one of the people whose meal they had paid for smiled and said “thank you.”
It was just a small thing, but hopefully it will lead to something bigger.
Four police officers were having dinner at an Eat N’ Park restaurant in Homestead, Pennsylvania, when a server started to lead another couple over to a booth near them.
As soon as the man saw the police officers, though, he told the server, “No, I don’t want to sit here,” and asked to be moved to the other side of the restaurant.
“I looked over and told him, “It’s fine, sir.” “Don’t worry, we won’t hurt you,” Homestead police officer Chuck Thomas told the man. “He gave me another hard look, told me he wasn’t going to sit here, and left.”
The officers know that tensions have been high between police and the people in the communities they serve, so they chose to rise above the rude encounter.
When the bill for $28.50 came, there was a note on the receipt that said:
“Sir, the police officers you didn’t want to sit next to paid for your check. Thank you for helping us.”
Thomas said, “The main point was to let him know that we’re not here to hurt him.” “You can count on us. We do our jobs for the people. And all we want is for the community and the police to get along better.”
Their move seems to have had the effect they wanted. As the officers left the restaurant, one of the people whose meal they had paid for smiled and said “thank you.”
It was just a small thing, but hopefully it will lead to something bigger.