Posted on 07/17/2008 8:49:47 AM PDT by Huntress
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A police lieutenant in Daytona Beach was fired over accusations that he threatened slower emergency response times if he was not given complimentary specialty Starbucks coffee drinks.
An internal police investigation found that Daytona Lt. Major Garvin received free coffee for about two years from a city Starbucks coffee store.
However, when recently denied free coffee from new management, Garvin allegedly told managers that he could change the police department's response time if they refuse to give him complimentary drinks.
Garvin is accused of saying, "If something happens, either we can respond really fast or we could respond really slow. I've been coming here for years and I've been getting whatever I want. I'm the difference between you getting a two-minute response time, if you needed a little help, or a 15 minutes response time."
However, when confronted about the comments, police said Garvin agreed to take a polygraph test.
When asked whether or not he threatened managers with adverse response times, Garvin responded, "no."
But polygraph test results suggested that the officer was lying, Local 6's Tarik Minor reported. Garvin was then fired.
Starbucks employees said Garvin visited the Starbucks store six times a day during his shifts and intimidated some workers during visits.
"I want somebody protecting my streets who is honest and trustworthy," Starbucks customer Adam Cuddy said. "So, if he is going to fail a polygraph, whether it is about coffee or anything, I don't know how comfortable I feel as a citizen being protected."
The investigation also revealed that Garvin requested the complimentary coffee even when he was not on duty.
Garvin was hired by the department in 1993.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Jessie Jackson will be all over this one....
Oh. He’s not white.
“Got himself fired from a 90K a year (guessing) job over a lousy cup of coffee.”
After reading the thread, I think the following numbers are about right.
6 coffees/day * 5 days per work week = 30 coffees/wk
30 coffees/wk * 50 work weeks a year = 1,500 coffees/year x 2 years = 3,000 coffees over the time discussed.
3,000 x $3 (assumption) = $9,000 theft.
Dude, forget Starbucks. When they change the oil in your cruiser just tell’em you’ll take care of the disposal. Tastes better and doing your part for the environment.
Hmmmm, percolated perks! That is funny.....
Guys like this make it really hard for me to defend my profession.
Why should management give in to this petty extortion? I don't care if it is more trouble to buck the system, the system of threats and intimidation of this jerk threatening to not do his job unless he got free coffee every day (or six times a day)needed to be bucked; and this guy needed to be thrown out of his “job” (extorting Starbucks six times a day and harassing barrista’s apparently).
A gold star for the new management in getting this particular ass hat out of uniform. If I was in the neighborhood I would have a new coffee shop!
Bad cop, no donut.
Black cops can be jerks too! So can “Latino” cops. I had a run in with a “Latino” cop in Austin back in 82. I passed him when his yellow lights were on on Interstate 35...he pulled me over...gave me the third degree about passing a cop with yellow lights on....He was on the shoulder...
copy = coffee
*sigh*
You are absolutely right. He should be indicted, arrested and put on trial.
I was looking at it in a more perks for the job and saying thanks view, then extortion.
THEN we can laugh at him!
Looks like the old police shakedown is still out there. What does the fire department get?
I would guess that they were covering for their buddy. And don't tell me that this doesn't happen. I have worked with many former LEOs (state troopers, deputies) who openly told stories about how they, or others they worked with, bent, twisted, and broke the law, or blatantly abused their authority all the while covering for their "brothers" if questions were ever raised about such activities. It is sickening and scary.
As a business owner I would GLADLY offer free coffee to any officer- unless they demanded it, then I would turn them in.
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