JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — The owner of Cruisers Grill is beginning to fix the issue with the Jacksonville Beach Police Department after allegations of workers spitting in police food.
The owner, Bobby Handmaker, wrote a letter and delivered it Tuesday morning to the police department.
The letter read in part:
"I am fully cognizant of the unnecessary damage done to the department, my employees, my community and my family. For this I'm deeply saddened and I wish nothing more than to take back the words I said in a moment of anger and weakness. I take full responsibility for my actions and it is my hope that you will each forgive me.
"My callous words do not reflect what's in my heart. I love and appreciate out law enforcement officers, their families and my community. While I said something terribly untrue, I, nor any of my employees, have ever engaged in the horrible things I said that morning."
Handmarker said in the letter that he hopes he can further steps to strengthen the ties between the police department and the community.
Action News Jax is reaching out to the police department for comment.
Jacksonville Beach's police chief sent a warning to the entire police department on Feb. 6 urging personnel to use caution when eating at Cruisers Grill on 23rd Ave. South in Jacksonville Beach.
Handmaker was reportedly upset about a traffic citation for an expired tag and told an officer: "I have been made aware for quite some time now that some of my employees have been spitting in officers' food and now I know why, because you are all bullies."
Handmaker said the allegations were false.
Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Patrick Dooley told Action News Jax on Feb. 8 that Handmaker came to the police station to apologize. He apologized to the officers he confronted about the ticket but denied ever saying anything about employees spitting in their food, Dooley said.
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