"Upon further discussion, we became aware the individual was a plain-clothed police officer," Denny's spokeswoman Liz DiTrapano said in a statement, according to the News-Democrat. "Denny's policy permits law enforcement officials to carry their firearms in the restaurant, and we regret any misunderstanding."
Denny's sure does, because despite the efforts of a general manager who tried (and failed) to clear up the misunderstanding before the detectives left, the department's chief banned on-duty and off-duty police in uniform from returning to the restaurant.
"This was an insult, a slap in the face, to those detectives and to all of the men and women who proudly wear the uniform or badge and serve in law enforcement," Police Chief William Clay said, according to the News-Democrat.
It's crystal clear that the Denny's manager only wanted the weapons out of the restaurant because they were in plain clothes, and the manager didn't know (because they were not in uniform) that they were police officers. As soon as he knew they were police officers, he said it was OK for them to have them in his restaurant.
The police chief is clearly posturing and misrepresenting the facts in an emotionally charged way. And it should get him very little traction, because anyone familiar with the facts can plainly see that.
