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SANTAQUIN, Utah County — A family-run restaurant has found itself at the center of a social media nightmare after a now-fired worker’s incendiary post about police on his own Facebook page drew outrage against the business – as did the business’s attempt to make things right.
Leslie’s Family Tree restaurant in Santaquin is best known for its massive scones and its history of paranormal activity on the property, which makes it a regular attraction for ghost hunters.
Tuesday, however, the restaurant saw exceptionally high traffic on its Facebook page, as commenters raged about a photo and caption a cook posted on his personal Facebook page that suggested a good cop is a dead cop.
Jody Dansie, who handles social media for the business along with her other responsibilities, said the cook acknowledged the inadvertent impact his post had on the restaurant and even suggested he be fired.
The business subsequently responded on its page with a message condemning the cook’s post, acknowledging his termination, expressing an appreciation for free speech and also offering free meals to police officers.
“We wanted to just show them how much we appreciate what they do – not thinking that could ever be a bad thing,” Dansie said.
The restaurant’s attempt to quell the initial social media firestorm, however, was met with more outrage.
“This place gives free food to murderers and kidnappers just because they wear badges,” one man posted.
A family member of Darrien Hunt – who was shot and killed by Saratoga Springs Police as he carried a samurai sword – even weighed in on the dispute.
Cindy Moss, an aunt to Hunt, blasted the restaurant’s gesture on Facebook and in a subsequent interview with KSL.
“It makes me sick,” she said Wednesday. “It seems so backward and messed up that people are rewarding the people who killed my nephew.”
Moss acknowledged the work of “good police,” but said she felt compelled to react because of what happened to Hunt.
“Like I said in my post, my sister is still trying to take care of her family, trying to keep her job, trying to mourn her son and still doesn’t have enough money to pay for the burial of her son, and meanwhile they’re feeding the people who are getting paid while they’re on leave and they’re now getting free meals,” Moss said.
The business subsequently took down its response along with some additional posts, Dansie said, but a number of negative reviews remain because of the cook’s post.
Dansie said the Leslie’s Family Tree Facebook page usually gets about 75 views for one of its posts about a daily special. She estimated the page has seen about 7,000 new views due to the cook’s post and the business’s initial attempt to make good.
“In retrospect, maybe I wouldn’t have opened a Facebook account, because I’m considering taking it off,” Dansie said. “We have always respected everybody’s freedom of speech too, so we were literally stuck between a hard spot and a hard spot.”
“It’s a good way to get our locals to see our daily specials,” Dansie continued. “But I don’t want to be in the middle of a fight anymore either and the warzone is not a good place to be.”
