After A 12-Hour Shift, These Cops Spent Hours Helping Waffle House Staff Get Up And Running

July 1, 2021

A Waffle House in Tennessee received unexpected help from six "exhausted" police officers after several employees walked out mid-shift.

police officers help waffle house
Sergeant Johnathan Bright

Sergeant Johnathan Bright told WVLT News the crew visits the Dandridge restaurant every week after a long 12-hour shift.

Bright said the popular breakfast place was closed for the first time when they arrived. A waitress told them several employees walked out mid-shift early Sunday morning, leaving behind piles of dirty dishes, overflowing trash and a short staff.

"There wasn't a single clean dish insight," said Bright. "There was one elderly woman in there. I had never seen (her), but she has really bad arthritis in her hands. Looking at her, it hurt her to work a broom. So, I was like we need to help them.'

The officers said for two hours they cleaned, took orders and got the restaurant back up and running.

Why'd they do it? The officers said they understand a stressful job.

"It's stressful for us in the jail, because once these people are arrested and brought in they're mad. They're upset and we have to talk them down once they get there," Corporal Kayla Gabbard said.

Watch the video below.