A couple who refused to sit next to a group of police officers got the surprise of their life last week when they were picked up for their reaction – er, that is – their check was picked up by one of the officers.

Officer Chuck Thomas and three other officers were having dinner at the Eat’n Park diner in Waterfront, PA on July 8th when he noticed a waiter seating a couple directly across from his group.

Thomas heard the man tell the waiter ‘I don’t want to sit there’.

‘We made eye contact, and his body language just told me that he wanted nothing to do with police,’ Officer Thomas said.

‘I looked over and said, “It’s okay sir. You won’t have to worry about it, we won’t hurt you,” Thomas said.

‘He looked at me hard again and said he’s not sitting here and walked away.’

The couple still insisted and were relocated to a table ‘completely opposite’ from the officers’ table were sitting, but the officers decided to do something nice for the couple to show who ‘the police’ really are.

They paid their bill.

‘Sir, your check was paid for by the police officers that you didn’t want to sit next to,’ read Thomas’ note on the paid receipt. ‘Thanks for your support.’