The McDonald’s anti-cop slur controversy is now over and a Kansas police officer is off the force over it.
Because it was a hoax:
NBC NEWS – A Kansas police officer resigned Monday after fabricating a story that employees at a McDonald’s wrote the words “F—ing Pig” on his coffee cup.
Herington Police Chief Brian Hornaday said Saturday that one of his officers went to a McDonald’s in Junction City before work and was given the cup, NBC affiliate KSNT of Topeka reported. After further investigation, the department discovered that the unidentified Herington officer made up the story.
“This was completely and solely fabricated by a Herington police officer no longer employed with the agency,” Hornaday told reporters Monday.
Hornaday said the McDonald’s employees had nothing to do with the hoax and were highly cooperative during the investigation.
The ex-officer, who remained unidentified, is a former military police officer in the Army and had been on the small town’s force for two months. Hornaday said the officer told him that the incident was intended as a joke.
“I truly hope the former officer of the Herington Police Department that did this understands the magnitude of the black eye this gives the law enforcement profession from coast to coast,” Hornaday said.
Turns out McDonald’s was telling the truth and thankfully they’ve been vindicated. But wow, this is not a good look for the police officer who did this and his former police department.
Perhaps it really was intended as a joke and that’s why the officer’s name isn’t being revealed. I don’t know. Either way, the police force there has a black eye now and it appears the only way to make it heal is to send that guy packing.
Honestly, I really can’t blame them. McDonald’s was vilified over this and people take this stuff seriously. We love our cops and hoaxes like this, intentional or not, cannot be tolerated. There’s enough crap like this going on for real to be dealt with.
I will say that it’s respectful of the police chief not to just throw this officer to the media wolves and ruin his career. Hopefully he’ll do better next time, wherever he lands.