A Kansas police department has apologized after an officer admitted to fabricating a story that a McDonald’s employee wrote an expletive on a drink he purchased.
The officer, who has since resigned, claimed that an employee of the fast-food chain wrote “f—ing pig” on the receipt stuck to his drink on early Saturday. The officer, who had stopped at a McDonald’s in Junction City later turned over the receipt to the Geary County Sheriff’s Department for investigation.
Herington Police Department Chief Brian Hornaday issued an apology on Wednesday, two days after he revealed that the allegation was “completely and solely fabricated.”
“We hope that this is always remembered as the act of one person and not that of the chosen few men and women who have the courage to boldly protect and serve the citizens of this great Nation,” Hornaday wrote in the apology.
In a press conference, the police chief said his biggest fear was that Americans would “look at this situation and call into question the integrity of any other officer in this country.” He added: “I truly hope the former officer of the Herington Police Department that did this understands the magnitude of the black eye this gives the law enforcement profession from coast to coast.”
McDonald’s disputed the claim before the fabrication was uncovered because they had reviewed footage from inside the restaurant, and it didn’t show any employee writing on his cup.
