A Detroit ice cream shop has stated that if a police officer is wearing tactical body armor, they will not be served.
Cold Truth Soft Serve is a popular spot in Midtown Detroit, known for vegan soft serve ice cream. Tim Mahoney, the owner of Cold Truth, Thursday announced the new policy on his Instagram account with an image of a Detroit police car that was wrongly parked in front of Cold Truth Soft Serve at 4240 Cass Avenue.
The business posted the picture of it with the message, “We can tolerate the parking however you please but we will not serve anyone wearing body armor.”
Owner Tim Mahoney defended the vegan restaurant in a statement, saying it takes pride in being a family-run and neighborhood business:
“There are times when police units come through and are outfitted in heavy-duty tactical gear, it is disturbing and unsettling for some of the families in our space. In the last 24 hours, It has come to my attention that the City of Detroit outfits EMS and FIRE with armor, and this is not my concern. It’s the heavy-duty military dress that I’m hoping the city can find a way to minimize in our public spaces.”
James White, the chief of the Detroit Police Department, defended his officers’ use of protective equipment, calling the refusal of service and the ensuing social media post “shameful and evidently unjustified.”
Chief James issued the following statement:
Law enforcement is a dangerous profession. Body armor provides our officers protection and is an essential part of the police uniform. It is the desire of each and every member of the Detroit Police Department to fulfill their duties as a law enforcement officer and at the end of their shift return home to their loved ones.
Members of DPD wear body armor to protect themselves so they can return home safely.
It’s a shameful post and apparently, unprovoked.
We are extremely thankful for the overwhelming response and support we receive from the community.
We’ve attempted to reach out to the shop’s owner in hopes of having a thoughtful conversation.“
The ice cream store, however, has found itself in social media controversy. Following their post on Social Media, screenshots of the post have circulated online, leading to dozens of one-star reviews.
After seeing the post, Customer Norma Powell said “I don’t agree with that,”
“They (police) should be able to have the same rights we do. They just want ice cream just like we do.” Powell added.
Here are some comments from folks online:
“This is some bull junk!!! You should serve whoever has the desire & funds too buy your product. I’ll never buy from y’all. That is discrimination & shouldn’t be tolerated”
“Who cares if they have body armor…in Detroit they need it…they protect you and your business yet you turn them away when they try to buy ice cream? I will never visit your ice cream store because your policy is totally ridiculous and offensive.”
“They might have to respond to a call at any time and that is the nature of their job, and it can be a dangerous one.”
“Cold Truth soft serve, truth is those officers are there to protect you and you and your customers in the community. They have a job that is mentally and physically challenging and very dangerous, wearing body armor helps but does not guarantee they will make it home safe to their families and loved ones. Shame on you, I hope you apologize and change your policy, or that the police and other members of the community boycott your establishment till you’re out of business.”
“Will they turn away DPD when they need them? Or perhaps a EMS or DFD. Boycott this business people!”
“Any respectable owner would not even charge them for say a coffee or something like that , I hope the cops stay away from there business and then watch it get robbed.”
“I hope you need their help and they deny you. We will never buy your products and we will pass the word.”
Watch it here: Youtube/FOX Detroit 2
Sources: Dailywire, Detroitnews, Police1
