Every day, police officers, firefighters, and other first responders put their lives in danger to safeguard our communities.
No matter how long it takes or what time it is, they constantly endeavor to complete their tasks and occasionally put in extended workdays to do so.
So after a long, exhausting day, these four Louisiana police officers made the decision to eat dinner at their neighborhood Outback Steakhouse.
What they were unaware of was the surprise waiting for them after their dinner.
According to Fox8, the incident happened at the Outback Restaurant in Slidell, Louisiana, where four on-duty neighborhood police officers went for a post-work meal.
Everything proceeded as planned and was business as usual.
The officers’ meal was provided as it should have been, and nothing else really stood out about the evening until they saw their receipt and discovered a tremendous surprise.
They’re the sweetest guys, and I love serving them, said Zo Rao, a server at the Outback Restaurant where the officers had dinner.
But what followed generated a lot of buzz on social media.
The restaurant’s manager, Arline Wood, who has worked there for 18 years, noticed the officers enter and knew them as regulars.
She came up with a scheme with waitress Zoe Rao.
Arline Wood, the manager, and Zo Rao, the server (Photo: Screenshot Fox8)
The officers couldn’t believe what they saw on their receipt when it came time to pay the $67 tab, but they soon discovered it was on the house.
Along with the server and manager picking up their tab, a sincere remark praising them for their community contribution was also written on the ticket.
It said, “Be careful!” Thank you for your service, it was written at the top and further down. Enjoy y’lunch all’s on us!”
They have communal concern. They are concerned for everyone. They are simply terrific men. I went to Zo and said, “Let’s take care of it. Our entire police force is fantastic, including these guys at night,” Arline Wood said.
The officers apparently left a sizable gratuity as a token of their appreciation.
Subsequently, the Slidell Police Department shared a photo of the receipt to their Facebook page as a way to honor the two Outback Steakhouse staff members.
The bill that the four police officers were given (Slidell Police Department)
It spread online immediately.
Yet that wasn’t at all what Zo Rao or Arline Wood wanted. They did not want their great performance to be seen by the public.
Arline Wood said that the notoriety was a bit too much to handle when questioned about it later.
I asked the caller, “What are you talking about?” when I received it early in the morning. Wood remembered.
People were phoning me, we saw it on Facebook, then it was on this website and that, but we didn’t do it for the publicity—Lord knows I don’t like all this notoriety.
But perhaps all the attention will lead to something positive?
Arline and Zo are hoping that their modest gesture would inspire others to show their appreciation for those who risk their lives every day to keep us safe.
Police Department of Slidell
Huge props to these women for setting a wonderful example of how to express gratitude to our law enforcement personnel, who selflessly risk their lives every day to fight crime so that we don’t have to!
Instead than hearing about police officers being refused service or treated disrespectfully, I believe this is the kind of thing we need to see more of.
Thank you to all first responders; you are all very appreciated! It’s gestures of gratitude like these that serve as a reminder of why they do what they do.
Please spread the word about this on Facebook to encourage others to express their gratitude to those who put their lives in danger every day to keep us secure.