CVS fires 2 Chicago store employees after white manager calls cops on black customer
CHICAGO _ CVS has fired two employees at a store in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood who called the police on a black female customer Saturday after she attempted to use a coupon.
"We have completed our investigation, and as a result the two colleagues who were involved are no longer employed by CVS Health," Mike DeAngelis, a spokesman for CVS Health, said in an email.
The company also said it has "sincerely apologized" to the customer, Camilla Hudson, who shared her experience on Facebook, including a video of the store manager on the phone with police.
The episode is the latest incident of alleged racial profiling or customer mistreatment at retail stores and other venues that quickly went viral on social media. It also exemplifies how some companies are quickly responding to the often swift and harsh public backlash before it does more than bruise their corporate reputations.
Hudson said the incident took place Saturday at CVS' store at 6150 N. Broadway. According to her account posted on Facebook, the store manager said he believed her coupon to be fraudulent. Hudson said she asked for his name and title to complain, and tensions escalated. Hudson posted a video of the store manager, who identified himself as Morry Matson, on the phone with police. Police responded to the store but took no action, according to the Chicago Police Department.
CVS issued an apology Saturday and said it was investigating the matter.
"CVS Health does not tolerate any practices that discriminate against any customer and we are committed to maintaining a welcoming and diverse environment in our stores," DeAngelis said in his email Monday. "We have firm non-discrimination policies in place to help ensure that all customers are treated with respect and dignity. Profiling or any other type of discriminatory behavior is strictly prohibited."
_Chicago Tribune
