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Uniformed sheriff's deputy turned away from jewelry store because of service weapon
By: FOX 46 Web Staff
Lauren Dugan, FOX 46 Charlotte
Posted: Jun 05, 2019 07:14 PM EDT
Updated: Jun 06, 2019 04:35 PM EDT


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Uniformed sheriff's deputy turned away from jewelry store because of service weapon
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IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) - An Iredell County sheriff's deputy was told he could not come into a jewelry store while he was in uniform because of his service weapon. Despite telling the store employees it would be a violation of policy for him to remove his gun while in uniform, he says he was denied service.

On Wednesday, the Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell posted on Facebook, saying the deputy was told an engagement ring he had bought had been sized and was ready for pickup at the Kay Jewelers on Turnersburg Highway in Statesville.

“It is a special time in his life and he was trying to do a nice thing for someone he loved,” said Melissa Hollar, who lives in Statesville. “Now it’s this negative thing.”


The deputy went to pick the ring up on his lunch break, but was met at the door by a manager who told him he could not have his gun on him while in their store.

UPDATE: Manager who refused to let deputy into jewelry store 'no longer with company'

“He was refused service because he was in a uniform,” said Sheriff Darren Campbell. “That causes me great concern. Not just for us but for all law enforcement agency around.”

The deputy was in uniform and had his marked patrol car in the parking lot. He told the manager that it would be against policy to remove his service weapon while on duty, but the manager said he would need to come back to the store when he wasn't armed, and the deputy left the store without the ring.

"The reaction our deputy encountered is very difficult for us to comprehend, and we earnestly hope situations such as these are few and are diminishing," the Sheriff's Office wrote. "Thank you to the citizens and businesses in our area who whole heartedly support the men and women who wear the badge."

The Sheriff explained their policy why a deputy cannot disarm. Statesville residents expect them to protect and defend.

“If an emergency happens, here’s what you have to expect from an officer: an officer is going to be armed. That’s tools of the trade,” said Sheriff Campbell.
“What’s the difference if he came in to save him if somebody was robbing the place? And then coming in to purchase something. It’s the same thing,” said Hollar.

Kay Jewelers issued an apology via Facebook around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, saying:

Kay Jewelers is reaching out to the customer and the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office to sincerely apologize for the mishandling of this matter. We have tremendous respect for law enforcement, and we thank the Office for bringing this to our attention. We will be sure to reinforce store training regarding our firearm policy with specific regard to uniformed law enforcement.

The Sheriff’s Office says it made numerous attempts to contact Kay Jewelers’ corporate office, but received no response. They also say they have recieved support from other jewelery stores, some even offering rings to the deputy.

“I would return the ring, get my money back and go shop somewhere else,” said James Bellarmy.

“We’ve had numerous rings offered through email,” said Sheriff Campbell. “They are in total support of that officer.”

Signet (the parent company of Kay Jewelers) Vice President of Corporate Affairs David Bouffard responded to FOX 46 media partner WSIC’s request for comment within minutes Wednesday afternoon as the situation started to gain attention on social media.

Kay Jewelers is reaching out to the customer and the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office to sincerely apologize for the handling of this matter,” wrote Bouffard.

“We have tremendous respect for law enforcement, as our partnership with law enforcement is critical. We thank the Office for bringing this matter to our attention. We will be sure to reinforce store training regarding our firearm policy with specific regard to uniformed law enforcement.

Now some Statesville neighbors tell Fox46 Charlotte the company needs to do more: “I think maybe the manager should lose his job because it’s very disrespectful for what he done,” said Hollar.

The post from the sheriff's office had nearly 5,000 reactions after just five hours, with thousands commenting their support for the deputy.

Wonder if he was in uniform when he bought the damn thing.

The snowflakes just never stop melting. Same thing happened at a Subway in a Walmart a while back.

I bet they don't mind uniformed and armed officers when they respond to an alarm at 3am, or when one of their employees hits the panic button during an armed robbery....

Glad he was fired.

Illustrates the insanity of the left. Not only are authorized armed people not a threat to the security of a jewelry store, but quite the opposite. They constitute a strong deterrence to crime while there when carrying openly.

Imagine a prospective robber of the place, who had planned that minute to carry out the deed. Would he more likely continue with his plan while the deputy was there, or choose another time or place? Yet to someone suffering from the mental disease of liberalism, they consider the authorized handgun carrier to be not only NOT a deterrence to crime, but equally a threat to themselves as is the armed robber. Imagine the twisted thinking they must have on other subjects as well.

I have seen our sheriff in uniform at funerals, I don't think I looked, but I'll guess his holster was full.

Good example of why law enforcement shouldn’t participate or advocate for any level of gun control.

It will always come full circle.

Lunch break...smunch break.


He was on the clock.....

Authorized by who?

I demand every police officer to be armed at all times, and feel safer for it.

A jeweler of all places. Hope a groidle shows up for a smash and grab, then police arrive afterward with nerf guns.

The manager is no longer w the company

The laws of the land, generally speaking.

Saying it's a right and that one is authorized to do so are not contradictions, but they are also not the same things. Cops are specifically authorized, as are CCW holders, as are most (but not all) who live in Constitutional Carry states. The objective of the gun rights advocate is to arrange the laws such that all who have a right to carry (guaranteed in - not created by - the Constitution) are also authorized to do so where they live, which is why we fight to change the laws where were live to match up with the right, without which, those who have the right to carry may be arrested and convicted for exercising it.

Nurses are the worst. They always try and do schit like this.

Go empty the bed pans you dumb kghunt.

I remember about 20 years ago walking through the food court of a local plaza. A Brinks guard was sitting having his lunch with his sidearm on. Didn’t even register until 3 days later when I saw a letter to the editor of the local paper from a snowflake claiming that it triggered her while she was having lunch. :roll eyes:

I remember being struck by a Brinks guard carrying openly while ordering lunch at a deli in New York City. There he was, in one of the strictest gun control cities of the nation, open carrying a service revolver. Not a cop, or even wearing any sort of badge. Just service shoes, genes, and a T-shirt that read Brinks on it. No one batted an eye.

It's the gun, fools....... might jump out and start shooting by itself.........

Don't buy from Kay's. Be Well. Rusty

They fired the guy.

Showing there is a happy ending here..

I am sure the officer was able to pick up his wedding ring for his bride at another time...
No charge I hope, by Kay Jewelers, for compensation of the officer's inconvenience...

I hate seeing people lose a job... but some lefty being thrown out on the street over something like this...

MAGA....

Usually it's just the dumbasses that raise a stink.

County I worked in passed an ordinance that you couldn't open carry in county buildings....

I walked into the Tax Assessor's office one afternoon about a week later... In full uniform and badge in plain view.

Dumbass female clerk got snotty and said I wasn't supposed to be carrying a gun openly in that building. She said she was going to call the sheriff...

OK. That's absolutely the right person to call on the matter, since he is the one I work under.

Older clerk came up and told the young one to go do something else. She buzzed me in, and said "Sorry.." when I went past her.

Exactly, but not because of this incident. They do not want people with guns in the store. That states very plainly they do not want my business. This incident is just going overboard on their policy toward everyone else.