Worker Fired After Denying Cops Pizza At San Francisco Shop

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A worker at a San Francisco pizzeria has been fired after he denied service to several city police officers over the weekend.

The officers were told Sunday that they were not welcome in Pizza Squared, a slice shop in Showplace Square, according to a tweet from the San Francisco Police Officers Association, which characterized the employee’s statement as “shameful” and “hateful.”

The business apologized to the police union, in addition to terminating the worker, according to a tweet from its management.

“This employee was a trainee & on his third day,” the tweet said. “When our shift manager told us about the incident after it happened, we expressly told him we didn’t share his views & that he was out of line. He was fired at the end of the day.”

The situation arose amid public outcry in response to the death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man who was severely beaten earlier this month by Memphis police officers after a traffic stop.

“We appreciate the owner’s swift apology, praise for the hard work our officers do, and the owners' commitment to meeting with the affected officers,” the San Francisco police union tweeted.

In Memphis, five officers were fired and charged last week with second-degree murder and other offenses in Nichols' beating and death. San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott issued a statement Saturday after video of the beating was made public.

“What I and everyone else saw on the video images reflect a disregard for the sanctity of human life and is the antithesis of the oath, we as law enforcement professionals, were all sworn to uphold,” the statement said.

“This incident again raises the pervasive issue that has occurred for generations — and continues to occur — regarding using force on people of color (specifically Black and brown men).

"Those of us who have chosen policing as a profession all have a responsibility to make the difficult and courageous decisions necessary to change this narrative for the better. I applaud and support the decision and swift action taken by Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis to terminate the involved officers for what she described as physical abuse against Mr. Nichols.”