The San Francisco Police Officers Association has strongly criticized a local bakery, Reem's California, after it refused to serve an armed police officer who was in uniform.
The incident came to light when the police union shared the details on social media, stating that the bakery had a policy of not serving anyone who was armed and in uniform. The union posted an email exchange between themselves and a Reem's spokesperson, where the spokesperson confirmed the policy.
The San Francisco Police Officers Association condemned the bakery's policy as "bigoted" and "discriminatory," and demanded that the bakery display a sign informing customers of the policy. They also expressed concern that the policy could potentially include members of the U.S. Military.
The police union's criticism was met with a response from Reem's California, who defended their gun policy on social media. They stated that the policy was in place to ensure the safety of their employees and customers, particularly in light of the increased gun violence affecting marginalized communities.
Reem's California emphasized their commitment to social and racial justice, stating that their policy of prohibiting guns in their restaurant was aligned with their values. They argued that maintaining a strict policy against guns would contribute to a safer environment for everyone. The bakery has had this policy in place since it opened its first store in 2017. They clarified that the policy only applied to armed officers and that police officers were welcome in the eatery when they were off-duty and unarmed.
The San Francisco store of Reem's California has temporarily closed until September 5, although the reason for the closure is unclear. The bakery did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the incident. Similarly, the San Francisco Police Officers Association did not provide a comment at the time of reporting.
This incident is not the first time that businesses in San Francisco have turned away police officers. In 2021, the owners of restaurant Hilda and Jesse defended and later apologized for refusing service to three on-duty police officers, citing their anti-gun policy. Earlier this year, a local pizza shop fired an employee who had told several police officers that they were not welcome in the establishment.
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