DETROIT (WWJ) -- A Midtown Detroit ice cream shop is stirring up controversy after the owner said they'll no longer serve police officers wearing heavy-duty, military-style tactical gear.
Cold Truth owner Timothy Mahoney, a veteran and longtime citizen of Detroit, shared an Instagram post on June 29 of a Detroit police SUV parked the wrong way outside of the shop on Cass Ave., saying, “We can tolerate the parking however-you-please, but we will not serve anyone wearing body armor."
As a policy, the soft serve shop asks officers to dump their gear before coming in for ice cream, saying it’s intimidating.
Mahoney said this issue concerns him as someone who's lived for ten years on Detroit's east side, raised a family and got to know his precinct. Mahoney said his veteran side just understands the "us vs. them" mentality and culture.
He said EMS and firefighters with body armor are welcome, but that's only because the concern is about "heavy, military tactical dress/armor that specialized units use" — not about your typical bullet-proof vest.
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In response, Detroit Police Chief James White said he wants to meet with the Cold Truth folks for a thoughtful conversation on this topic. Mahoney said this is "exciting" and was their "main goal."
But there seems to be some misunderstanding in the midst of all this.
There's talk around town that Cold Truth is denying service to all police officers, which Mahoney has made clear is simply not true. Because of these rumor, an ice cream social for police has been planned, just steps away from Cold Truth.
A "Cold Truth Back the Blue" rally to "protest" the shop is planned from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 6, in the Midtown Detroit Dog Park at Cass and Canfield.
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"All this creamy goodness is through a company that supports our brave men and women in uniform...and its all being covered by a DPD police officer," wrote the organizer.
When asked about the protest, Mahoney was supportive.
"We wholeheartedly endorse and applaud the organizers for having an ice cream social and bringing people together for good conversation," he said.
There's no word yet when Cold Truth and the DPD will find a time to talk.