A Canadian police officer is now offering an apology for threatening drunk driving offenders with Nickelback music.
Constable Robb Hartlen of the Kensington, Prince Edward Island police department is apologizing to the band for saying in a PSA that those who choose to get behind the wheel after having too many drinks would be subject to a fine, criminal charges, a suspended license and listening to Nickelback’s 2001 album.
Hartlen jumped on the ridicule Nickelback bandwagon last month when he wrote the now-deleted Facebook post. He said that he was just trying to be humorous but on Friday, Dec. 2, he decided to pen a lengthy post issuing an apology to the group.
“I am sorry to Chad, Ryan, Mike and Daniel. Not as just members of Nickelback, but more importantly as fellow Canadians,” he wrote. “I’m sorry guys because I didn’t take a moment to think of you AS just guys. Having to watch as media around the world takes a pot shot at you and having no way to defend yourself. I didn’t take a moment to think of your families as news agency after news agency used their loved ones as a punchline.”
TMZ reported that Nickelback didn't find the initial post funny at all and actually asked the police department to take it down prior to Hartlen's mea culpa.
The band enjoyed success in the early 2000s with hits like “How You Remind Me” and sold over 50 million albums worldwide.