At a Glance
- A Starbucks barista in Norwalk, California, was terminated after handing a sheriff’s deputy a cup with a pig drawing on Jan. 9
- The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department called the image “offensive” and said pig imagery is “commonly used to demean law enforcement”
- Starbucks apologized to the deputy and department leaders, stating the act was “unacceptable”
- Why it matters: The incident sparked national debate over workplace respect and tensions between businesses and law enforcement
A Starbucks employee in Norwalk, California, lost their job after serving a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy a coffee cup featuring a hand-drawn pig on January 9. The episode prompted the department to speak out against what it labeled an “offensive” gesture, while the coffee chain moved quickly to terminate the worker and apologize.
The Incident
The deputy, in the middle of a 16-hour shift, stopped at the drive-thru for caffeine. According to a private social media post reviewed by CW affiliate KTLA, he received a cup with the animal sketch. “It felt discouraging and disrespectful, especially after a long day of serving the community,” the deputy wrote. “All I wanted was caffeine, but instead I left feeling uneasy.”
Department officials stated that pig imagery is “commonly used to demean law enforcement.” The Sheriff’s Department added, “This action was extremely offensive, inappropriate and unacceptable.”
Immediate Response
- The deputy reported the incident immediately
- The store manager promised an investigation
- Sheriff Robert Luna contacted Starbucks’ corporate security division to “formally raise concerns and to ensure accountability”
- Luna also phoned the deputy to “check on his well-being”
“Our deputies are part of the community and deserve to be treated respectfully and with basic human dignity,” the department said. “Acts that promote hostility and division toward law enforcement undermine the community trust and public safety.”
Starbucks Investigation
On January 13, Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that the company had launched an investigation and fired the employee. Anderson noted that the drawing depicted the popular meme character John Pork and had been completed hours earlier, but the act was still “unacceptable.”
“We have reached out to the customer several times and leaders in the Sheriff’s Department to apologize,” Anderson said via email. “Every customer should always be made to feel welcome in our stores.”
News Of Losangeles did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Public Reaction
The Sheriff’s Department statement has been viewed more than 400,000 times and generated almost 1,000 comments. Reactions among locals and online users range widely:
- Some defended the deputy, calling the drawing “shameful behavior”
- Others criticized officials’ response as a joke or overreaction
- The story has become national news, fueling broader debates about respect for law enforcement and corporate accountability
Key Takeaways
- The firing underscores Starbucks’ zero-tolerance policy for actions deemed disrespectful to customers
- Tensions between service workers and police can escalate rapidly when symbols are involved
- Social media amplifies local incidents into national flashpoints within hours
- Both the department and the company emphasized the importance of community trust and respectful treatment
