Police Union’s Claim That NYPD Officers Were ‘Poisoned’ From Shake Shack Milkshakes is False

Last week, there were reports of NYPD police officers drinking poisoned milkshakes from a Shake Shack located in Manhattan and the police union stating that this was a targeted attack against the officers involved. According to the Detectives Endowment Association the officers were “intentionally poisoned by one or more workers at the Shake Shack” As it turns out, the story was a complete farce, according to The New York Post.

The three police officers, who work at a Bronx precinct, ordered the drinks from a Shake Shack that is located at 200 Broadway in Manhattan. The order was placed via a mobile app, around 7:30 p.m. early last week. According to police sources, the order wasn’t done in person, so the Shake Shack employees could not have known that the order placed was from the police. The order was ready for pick up when the officers did indeed arrive, so that would also eliminate the chance for anyone to poison or tamper with their drinks.

After claiming the shakes didn’t taste right and tossing the drinks in the garbage, the store manager apologized and gave the officers vouchers for free food or drinks.

Shortly thereafter, after telling their sergeant about the incident, the Emergency Service Unit was called and they set up a crime scene at the Shake Shack. The three officers were taken to Bellevue Hospital, where they were examined and released without ever showing symptoms, sources said.

After interviewing employees and reviewing surveillance footage showing the shakes were made normally, detectives essentially closed the case.

Shortly before 11 PM, the Detectives Endowment Association publicly stated officers had become “ill” after being “intentionally poisoned by one or more workers at the Shake Shack.” The Police Benevolent Association also declared at 10:47 PM that police officers came “under attack” from a “toxic substance, believed to be bleach.”

Then Chief Rodney Harrison made an announcement via Twitter.

After a thorough investigation by the NYPD’s Manhattan South investigators, it has been determined that there was no criminality by shake shack’s employees.

— Chief Rodney Harrison (@NYPDDetectives) June 16, 2020

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Manhattan) and Councilman Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx) have demanded a probe into the unions’ alleged “inflammatory” behavior.