Last Updated on June 5, 2019 6:47 pm
Update 12:36pm Friday, June 7 – The jewelry store has responded on Facebook to the situation involving an Iredell County Deputy. The company says that the store manager is no longer employed by the company. The company also says it has reached out to the Iredell County Sheriff's Office and apologized for the mishandling of this matter.
A uniformed Iredell County Sheriff's Office Deputy was told he could not wear his service revolver into a Statesville jewelry store to pick up an engagement ring.
In a Facebook post by the Iredell County Sheriff:
The Iredell County Sheriffs Office, along with Sheriff Darren Campbell, are deeply saddened at a situation involving a fellow deputy yesterday in Statesville.
A uniformed deputy, while on his lunch break, was notified the engagement ring he had purchased for his upcoming wedding proposal, had been sized and was ready for him to pick up at Kay Jewelers located on Turnersburg Highway in Statesville.
The deputy took his meal break to pick up the ring, and was met at the door by the store manager, who informed him he was not allowed to wear his service weapon while on their premises.
The deputy informed the manager he was in uniform and his marked patrol car was in the parking lot, and it would be a violation of policy for him to remove his service weapon while in uniform.
This policy is in place for not only the safety of the deputy, but the general public as well. The manager stated our deputy would need to return to the store at a different time when he was not armed. The deputy left the store, without the ring he had purchased.
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.
Thank you to the citizens and businesses in our area who whole heartily support the men and women who wear the badge.
Sheriff Campbell has attempted to contact their corporate office numerous times, but as of yet has received no answer.
