“It’s pathetic this attitude is out there,” said Union president Jeff Follmer, in reference to the Dunkin’ worker who refused to serve officer Frank Garmback an iced coffee. “We’re grateful the manager handled it the way he did.”
How the manager handled it was to promptly fire the worker and reach out to the nearby First District Police Station, presumably with an apology. (Free donuts, perhaps?)
Local investigator Ed Gallek, in his report for the Fox 8 I-Team (above), said the worker’s refusal to serve Garmback had nothing to do with Garmback’s role in the Tamir Rice shooting. Garmback drove the cruiser. His partner, Timothy Loehmann, shot and killed the 12-year-old Tamir at Cudell Rec Center. The unnamed Dunkin’ worker evidently told Garmback that he “didn’t serve cops,” a comment he later said was a joke.
The report was presented, however, as further evidence that Garmback and his family are “still dealing with the fallout” from the shooting. That fallout included, officially, a 10-day suspension for Garmback. Loehmann was fired for an unrelated matter. Atmospherically, though, the fallout includes ongoing tensions between officers and the communities they police.
The irony is the Union’s satisfaction with the dismissal of a low-wage worker whose actions — whether for humor or on principle — resulted in the minor delay of a police officer’s cup of coffee. It’s worth noting that the news tip to Fox 8 in all likelihood originated from the cops themselves, so they can take credit for putting another young man out of work.
It’s disingenuous for Fox 8 or the police, then, to bemoan the “fallout” of the Tamir Rice shooting while demanding respect from historically abused populations on pain of termination. This is especially ironic when on-the-job infractions result in no meaningful consequences for police officers; or else the consequences are fiercely and blindly challenged by the Union, with frequent success.
The actions of Loehmann and Garmback, we recall — whether an outgrowth of poor tactical training or deeply embedded racism — resulted not in a delayed coffee order but in the death of a child.
This article appears in Jul 11-17, 2018.
Way to go former Dunkin Donuts employee and forever hero.
The world needs more people with morals and integrity like yourself
If the donut guy had the muscle of the police union protecting his job, he’d be on paid leave right now, pending an internal investigation, which would conclude that it was reasonable to not sell a donut given what he knew at the time. We would be told not to jump to conclusions until all the evidence has been gathered and evaluated, and to have faith that the system works and that due process would result in justice.
But naw, dude’s gone. Fired, no questions. Didn’t kill a 12 year old, just refused to sell a donut to the guy who did. Sad shame. But businesses that don’t keep the cops happy don’t get responded to when they call for an armed robbery.
If we could all be as brave as the Dunkin Donuts employee who refused to serve the police officer. A small but noble gesture in the face of a system that doesnt penalize mass murder of a population. I hope for him a better paying and more fulfilling job than the cowering corporation that fired him.
Based on the headline I came in here expecting to disagree with the tone and the conclusions. However, Sam presented a well thought out case for the hypocrisy demonstrated by Fox 8 and especially the police union.
Well done sir, spot on.
McJobs like Gunkin Donuts are designed to be short-term, dead-end. low-pay. No future whatsoever. You are expected to do stuff you don’t like, for people you don’t like, and to wait on anybody, whether you like them or not. It’s part of the job, and working for shit money doing things you hate is a way to teach you about life. And if that includes waiting on cops and cops are people you don’t like…well…tough titty, kiddie.
Hell, I can’t refuse to serve right-wing a-holes wearing MAGA hats and disgusting buttons. Jobs don’t work that way and life isn’t always fair and you can’t always get what you want. And trying to say you were kidding won’t do much good, either. They won’t buy it. Sorry, kid. Better luck at your next job.
wow, must have been a pretty slow newsday.
dumb asses get fired every day for saying stupid shit and we don’t have to read about it. and where did you learn how to write – terrible article. if you don’t want to get shot, don’t pull a ‘fake’ gun on an officer. I guess that takes too much intelligence to figure out.
Only in Cleveland! C’mon, it’s high time we MOVE ON from this bullshit. Shame on everyone involved here. The wayward Dunkin Donuts employee, the boastful CPD informant, and lastly those stooges at Fox 8 News for even making a “Special Report” on all of this!!!
Cleveland, it’s time to pull up your BIG BRITCHES and behave like A BIG CITY that is GOING PLACES … BECAUSE WE ARE.
Stop behaving like we’re some lowly backwater in some place like small town Mississippi.
We are all familiar with the tale of Tamir Rice, as tragic as it is …
Let GO already! It’s 2018
Tamir Rice and his family are also still dealing with the fallout from the Tamir Rice shooting.
Once again Grizz on his soap box. Do Cleveland a favor and STFU. Better yet, move to LA so you can hang with LeBron, Lavar and the rest of the biggest egos on the planet. You’ll fit right in.
Dude, why are you so fixated on this ex-Cavalier? He’s gone. Let itg o. Give it a rest and chill. You’ll feel a lot better.
Fuck the police, I would’ve done the same thing. John D. Baumgardner and his whitey Mcwhite attitude will NEVER get it. Seriously, what is it with these bald headed assholes? Look like a penis, act like a prick.
It’s 2018, can we move on from the “bald head actually looks good” bullshit? Minoxidil, man, easy peasy.
they have a right to be upset even though he is gone.But you cant blame it all on the police tamir had a fake gun thaat ressembled a real one aand was amming it at people. Soooooo…………..#BOth ttheir faults