Olive Garden issued an apology to an armed on-duty Kansas City police officer, who was kicked out of the restaurant over the weekend.

Officer Michael Holsworth said he went to an Olive Garden restaurant located in Independence, Missouri to celebrate his birthday with his family on Sunday while wearing his uniform and handgun. However, shortly after he arrived, he was asked to leave by a hostess, who told him that weapons were not permitted at the restaurant, despite the fact that it's legal to openly carry handguns in Missouri.

Although Holsworth said he was initially shocked by the hostess' request, he eventually obliged and left the eatery. He then expressed his feelings about the incident in a Facebook post that has since been shared over 22,000 times.

"As I was sitting there waiting, one of the employees told me 'Sir, we don't allow guns in here,'" Holsworth wrote on his Facebook page Sunday afternoon.

"Now I never in my wildest thoughts would of [sic] thought this would happen in the Kansas City area. I see it happening all over the United States to other officers but never thought it would of happened to me. Please share this post and let everyone know how this establishment is treating their local law enforcement," the cop wrote.

Holsworth's post sparked an outpouring of support from people who say that he was not treated fairly. The city's Fraternal Order of Police also threatened to organize protests outside the restaurant.

"It's been an incredibly difficult day for our brother, and our entire family. All we ever ask is to be treated fairly and with the same respect to due anyone else. When we are treated poorly because of our chosen occupation, it hurts," the order's president Brad Lemon wrote on Facebook, reports The New York Daily News.

He added, "It's not okay to treat law enforcement poorly. We deserve, and have earned, the same level of respect due to each and every member of society."

Following the backlash, an Olive Garden spokesman released a statement saying, "Law enforcement are always welcome to dine [with] us -- we heart serving them and have great relationships."

The chain's president Dave George also apologized directly to Holsworth.

"What happened with Officer Holsworth was unacceptable and completely inconsistent with how we treat members of law enforcement," Olive Garden spokesperson Rich Jeffers told ABC News. "Police officers are always welcome at Olive Garden. They serve our communities and we love serving them."