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The move has touched off a social media firestorm, and one of the owners is explaining the restaurant's decision in an exclusive interview with ABC7 News anchor Dion Lim.
San Francisco Police Chief William Scott is also reacting to the controversy.
Staff at North Beach brunch spot Hilda and Jesse on Union St. seated the uniformed officers at a table on Friday.
According to chef and co-owner Rachel Sillcocks, restaurant staff grew uncomfortable by their presence and asked the officers to leave, which they did.
Sillcocks said the decision to turn the officers away had nothing to do with who they were, but over the fact that the officers were armed.
"It's not about the fact that we are anti-police," she said in an exclusive interview with ABC7 News. "It is about the fact that we do not allow weapons in our restaurant. We were uncomfortable, and we asked them to leave. It has nothing to do that they were officers. It has everything to do that they were carrying guns."