Black Officer Was Asked to Pay at Georgia Chick-fil-A While White Colleagues Got Free Meals

AUGUSTA, GA. — A Georgia Chick-fil-A franchise has issued an apology after a Black police officer said he was asked to pay for his meal while his white colleagues were given free food, an incident he described as humiliating and racially motivated.

The event occurred at a Chick-fil-A in Augusta, where Clover Police Sgt. Tracey Reid and three other officers stopped for breakfast while on a work trip. Reid, who is Black, said all four officers entered the restaurant together wearing their uniforms — but when it came time to pay, he was treated differently.

Officer Describes ‘Humiliating’ Experience

Reid said he immediately noticed the difference when the cashier processed his order.

“I was kind of humiliated and embarrassed, you know, at the whole situation. It seemed like it was a racial issue to me,” Reid told WSOC-TV, a sister station of Channel 2 Action News.

According to Reid, the three white officers in his group were offered complimentary meals — a common courtesy extended to law enforcement by some Chick-fil-A locations — while he was told he had to pay for his food.

Detective Thomas Barnette, one of the officers with Reid, said the moment left him furious.

“He said he had to pay for his meal, and it infuriated me,” Barnette said. “He looked sad and humiliated, and that made me really mad.”

Reid Calls for Policy Change, Not Coupons

After returning home, Sgt. Reid wrote a formal letter to Chick-fil-A corporate, demanding the company retrain employees at the Augusta location and strengthen policies ensuring compliance with civil rights and anti-discrimination laws.

Reid said he was disappointed with the local store’s response — which included two free meal cards and a note from the manager that referred to the incident as being “perceived” as racial.

“It said it was perceived that it was a racial incident, which I didn’t like, because it wasn’t perceived — it actually happened,” Reid explained.

Barnette agreed, adding that “it wasn’t perception, it was what happened. It was a racial issue.”

Restaurant Responds With Apology

In a statement to Channel 2 Action News, Chick-fil-A Augusta Owner-Operator Kenny Hanna said the restaurant regrets the situation and called it an “honest oversight.”

“We regret the unintentional impact this incident had and sincerely apologize to our guest,” Hanna said. “It appears to have been an honest oversight across separate lines and registers. We are strongly committed to supporting our community’s first responders.”

The manager also said the employee involved was a team leader who does not normally work at the register, calling the incident a mistake rather than intentional discrimination.

Broader Call for Awareness and Training

Reid said while he accepts the apology, he hopes the company takes meaningful action to prevent similar incidents in the future — emphasizing that an apology alone is not enough.

“I just want accountability and understanding that this is not okay,” he said. “We wear the same uniform, serve the same community — and should be treated with the same respect.”

The Clover Police Department confirmed it is aware of the incident and is supporting Sgt. Reid as the issue gains national attention.

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