Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Starbucks Issues Apology to Police Officers who were Asked to Leave in an Arizona Store

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Starbucks has officially issued an apology after an employee asked a group of six police officers in Tempe, Arizona to leave one of its stores or to move out of the line of sight of a customer.

Starbucks, Tempe Police Department, Tempe Police, Police, Apology
via Shutterstock

The Dialogue Between Starbucks and the Tempe Officers Association

According to one of the officers who was asked to leave, the barista said that the customer who requested for this did not feel safe with police nearby.

Starbucks, Tempe Police Department, Tempe Police, Police, Apology
via Tempe PD’s Official Twitter Account

The Tempe Officers Association posted a statement about the incident on their official Facebook page detailing the incident.

“[…] six Tempe police officers stopped by the Starbucks at Scottsdale Road and McKellips for coffee. The officers paid for their drinks and stood together having a cup of coffee.”

They also detailed how the barista was polite about asking the request, it was still an offensive one to make.

“The barista said that a customer “did not feel safe” because of the police presence. The barista asked the officers to move out of the customer’s line of sight or to leave.

Disappointed, the officers did in fact leave.

This treatment of public safety workers could not be more disheartening. While the barista was polite, making such a request at all was offensive.”

The group also posted an image to their Facebook and Twitter and the hashtag #DumpStarbucks began trending. The Tempe Police Department has also tacked on their hope that this was an “isolated incident.”

Starbucks, Tempe Police Department, Tempe Police, Police, Apology
via Tempe PD’s Official Twitter Account

On Sunday, Starbucks issued an apology after meeting with the police chief, Sylvia Moir. Rossann Williams, the company’s executive vice president wrote on Starbuck’s official website.

“When those officers entered the store and a customer raised a concern over their presence, they should have been welcomed and treated with dignity and the utmost respect by our partners (employees). Instead, they were made to feel unwelcome and disrespected, which is completely unacceptable.”

The incident happened on the 4th of July, Independence Day.

Latest Stories

Side-by-side photo of Zach Top and Alan Jackson both wearing cowboy hats and sporting mustaches, sparking playful father-son comparisons online.

Zach Top Just Dropped a Pic With Alan Jackson and It’s Giving Father-Son Vibes

Zach Top just posted a photo with Alan Jackson, and the internet isn’t asking questions anymore—they’re calling it blood. In what feels like country music’s most persistent and hilarious rumor, ...

Zach Top smiles while proudly holding his ACM New Male Artist of the Year trophy, dressed in a red-striped western shirt and black cowboy hat.

Zach Top Wins ACM New Male Artist of the Year and Country Might Just Be Back on Track

For once, an award show actually listened. The Academy of Country Music handed out its New Male Artist of the Year trophy ahead of the main ceremony, and they got ...

Kellie Pickler stands beside her late husband, songwriter Kyle Jacobs, smiling together before their tragic family dispute made headlines.

Kellie Pickler’s Court Battle With Her Late Husband’s Family Fully Explained

What started as a family tragedy has now become a tense legal showdown. More than a year after country singer Kellie Pickler lost her husband, Kyle Jacobs, she’s locked in ...

Lily Pearl Black sings beside her father, country music legend Clint Black, during a live Grand Ole Opry performance.

Meet Clint Black’s Daughter Who’s Turning Heads With Her Voice

It’s not easy being born into country music royalty. For some, it means pressure. For others, it becomes a shortcut. But for Lily Pearl Black, daughter of Clint Black and ...

Alan Jackson, Wynonna Judd, and Cody Johnson join the 2025 ACM Awards performer lineup, representing a powerful mix of classic and modern country stars.

2025 ACM Performer Lineup Grows With Alan Jackson, Cody Johnson, and Wynonna Judd

The 2025 ACM Awards just announced a wave of new performers—a lineup that spans three decades of country music. But as the roster grows, so do the questions about who’s ...

Garth Brooks passionately performs in the rain-soaked 1991 music video for “The Thunder Rolls,” newly reuploaded in HD without edits despite its original ban.

Garth Brooks Reuploads His Banned 1991 Video and It’s Still Just as Intense

When Garth Brooks dropped the music video for “The Thunder Rolls” in 1991, it was banned from major country networks within 24 hours. Over three decades later, Brooks has rereleased ...

Beyoncé smiles despite controversy over her AMA country nominations that overlooked Cody Johnson and Miranda Lambert.

The 2025 AMAs Nominated Beyoncé for Country and Snubbed Cody Johnson and Miranda Lambert

The American Music Awards just did what too many award shows continue to do: propped up a pop superstar in the country categories while ignoring the very artists keeping the ...

The Highwaymen—Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson—pose together, smiling and relaxed, showcasing their legendary camaraderie in country music.

Why The Highwaymen Refused Alcohol on Tour and What They Drank Instead

The Highwaymen were four of country music’s roughest legends, each with enough scars to write ten albums. Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson made up the outlaw ...

Maren Morris and Taylor Swift pose together in glamorous outfits, symbolizing their connection as female artists navigating major shifts in and out of country music.

Maren Morris Turned to Taylor Swift and The Chicks for Advice on Leaving Country Music

If you’re gonna walk away from country music, you better know what you’re walking into. Maren Morris didn’t just pack up and go. Before she made the jump to pop ...

Phil Robertson and Miss Kay Robertson from Duck Dynasty hold hands and sit side-by-side in a care facility, reunited after months apart due to health concerns.

Duck Dynasty’s Uncle Phil and Miss Kay Robertson Are Back Together After Months Apart

Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson has officially reunited with his wife, Miss Kay, after months of being separated due to ongoing health issues—and the family says it’s been a major boost ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.