Mancini Pizzeria: Fact Or Fiction?

In 2017, a rumour circulated on Facebook that a uniformed East Brunswick police officer was served a pizza box with an anti-police slur on it from Mancini Pizza. The pizzeria's owner, Vito Mancini, denied the allegation, explaining that the box in question was for a different customer's order and was labelled with a P for plain pizza and a squiggly line for garlic twists. Despite this, the East Brunswick Police Benevolent Association and the officer in question refuted Mancini's version of events, and the pizzeria received threats and boycotts.

A uniformed East Brunswick police officer claimed that an employee wrote Pig on her pizza box

A uniformed East Brunswick police officer claimed that an employee wrote "Pig" on her pizza box, sparking a Facebook frenzy and a wave of threats against the pizzeria, Mancini Pizza. The officer alleged that while waiting for her food, she saw an employee write "Pig" or "Pigs" on a pizza box, which was then displayed to customers inside the pizzeria.

However, the owners of Mancini Pizza, Frankie and Vito Mancini, denied the allegations and stated that the markings on the box were "P" for plain pizza and a squiggly sign for a garlic twist, which is their standard notation. They also emphasised their support for the police and the positive relationships they have with law enforcement officers who frequent the pizzeria.

The East Brunswick Police Benevolent Association (PBA) supported the officer, stating that the incident was an unprovoked and unsettling affront to the officer, the police department, and the law enforcement community. They also questioned the authenticity of the pizza box photograph provided by Mancini Pizza.

The incident has led to strong reactions from the public, including threats and boycotts against Mancini Pizza, as well as debates over the accuracy of the allegations and the appropriate response. The East Brunswick Police Department is investigating the matter, with Police Chief James Conroy committed to maintaining a positive relationship with the community.

The pizzeria denied the allegation, stating that the officer mistook the letter 'P' for 'plain pizza' and a squiggly symbol for 'twists' as the slur

The pizzeria, Mancini Pizza, has denied the allegation, stating that the officer mistook the letter 'P' for 'plain pizza' and a squiggly symbol for 'twists' as the slur. Vito Mancini, the 31-year-old owner of the pizzeria, asserted that the incident was a misunderstanding and that his business would never do something like this. He explained that the employee wrote the letter 'P' and a squiggly twist symbol to indicate 'plain pizza' and 'twists', which the officer misinterpreted as the slur.

Mancini provided a detailed account of the events, stating that the officer had ordered a chicken panini, which was still heating up. During this time, another employee took a separate order for a plain slice of pizza and garlic knots out of the oven and placed it in a pizza box. This order was labelled with the letter 'P' and the squiggly symbol, per the pizzeria's standard notation system. The officer assumed this box contained her order and became furious, believing the markings to be an anti-police slur.

Mancini clarified that the employee tried to explain the standard notation system to the officer, emphasizing that the box was not the officer's order, as a panini would be placed in a paper bag. Eventually, the officer acknowledged the misunderstanding, attributing her reaction to a bad day, and left without accepting the food or a refund.

Despite Mancini's denial and explanation, the incident sparked backlash and threats towards the pizzeria. They received numerous phone calls with cursing and threats of violence, including burning down the restaurant. The East Brunswick Police Benevolent Association also refuted Mancini's version of events, stating that the photograph of the pizza box was not an accurate depiction of the original box. The police department launched an investigation into the incident, with the police chief emphasizing their commitment to maintaining positive community relationships.

The East Brunswick Police Benevolent Association supported the officer, refuting the pizzeria's version of events

The East Brunswick Police Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 145 supported the officer, refuting the pizzeria's version of events. They released a statement on Facebook, saying:

> "It is unfortunate, but not surprising that Mancini Pizza would attempt to cover up the truth and continue to avoid taking responsibility for the behavior of their employees... As mentioned in our previous statement, the officer refutes the claims made by Mancini Pizza regarding the matter. We will continue to stand by the officer's account of the event."

The PBA also claimed that the photograph of the pizza box, presented by Mancini Pizza as evidence, was not an "actual depiction of the original pizza box".

Mancini Pizza, owned by Frankie Mancini, has denied the allegations, stating that the box in question was labelled with a "P" for plain pizza and a squiggly symbol for garlic twists. They have also received threats and boycotts, with people shouting abuse from the parking lot. Vito Mancini, who witnessed the encounter, said:

> "I don't know why they would release that statement. Some of my friends who are officers in the NYPD said they were appalled the East Brunswick PBA would get involved like this... The issue is these days people will believe anything they read on Facebook."

The pizzeria received threats and boycotts, with people shouting slurs from the parking lot

The backlash against Mancini Pizzeria was swift and severe. The pizzeria received threats and boycotts, with people shouting slurs from the parking lot. Owner Vito Mancini, 31, reported that people had been driving by and shouting slurs from the parking lot. He also said that his small business had been boycotted and that he had received numerous telephone threats. He expressed concern for his safety, as well as that of his employees and family.

The East Brunswick Police Benevolent Association (PBA) also fueled the fire by releasing multiple statements in support of the officer and disputing Mancini's version of events. They claimed that the photograph of the pizza box provided by Mancini was not an accurate depiction of the original box.

The backlash against Mancini Pizzeria resulted in a significant amount of stress and uneasiness for the owners. Frankie Mancini, another owner of the pizzeria, stated that he couldn't sleep due to the boycott. He emphasised that the business was his livelihood and that he and his family had worked hard to build it.

The threats and boycotts against Mancini Pizzeria caused a great deal of distress to the owners, who felt that their reputation and business were at stake. They also feared for their safety and well-being due to the severity of the threats. The involvement of the East Brunswick PBA and the spread of misinformation on social media further intensified the situation.

The East Brunswick Police Department is investigating the incident

The incident occurred on August 1, 2017, when the officer entered the pizzeria and ordered a chicken panini. While her order was being prepared, an employee took another customer's order for a plain slice of pizza and garlic knots out of the oven and placed it in a pizza box. The employee, following standard labelling practices, marked the box with a “P” for plain and a squiggly symbol for twists. The officer, mistaking the box for her order, became furious and accused the employee of writing "Pig" on her food. The owner of Mancini Pizza, Vito Mancini, explained that the officer had a history of aggressive behaviour and was "sort of always looking for trouble."

Mancini Pizza has denied the allegations and expressed concern for their safety, noting that they have received threats and drive-by slurs. They also provided a photo of the pizza box in question, which they had set aside, anticipating a potential controversy. However, the East Brunswick PBA disputed the authenticity of the photo. The incident sparked a frenzy on Facebook, with people believing the officer's accusation and targeting the pizzeria with boycotts and threats. The pizzeria received about 20 threatening phone calls a day, including threats to burn down the place.

The East Brunswick Police Department, led by Chief James Conroy, has committed to investigating the incident thoroughly. Chief Conroy stated that the department values its positive relationship with the community and trusts and supports its law enforcement officers. The investigation is ongoing, and there will be no further comments until it is concluded. The Township Mayor, Brad Cohen, also urged people to refrain from making comments until the investigation is completed.

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