A Kansas cop resigned from the police force after admitting he scrawled the words “f*cking pig” on a McDonald’s coffee cup and blamed a drive-thru worker.
The unnamed officer, 23, purchased the coffee at the drive-thru window of a McDonald’s restaurant in Junction City, at 6 a.m. on Saturday.
Herington Police Chief Brian Hornaday posted a photo of the cup on the police department’s official Facebook page and demanded justice for his officer. Outraged Facebook users called for the termination of the McDonald’s employee.
In his Facebook post, Hornaday wrote: “This is what he paid for. Although I understand this is likely the act of one person and not a representation of the company. When it was brought to their attention the company offered him a ‘free lunch’. No thank you.”
He added, a “Big Mac and large fries doesn’t make up for it.”
After the photo went viral, Hornaday and the McDonald’s reps held a news conference on Monday.
Dana Cook, the owner of the McDonald’s franchise in Junction City, insisted she pored over every frame of the surveillance videos and the footage proved none of her employees wrote the expletive on the cup.
“We took seriously our role to be transparent and fully cooperative with Chief Hornaday throughout his investigation and we look forward to continuing a strong relationship with the department,” Cook said.
She added: “Our McDonald’s family maintains great respect for all members of law enforcement and the military, and it is with great pride that our restaurant is always open to you.”
But Hornaday was not satisfied with her response.
“Hopefully, McDonald’s will follow through with showing me the video that didn’t exist when I met with them Saturday night,” he told 13 News on Monday.
He added, there was a “whole lot more to the story than what is being portrayed online.”
Later that day, Hornaday backtracked and deleted his original Facebook post. He said the police department was reviewing the surveillance video with McDonald’s reps.
By Monday evening, Chief Hornaday announced the 23-year-old cop had resigned from the police force.
He declined to name the cop and he suggested the whole thing was meant to be a joke.
“Integrity is the one and only sole trait of a police officer that you cannot allow to be damaged,” Hornaday said.
The police chief also addressed the public’s concern that the ex cop will apply for a police job elsewhere.
“Once you damage your integrity, you’re done. You will not work in this profession ever again,” he said.
