SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Last week, a San Francisco restaurant kicked out three uniformed San Francisco Police officers for the simple fact that they were there in uniform with their duty weapons on them, according to reports.

On December 3rd, three unformed officers were asked to leave the Hilda and Jesse restaurant located off of the 700 black of Union Street. A social media post from the restaurant’s official Instagram account stated that the reasoning behind this move was because uniformed police officers with guns make their staff “feel uncomfortable.”

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“On Friday, Dec.3, three armed and uniformed San Francisco police officers came in to dine at Hilda and Jesse,” their post said. “Shortly after seating them, out staff felt uncomfortable with the presence of their multiple weapons. We then politely asked them to leave.

“At Hilda and Jesse, the restaurant is a safe space. The presence of the officers’ weapons in the restaurant made us feel uncomfortable. We respect the San Francisco Police Department and are grateful for the work they do. We welcome them into the restaurant when they are off duty, out of uniform, and without their weapons.”

Needless to say, there was a reasonable amount of backlash over the move by the restaurant over allegations of staff being “uncomfortable.”

Rachel Sillcocks, a co-owner of Hilda and Jesse, spoke with ABC7’s Dion Lim following the outrage caused by the restaurant’s decision, claiming that they’re not “anti-police” they are just against having weapons inside the restaurant.

“It’s not about the fact that we are anti-police,” she said. “It is about the fact that we do not allow weapons in our restaurant. We were uncomfortable, and we asked them to leave. It has nothing to do that they were officers. It has everything to do that they were carrying guns.”

Sillcocks added that they “understand how much the police support and protect the community.” She said, “We want to again reiterate the fact that this is about guns being in our space, and we don’t allow it.”

However, according to the very social media post from the official Hilda and Jesse Instagram account, it specifically outlined that it was more than just the presence of firearms on the officers – the statement released said police couldn’t patronize the establishment unless they were also “off duty” and “out of uniform.”

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SFPD Chief Scott seemingly referenced the jab made against his officers for being in uniform while trying to get something to eat, making the following statement on Twitter: “The San Francisco Police Department stands for safety with respect, even when it means respecting wishes that our officers and I find discouraging and personally disappointing.

“I believe the vast majority of San Franciscans welcome their police officers, who deserve to know that they are appreciated for the difficult job we ask them to do — in their uniforms — to keep our neighborhoods and businesses safe.”

While Sillcocks may attempt to salvage her business’ reputation by claiming staff were “uncomfortable” over seeing police officers with holstered weapons, this situation reeks of her and her employees being anti-police.

This piece was written by Gregory Hoyt on December 5, 2021. It originally appeared in RedVoiceMedia.com and is used by permission.

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