GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – Employees at a Green Cove Springs McDonald's were told to remove blue decorations that they put up inside the fast-food restaurant in honor of National Police Week.
But since News4Jax started asking questions, the order has been reversed.
The blue ribbons and blue stripes were placed throughout the McDonald's on North Orange Avenue in support of local law enforcement officers during National Police Week, which runs through Saturday.
But someone filed a complaint. News4Jax learned that the McDonald's corporate office was not upset about the message, but turned to its "no sign" rule" -- meaning no decorations inside the store. So employees had to take down the display.
"I think it's cruel for people to do things like that," customer Mary Tillman said.
On Sunday, News4Jax began receiving criticisms of the directive to have the decorations removed.
"I think we live in a time where we let political things get in the way of what really matters and I think the whole purpose of this is to honor those fallen officers," another customer, Chandler Steele, told News4Jax.
The decision to take down the decorations upset employees, so News4Jax contacted McDonald's corporate headquarters, which issued a written statement, only confirming that "the McDonald's in Green Cove Springs is locally owned and operated. Beyond that we're not commenting."
But something happened because after receiving that statement, employees said Monday evening that they got permission to put the decorations back up. The news has been well-received on social media, with one of the comments reading, "McDonald's is putting the BLUE back up!!!!! Please make sure you support them as they are us."
"I have relatives that work as police, FBI and every day they put their lives on the line," customer Sandra Williams said.
A Green Cove Springs Police Department spokesperson told News4Jax off-camera that the McDonald's has always led the community when it comes to supporting local law enforcement officers.
It's unclear what went on that allowed the decorations to go back up -- whether the local owner decided to take matters into his own hands or if corporate made an exception to its rules.