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Walmart Employee Who Refused Service To Officer Fired

Photo credit: Cox Media Group via WFTV

Photo credit: Cox Media Group via WFTV

Note: we are republishing this story, which originally made the news in August 2016, amid nationwide discussion regarding police accountability and the relationship between police officers and their communities. 

A Florida Wal-Mart worker was fired after she allegedly refused service to a police officer in uniform.

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A police officer told a friend the cashier in question pointed to her skin color and declined to ring him up at the superstore in St. Cloud, WFTV reported.

Photo credit: Cox Media Group via WFTV

Photo credit: Cox Media Group via WFTV

According to the officer, a second worker laughed at the way he was treated.

An investigation began after the accusations against the store’s employee was filed by the St. Cloud Police Department.

Photo credit: Cox Media Group via WFTV

Photo credit: Cox Media Group via WFTV

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The SCPD issued a statement regarding the incident:

In response to local inquiries concerning the allegation where an employee of Walmart refused to serve a St. Cloud Police Officer; a formal complaint has been filed with Walmart’s corporate office.

The St. Cloud Police Department trusts that Wal Mart will handle the situation properly and professionally.

The St. Cloud Police Department is grateful for the support from our community. We encourage our citizens to come by the St. Cloud Police Department to pick up their free “back the blue” bumper sticker to show their support of law-enforcement instead of participating in community protests.

Photo credit: Cox Media Group via WFTV

Photo credit: Cox Media Group via WFTV

The event occurred earlier in August and led to widespread criticism among members of a community Facebook group.

“That’s really wrong. I don’t think an employee should be doing that, and Walmart should issue an apology,” Hector Pozzo, who was shopping at the store, told WFMG.

Photo credit: Cox Media Group via WFTV

Photo credit: Cox Media Group via WFTV

Wal-Mart released a statement, stating:

We take these things seriously and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind in our stores.

We value the relationships we have with law enforcement agencies throughout the country and we’ve met with the St. Cloud Police Department to address their concerns.  We want everyone to be treated with respect whether they are in our stores or anywhere in the community.

The cashier who was involved in this situation no longer works in our store.

Photo credit: Cox Media Group via WFTV

Photo credit: Cox Media Group via WFTV

Sources: WFTV, WKMG 

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