Community Calls For Answers After Chick-fil-A Employee Allegedly Treated Black Officer Differently Than White Officers Dining Together

A Black police officer expressed feelings of embarrassment and humiliation after his three white colleagues received complimentary breakfast at a Chick-fil-A, while he was required to pay for his own meal. Officer Tracey Reid, serving in Clover, South Carolina, recounted the incident that occurred a few weeks ago during a duty trip to Augusta, Georgia, where he and his colleagues visited the restaurant in uniform.Typically, establishments like Chick-fil-A offer free meals to police and first responders as a token of gratitude for their service. Yet, as Reid stood in line alongside his partners, only the three white officers received free meals, leaving Reid to foot the bill.Reid’s colleague, Sgt. J. Gordon, noted the unfairness of the situation, and Detective Thomas Barnette voiced his anger, observing Reid's visible discomfort. Reid later conveyed his concerns to Chick-fil-A’s corporate office, requesting staff retraining and adherence to civil rights laws. The store owner apologized, suggesting the incident was “perceived” as racial, which Reid firmly contested. Both he and Barnette emphasized it was indeed a racial issue, calling for accountability from the establishment. (Credit: WSOC-TV Video Screengrab)