A little perk me up.
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.
I agree he is an idiot.
Unfortunately it will not. As I posted a bit higher up on this thread, as long as there is this mentality that cops are supposed to cover for other cops when they behave badly (and don’t try to deny that this happens ALOT) then you can expect many people to be weary and distrustful.
I was thinking that exact thing. And, his attorney will probably file suit against Starbucks for putting addictive quantities of a mind-altering substance (caffeine) in their beverages. Plus, this officer was surely abused as a child, doncha know. He couldn’t help it, he just needs therapy.
When I was waitressing, we always made LEOs, EMS, firefighters etc priority customers, if they were in uniform. Very seldom would other diners make any mention of it. Just made sense. I never offered freebies to the guys, any more than I did for other diners—ie, food discount if they’re order was somehow prepared wrong, that kind of thing. Smae as I’d do for any diner.
it’s not the one free cup - its the 24 a day who come in and want freebies
they don’t consider that the store owner is loing hundreds per day
Oops. Let's recalculate that garnishment. 6 visits X the value of the product extorted X 720 days. If the value is nominally $4 each, that's $17,280 stolen/extorted. That's felony territory.
Offering it is one thing. However when a police thug DEMANDS and THREATENS others to receive free stuff it is something entirely different.
Every Christmas thereafter until his death in 1968, he and my grandmother always received a floral arrangement from the owner of that Chinese restaurant.....
“When I was waitressing, we always made LEOs, EMS, firefighters etc priority customers, if they were in uniform.”
Makes sense as they could get a call at any time that would pull them away from their meals....
tomorrow they will be extorting money from citizens for real or imagined traffic violations.
Makes you wonder what he told the Krispy Kreme manager.
The other cops were enjoying free coffee at there local watering whole.
I figured the loss would be counted like they do the coffee that is thrown away because it’s too old.
I know it’s Starbucks and they are anti-gun, but it is Florida. If it was my store I would arm the employees and tell the cops to take all the time they want responding.
The Polygraph Protection Act limited the use of polygraphs but mostly for mainstream employers who were using them to screen potential employees or to find out if their employees were stealing.
In a few types of jobs polygraphs are still legal. Law enforcement and pharmacies come to mind.
It depends on what you buy. Sure, their "specialty drinks" can cost upwards of $4... but for their drip coffee, you can get a tall (12 oz) for around $1.95 -- and you get a $.10 discount if you bring in your own travel mug. I figure that $1.85 for a good, strong cup of coffee once or twice a week is a rather inexpensive way to treat myself. :-)
Surprised that previous owners haven’t filed suit against that department for intimidation since 93......LOL !
I never took freebies from diners or choke and puke stop and robs, when it was demanded I do such for a 5 dollar meal I left a 10 dollar tip on the table / counter where all could see it !
Wasn’t worth the compromise or my job and my families income....
A little perk me up.
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