- The Washington Times - Monday, June 15, 2020

The New York City Police Department found “no criminality” by Shake Shack employees after three officers drank milkshakes believed to be contaminated with bleach.

The NYPD reached that conclusion early Tuesday after a “thorough investigation” by detectives in Manhattan.

Initially, the Detectives’ Endowment Association, the labor union for active and retired New York City detectives, tweeted an urgent safety message at 10:45 p.m. Monday, reporting on the poisonings earlier in the evening.

“Tonight, three of our fellow officers were intentionally poisoned by one or more workers at the Shake Shack at 200 Broadway in Manhattan,” the union wrote.

All three officers were hospitalized though the union said they “were not seriously harmed.”

The Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York also issued a statement saying that “a toxic substance believed to be bleach had been placed in their beverages.”

The PBA said the officer had been “on protest detail.”

The group advised all members “to carefully inspect any prepared food item they purchase while on duty.”

“When New York City police officers cannot even take meal without coming under attack, it is clear that [the] environment in which we work has deteriorated to a critical level.

“We cannot afford to let our guard down for even a moment,” the PBA advised in bold-face type.

According to WCBS, the Shake Shack employees were being questioned, but there have been no arrests.

Just last week, Shake Shack bragged about its contributions to those protesting the police around the country and calling for departments to be defunded.

“Last week, we shared the immediate actions we’re taking to become better allies, not only for our Black colleagues, but for the entire Black community. That included a $100K donation to” the Equal Justice Initiative, which the restaurant chain said it “stand[s] behind the important work” such as “ending mass incarceration + excessive punishment.”

Late Monday evening the tweet began to get “ratioed,” mostly by outraged and/or sarcastic tweets saying things like “Does this initiative include poisoning NYPD officers with bleach?” and “Equal Justice by poisoning police officers?”

“Shake Shack” was one of the top five U.S. trending topics on Twitter just before midnight.

• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.

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