Deputy picking up engagement ring turned away from store over service weapon

WBTV ^ | June 5, 2019 | Jennifer Miller|

[george76]

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. - An Iredell County deputy attempting to pick up a pre-purchased engagement ring from a Kay Jewelers Tuesday was turned away because his uniform, which contained a service weapon, didn’t meet store policy, officials say.

The uniformed deputy used his lunch break to pick up an engagement ring at Kay’s on Turnersburg Highway in Statesville. The deputy had already paid for the ring and was informed by jewelers that the ring was sized and ready for pick up.

The deputy says when he got to the store, he was told he wasn’t allowed to wear his service weapon on their premises.

“It’s not just an attack on this individual officer, it’s not just an attack on this agency. It’s an attack on law enforcement in general,” Sheriff Darren Campbell said.

The sheriff says the deputy spoke with the manager, telling them he was in uniform and his marked patrol car was in the parking lot. He said it would be a violation of policy to remove his service weapon while in uniform.

“This policy is in place for not only the safety of the deputy, but the general public as well,” the sheriff’s office said, backing the deputy’s claims.

According to the deputy, the manager told him he would need to return to the store when he was not armed.

“The reaction our deputy encountered is very difficult for us to comprehend, and we earnestly hope situations such as these are few and are diminishing,” the sheriff’s office

[martin_fierro]

[Bender2]

Just heard on Fox & Friends that Kay Jewelry apologized and the manager was no longer working there--

Gadzooks, my letter got results!!!!

[trisham]

Excellent, Bender2.

[Impy]

There’s bureaucratic thinking for you. The store has a “policy” and this manager being a good little robot can’t exercise common sense and move beyond his interpretation of what he thinks he’s supposed to do.

Good job Bendy. ;d