Hardees Exec Apologizes to Minnesota Officer Who was Refused Service

A Hardee's restaurant executive has issued an apology after employees at a Milaca, MN, Hardee's refused service to a woman because she is a police officer.

Jackie Minks, an officer with the Milaca Police Department, was allegedly denied service Tuesday at the restaurant. Minks posted on Facebook that "a cook ... refused to make food for me today because she doesn't like cops."

The post continues: "When I talked to the manager about it she dismissed it as 'silly' and said she wasn't going to do anything with the employee.

Minks, along with several people in the comment thread following the post, said they called Hardee's customer service line to lodge complaints. Kathy Kraft, one such commenter, posted the email reply she received from Dave Ostendorf, director of operations for Northland Restaurant Group, which owns several Hardee's restaurants in the Upper Midwest.

"It is understandable that the conduct and decision making at the Milaca location yesterday was not made of sound judgement," Ostendorf wrote. "It could have been handled in a much more professional manner."

Ostendorf's email said he had spoken at length with Minks and offered an apology to the officer, Inforum reports.