Cop suspended for demanding free Starbucks

[951-Riverside]

Source: Chicago Tribune

A Chicago police officer was suspended for 15 months and ordered to undergo counseling for demanding free coffee and pastries from six Starbucks Coffee houses over five years.

The Police Board of Chicago decided in May to suspend Officer Barbara Nevers, a 14-year veteran, after finding her guilty of using her job as a police officer to intimidate the employees of the coffeehouses to give her free coffee by flashing her badge, handcuffs or gun when they asked for payment.

"I don't pay for coffee, I am an officer, I get coffee for free," Nevers, 55, allegedly told employees who asked for payment.

The city's attorneys also alleged that she stole juice from a Starbucks in July 2004. She was acquitted of the theft charge in Cook County Criminal Court in 2005.


Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-starbucks-cop-web-aug08,0,6874669.story

[Lost-in-FL]

1. This is a very common thing believe it or not.

Not as bad as getting suspended but it does happens.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. Are things getting worse, or is it just the non stop media that tells about it?

If people continue on their trajectory of endless weird things, something has gotta give soon....

[TwilightGardener]

3. I was under orders to give cops their stuff for free, when I worked

in various food places as a teen. Most of the time, though, they were polite and tried to pay.

[skooooo]

4. Buckeye Donuts..

...in Columbus OH always gave cops free donuts and coffee. Guess it's not that big of a deal if the store owners wanted to do it, but *expecting* it from just an employee of a chain store seems over the top.

[Lost-in-FL]

6. I am not afraid to say that as a general rule...

you do this only when they are in uniform (on duty). I hear a lot about situations where the cop or fireman, etc. gets very angry when they are "off duty" and still expect workers to give them treats. A friend of mine said they actually had to call the cops on someone that got very angry when told they had to pay.

[PSPS]

5. One of the oldest business adages is that it's unlucky to charge a cop for your goods or services.

[BearSquirrel2]

7. Lets be honest though ...

If you are a restuarant proprieter and you can get cops to be in you store by giving them a free coffee which costs next to nothing to brew THAT particular cuff ... wouldn't you.

Juice and pastries however, that is too far!!!! That actually costs real money.

No doubt thieves stay away from Starbucks because they know it's run by Dr. Evil ;-)

[mopinko]

8. of course, it is a woman cop. the guys

don't have to wave their guns? or it just doesn't bother them till the sister does it? or..

[Radical Activist]

9. Or the men are used to handling the extra privileges

and know when not to get pushy or act entitled, even when they think they are.

[mopinko]

10. wow. stretch it much?

give me a break.

[Radical Activist]

11. No, I think it makes perfect sense.

White men are used to white male privilege and especially as cops have had a long time to learn that you keep those privileges by not getting demanding or making a scene about it because making a scene means you risk letting other people know what's going on and losing the extra perk.
Or this is just another bully who became a cop and let it go to her head.