kansas city chiefs travel coffee mug

Guide to Collectible Mugs/Starbucks City Mugs

Starbucks City Mugs are collectible souvenir coffee mugs available from Starbucks coffee stores worldwide. The mugs first appeared on shelves in 1994.

• 2 CITY RELIEF MUGS
• 3 Countries & Cities Starbucks Mug Series
• 4 2006 Architecture Series List
• 5 Interesting Notes

Styles [ edit | edit source ]

Although there is no official classification, the following different styles or editions have been or are being produced.

City, State, and Country Mugs

94 Collectors Series: The first edition of Starbucks City mugs, available with motifs from all over the world.

94 Collectors Series Mini Mugs: Demitasse/Espresso size mugs

97 States of Bean Mugs: Colorful motifs from several U.S. states.

98/99 Collage Series: Colored Photos with typical images from over 30 American cities and 4 states.

02 Skyline Series: Display city skylines, typically blue on white.

02 Skyline Mini Series: Demitasse/espresso size. Display city skylines, typically blue on white.

02 Skyline Series Giant Mugs Released in a very limited edition to only the highest volume stores and display city skylines similar to the 20 oz counterparts. 'The Skyline Giants' have a 2.5-gallon capacity.

02 USA Scenic Series Often considered a limited edition, 4-mug extension of the Skyline Series. Displays the American Flag, Mount Rushmore, Statue of Liberty and Iwo Jima Memorial.

02 Italian Romance Series: Same style as 94 Collectors Series, sold in US as tribute to Italian coffee culture.

04 City Scenes: Black-and-white pictures with landmarks from several cities in the United States and Canada.

04 Art Deco Style: Similar to the '04 City Scenes, these mugs feature an art deco style and were only released in four U.S. cities.

05 Photo Series: Unique style motifs from the United Kingdom and Ireland.

06 US/Canada Architecture Series: City skylines, purple/blue on white, with city facts on the backside of the mug.

06 US/Canada Architecture Mini Series

' 07 Park Series: These mugs feature motifs from several city parks and national parks in the United States and Canada.

08 Icon Series: These mugs are replacing the original City Mugs all over the World. Started in June 2008 in China (for the Olympic Games), now also spread to other countries all over the world.

08 Icon Mini Series: Same as the Icon Series, but smaller (3oz). Not all cities who do have an Icon Mug also have a Mini Mug.

13 You Are Here Series: The newest serie of mugs. In Canada and in the USA these mugs are replacing the 08 Icon Series.

18 Been there Series: In Canada and in the USA these mugs are replacing the 13 YAH Series since June 2018.

Non City Mugs

Japan Series: A series of colorful mugs from several Japanese cities as well as one "Japan Country Mug" per year since 2002.

Asian Artsy Design Mugs: These mugs have intricate designs mainly from Japan, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Coffee Origin Mugs: Dedicated to the countries and regions where Starbucks buys coffee beans, including places such as Guatemala and Sulawesi.

Coffee Blend Mugs: Dedicated to various popular coffee blends such as Caffe Verona.

Christmas Mugs: This would be all Christmas/ Hannukah/ Kwanza mugs.

Miscellaneous Holiday Mugs: All other holiday mugs (Easter, Valentine's, Thanksgiving, etc.)

Holiday Ornaments: All of the miniature ornaments that include tiny mugs (not to be confused with the demitasse)

Starbucks Anniversary Mugs: Released to celebrate the inauguration of Starbucks in a country/ city.

Miscellaneous Mini Mugs: Smaller versions of some regular-sized mugs, and a typical size for a single espresso.

Tasting Cups: Two ounce cups that don't have handles

Icon Tumblers

Other City Tumblers

Non City Tumblers

CITY RELIEF MUGS [ edit | edit source ]

NO. OF CITY RELIEF MUG SERIES: 129

AUSTRALIA: (3)

• Brisbane Green Christmas
• Melbourne Green Christmas
• Sydney Green Christmas

BOLIVIA: (2)

• Santa Cruz de la Sierra (2)

BRUNEI: (1)

CHINA: (25)

• Beijing Blue
• Beijing Gold Christmas
• Beijing Green Christmas
• Changsha Blue
• Chengdu Blue
• Chengdu Gold Christmas
• Chengdu Green Christmas
• Chongqing Blue
• Dongguan Blue
• Guangzhou Blue
• Guangzhou Gold Christmas
• Guangzhou Green Christmas
• Hangzhou Blue
• Kunming Blue
• Nanjing Blue
• Nanning Blue
• Ningbo Blue
• Qingdao Blue
• Shanghai Blue 1
• Shanghai Blue 2
• Shanghai Gold Christmas
• Shanghai Red Christmas
• Shanghai Green Christmas
• Shenzhen Blue
• Shenzhen Green Christmas
• Suzhou Blue
• Tianjin Blue
• Xiamen Blue

CZECH REPUBLIC: (3)

• Prague Gold Christmas
• Prague Green Christmas

ENGLAND: (4)

• London Red Christmas
• London Gold Christmas
• London Green Christmas

FRANCE: (8)

• Paris Red Christmas
• Paris Gold Christmas
• Paris Green Christmas

GERMANY: (4)

• Berlin Red Christmas
• Berlin Gold Christmas
• Berlin Green Christmas

HONG KONG: (4)

• Hong Kong Red Christmas
• Hong Kong Gold Christmas
• Hong Kong Green Christmas
• Macau Green Christmas

MALAYSIA: (12)

• Kuala Lumpur
• Kuala Lumpur Gold Christmas
• Kuala Lumpur Green Christmas

NETHERLANDS: (3)

• Amsterdam Gold Christmas
• Amsterdam Green Christmas

NEW ZEALAND: (2)

PHILIPPINES: (8)

• Manila Green Christmas
• Manila Red Christmas
• Philippines
• Philippines Red Chritmas
• Philippines Green Christmas

RUSSIA: (4)

• Moscow Gold Christmas
• Moscow Green Christmas
• St. Petersburg

SINGAPORE: (3)

• Singapore Gold Christmas
• Singapore Green Christmas

SOUTH KOREA: (8)

• Busan Gold Christmas
• Jeju Gold Christmas
• Seoul Red Christmas
• Seoul Gold Christmas

SWITZERLAND: (1)

• Zurich Green Christmas

TAIWAN: (21)

• Hsinchu Gold Christmas
• Hsinchu Green Christmas
• Kaohsiung Gold Christmas
• Kaohsiung Green Christmas
• Taichung Gold Christmas
• Taichung Green Christmas
• Tainan Gold Christmas
• Tainan Green Christmas
• Taipei Red Christmas
• Taipei Gold Christmas
• Taipei Green Christmas
• Taiwan Red Christmas
• Taiwan Green Christmas
• Taoyuan Green Christmas

THAILAND: (3)

• Bangkok Green Christmas

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: (6)

• Los Angeles
• San Francisco

BLACK RELIEF (44)

BLUE RELIEF (20)

RED RELIEF (8)

GOLD RELIEF (21)

GREEN RELIEF (28)

Countries & Cities Starbucks Mug Series [ edit | edit source ]

• Buenos Aires
• Vienna (DISCONTINUED)
• Austria (Christmas version)

THE BAHAMAS

• Bahrain -Pearl Monument (DISCONTINUED)
• Bahrain -Dhow
• Belgium (Christmas version)
• Rio de Janeiro
• São Paulo (NOT AVAILABLE SINCE SEPTEMBER 2015, ONLY SMALL VARIANT)
• Belo Horizonte
• Florianópolis
• Porto Alegre
• Phnom Penh small
• Siem Reap small
• Sihanoukville
• Banff (DISCONTINUED)
• Calgary (DISCONTINUED)
• Canada (DISCONTINUED)
• Edmonton (DISCONTINUED)
• Montréal (DISCONTINUED)
• Niagara Falls (DISCONTINUED)
• Quebec (DISCONTINUED)
• Toronto (DISCONTINUED)
• Vancouver (DISCONTINUED)
• Vancouver Island (DISCONTINUED)
• Whistler (DISCONTINUED)
• Montréal (1)
• Montréal (2)
• Niagara Falls
• Vancouver Island
• Atlantic Canada
• Saskatchewan
• Chile I- Rapa Nui(DISCONTINUED)
• You Are Here Series (NONE)
• Qinhuangdao
• Shijiazhuang
• Hong Kong Disneyland
• Zhangjiajie
• Hong Kong (small version)
• Macau (small version)
• China (Christmas version)
• Hangzou (Christmas version)
• Hong Kong (Christmas version)
• Macau (Christmas version)
• Nanjing (Christmas version)
• Shanghai (Christmas version)

CROATIA (No Starbucks, but 2 Prototype mugs exist)

• Cyprus (Christmas version)

CZECH REPUBLIC

• Czech Republic
• Karlovy Vary
• Prague (1 Red) (2016.09)
• Prague (2 Blue) (2018.01)
• Prague (small version)
• Czech Republic (Christmas version)
• Prague (Christmas version 1)
• Prague (Christmas version 2)

EL SALVADOR

• El Salvador
• Sharm El Sheikh (DISCONTINUED)
• Egypt (Christmas version)
• London I -Big Ben and Tower Bridge (DISCONTINUED)
• London II-Double Decker Bus
• England I-Coat of Arms Seal (DISCONTINUED)
• England II-William Shakespeare (DISCONTINUED)
• England III-Stonehenge
• Newcastle Upon Tyne
• England (Christmas version)
• London (Christmas version 1)
• London (Christmas version 2)
• London (Christmas glass version)
• Paris I-Tour Eiffel (DISCONTINUED)
• Paris II-Arc de Triomphe (DISCONTINUED)
• Disneyland Paris (1)
• Disneyland Paris (2)
• Disneyland Paris Avengers Campus
• Montpellier
• Parc Walt Disney Studios
• Paris Ornament (small)
• France (Christmas version)
• Paris (Christmas version 1)
• Paris (Christmas version 2)
• Paris (Christmas glass version)
• Berlin -Baer I (DISCONTINUED)
• Berlin -Baer II
• Braunschweig
• Frankfurt (am Main)
• Germany I-Brandenburg Gate
• Germany II-Neuschwanstein Castle
• Karneval I (2015 DISCONTINUED)
• Karneval II (2016)
• Oktoberfest I-Pretzel (2011 DISCONTINUED)
• Oktoberfest II-Gingerbread heart (2014 DISCONTINUED)
• Oktoberfest III-Dirndl and Lederhosen (2015 DISCONTINUED)
• Oktoberfest IV- Giant Wheel & Krinoline (2016 DISCONTINUED)
• Oktoberfest V- (2017)
• Saarbrücken
• Spangdahlem
• Germany Ornament (small)
• Oktoberfest (2019)
• Oktoberfest (2023)
• Berlin (Christmas version 1)
• Berlin (Christmas version 2)
• Germany (Christmas version)
• Corfu (DISCONTINUED)
• Thessaloniki
• Greece (Christmas version)
• Budapest (1 Yellow) (2016.11)
• Budapest (2 Blue) (2018.01)
• Hungary (Christmas version)
• Ireland (Christmas version)
• Italy (Christmas version)
• Osaka (DISCONTINUED)
• Sapporo (DISCONTINUED)
• Tokyo (DISCONTINUED)
• Japan (Winter edition)
• Japan (Spring edition)
• Japan (Summer edition)
• Japan (Fall edition)
• Kuwait National Day 2020
• Lebanon (Christmas version)
• Luxembourg (Christmas version)
• Kuala Lumpur I (DISCONTINUED)
• Kuala Lumpur II
• Malaysia I (DISCONTINUED)
• Malaysia II
• Penang (DISCONTINUED)
• Sabah (DISCONTINUED)
• Cameron Highlands
• Genting Highland
• Malta (Christmas version)
• Cancun I -Playa Caracol (DISCONTINUED)
• Chihuahua -Angel de la Libertad (DISCONTINUED)
• Ciudad de Mexico
• Culiacán -Torre del Reloj (DISCONTINUED)
• Guadalajara -Minerva Statue (DISCONTINUED)
• Guadalajara II
• Guanajuato I -Teatro Juarez (DISCONTINUED)
• Guanajuato II
• Ensenada -Grey Whale's Tail
• Los Cabos I (yellow) (DISCONTINUED)
• Los Cabos II
• Monterrey -Fountain of Life (DISCONTINUED)
• Playa del Carmen
• Puerto Vallarta I -Malecon Seahorse (DISCONTINUED)
• Puerto Vallarta II
• San Miguel de Allende
• Villahermosa
• Zacatecas -El Cubo Aqueduct (DISCONTINUED)

THE NETHERLANDS

• Amsterdam I-Brouwersgracht (DISCONTINUED)
• Amsterdam II-Rijksmuseum
• Netherlands
• Nijmegen I (DISCONTINUED)
• Nijmegen II (correct bridge)
• Amsterdam (Christmas version)
• Amsterdam (Christmas glass version)
• Netherlands (Christmas version)

NEW ZEALAND

• New Zealand
• North Island (no longer available since Dec.2010 // only as mini)
• South Island (no longer available since Dec.2010 // only as mini)

NORTHERN IRELAND

• Northern Ireland

PHILIPPINES

• Baguio (DISCONTINUED)
• Boracay (DISCONTINUED)
• Cagayan De Oro
• Cebu (DISCONTINUED)
• General Santos City
• Manila~Jeepney (DISCONTINUED)
• Manila II~Kalesa
• Philippines (DISCONTINUED)
• Philippines II~Waling Waling
• Quezon City
• Cagayan de Oro
• Cebu (Christmas version 1)
• Cebu (Christmas version 2)
• Cebu (Christmas version 3)
• Manila (Christmas version 1)
• Manila (Christmas version 2)
• Manila (Christmas version 3)
• Philippines (Christmas version 1)
• Philippines (Christmas version 2)
• Philippines (Christmas version 3)
• Poland (Christmas version)
• Lisbon (DISCONTINUED)
• Portugal-Carrack (NO cross on sail) version 1 (DISCONTINUED)
• Portugal-Carrack (WITH cross on sail) version 2
• Portugal (Christmas version)

PUERTO RICO

• Puerto Rico
• Qatar I -Aspire Tower (DISCONTINUED)
• Qatar II -Arabian Oryx
• Cluj-Napoca
• Romania (Christmas version)
• Krasnodar I (DISCONTINUED)
• Krasnodar II
• Novosibirsk (store not opened yet)
• Rostov-on-Don
• Sochi I (DISCONTINUED)
• St. Petersburg I (DISCONTINUED)
• St. Petersburg II
• Yekaterinburg
• Moscow (Christmas version 1)
• Moscow (Christmas version 2)

SAUDI ARABIA

• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Scotland (Christmas version)
• Singapore -Merlion-brown (DISCONTINUED)
• Singapore -Orchid-blue (DISCONTINUED)
• Singapore -Merlion-red (DISCONTINUED)
• Singapore -Raffles-orange (DISCONTINUED)
• Singapore (1)
• Singapore (2)
• Singapore (Christmas version)

SOUTH AFRICA

• South Africa
• Johannesburg

SOUTH KOREA

• Korea(DISCONTINUED)
• Seoul(DISCONTINUED)
• Barcelona (DISCONTINUED)
• Madrid (DISCONTINUED)
• Sevilla (Spanish, latest)
• Seville (English, previous)
• Balearic Islands
• Canary Islands
• Madrid (Christmas version)
• Spain (Christmas version)
• Stockholm (Christmas version)
• Sweden (Christmas version)

SWITZERLAND

• Switzerland I-Edelweiss (DISCONTINUED)
• Switzerland II-Mountain Chalet
• Switzerland
• Switzerland (Christmas version)
• Kaohsiung (DISCONTINUED)
• Taichung (DISCONTINUED)
• Tainan (DISCONTINUED)
• Taipei (DISCONTINUED)
• Taiwan (DISCONTINUED)
• Taipei (Christmas version)
• Taiwan (Christmas version)
• Bangkok (small version)
• Chiangmai (small version)
• Pattaya (small version)
• Phuket (small version)
• Samui (small version)
• Thailand (small version)
• Thailand (christmas version)

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

• Trinidad and Tobago
• Istanbul (christmas version 1)
• Istanbul (christmas version 2)
• Turkey (christmas version)

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

• United Arab Emirates
• Dubai(DISCONTINUED)
• Sharjah (DISCONTINUED)
• Ras Al Khaimah
• United Arab Emirates National Day 2019
• United Arab Emirates (Christmas version)

UNITED STATES of AMERICA

• Alaska (DISCONTINUED)
• Arizona (DISCONTINUED)
• Atlanta (DISCONTINUED)
• Austin (DISCONTINUED)
• Boston (DISCONTINUED)
• California (DISCONTINUED)
• Charlotte (DISCONTINUED)
• Chicago (DISCONTINUED)
• Cleveland (DISCONTINUED)
• Colorado (DISCONTINUED)
• Dallas (DISCONTINUED)
• Denver (DISCONTINUED)
• Detroit (DISCONTINUED)
• Florida (DISCONTINUED)
• Fort Worth (DISCONTINUED)
• Hamptons (DISCONTINUED)
• Hawaii (DISCONTINUED)
• Houston (DISCONTINUED)
• Indianapolis (DISCONTINUED)
• Jacksonville (DISCONTINUED)
• Lake Tahoe (DISCONTINUED)
• Las Vegas (DISCONTINUED)
• Los Angeles (DISCONTINUED)
• Memphis (DISCONTINUED)
• Miami (DISCONTINUED)
• Nashville (DISCONTINUED)
• New Mexico (DISCONTINUED)
• New Orleans (DISCONTINUED)
• New York (DISCONTINUED)
• North Carolina (DISCONTINUED)
• Ohio (DISCONTINUED)
• Orange County (DISCONTINUED)
• Orlando (DISCONTINUED)
• Philadelphia (DISCONTINUED)
• Phoenix (DISCONTINUED)
• Pike Place Market (DISCONTINUED)
• Pittsburgh (DISCONTINUED)
• Portland (DISCONTINUED)
• Sacramento (DISCONTINUED)
• San Antonio (DISCONTINUED)
• San Diego (DISCONTINUED)
• San Francisco (DISCONTINUED)
• Seattle I -Mt. Rainier (DISCONTINUED)
• Seattle II -Ferry boat (DISCONTINUED)
• St. Louis (DISCONTINUED)
• Tampa (DISCONTINUED)
• Twin Cities (DISCONTINUED)
• Utah (DISCONTINUED)
• Waikiki (DISCONTINUED)
• Washington D.C. (DISCONTINUED)
• Disneyland (1)
• Disneyland (2)
• Disneyland (3)
• Disneyland (4)
• Disney's Animal Kingdom (1)
• Disney's Animal Kingdom (2)
• Disney California Adventure (1)
• Disney California Adventure (2)
• Disney's Hollywood Studios (1)
• Disney's Hollywood Studios (2)
• Disney's Hollywood Studios (3)
• Magic Kingdom (1)
• Magic Kingdom (2)
• Magic Kingdom (3)
• Indianapolis
• Kansas City
• New Orleans
• North Carolina
• Orange County
• Philadelphia
• Pike Place Market
• San Antonio
• The Hamptons
• Twin Cities
• Universal Hollywood
• Universal Orlando
• Washington D.C.
• Wisconsin (1)
• Wisconsin (2)
• Hawaii (Christmas version)
• Pike Place Market (Christmas version)
• Universal Studios Hollywood
• Connecticut
• Universal Orlando Resort
• Disney’s Magic Kingdom
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Disney’s Epcot
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• The Florida Keys
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• New York City
• North Dakota
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• West Virginia
• Viet Nam version I (without 2nd country name "Viet Nam" on backside) (DISCONTINUED)
• Viet Nam version II (with 2nd country name "Viet Nam" on backside)
• Ho Chi Minh City
• Ba Na Hills

2006 Architecture Series List [ edit | edit source ]

• Atlantic City
• Canada "Maple Leaf"
• Canada "True North"
• Chicago (mini)
• Chicago Holiday(Magnificent Mile)
• Fort Lauderdale
• Jacksonville
• Las Vegas (mini)
• Los Angeles (mini)
• Miami Beach
• New York (mini)
• New York Holiday (Rockefeller Center)
• Palm Springs
• Pike Place (mini)
• San Diego (mini)
• San Francisco (mini)
• San Francisco Holiday(Union Square)
• Seattle (mini)
• Starbucks Support Center
• Washington D.C. (mini)
• West Palm Beach

Interesting Notes [ edit | edit source ]

• Minneapolis/St.Paul mug 1994 edition sold on eBay for $2,020.00
• North Island mug 2008 Global Icon Series sold on eBay for about $6,000.00
• The original release Colorado architect mug erroneously listed the elevation of Mt. Elbert (one of Colorado's 14k ft. peaks) as 1,441 feet. This was later corrected but you will occasionally run across one of the rare originals with the error.

• Book:Guide to Collectible Mugs

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2 Adults Charged with Murder Days After Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Parade Shooting

Authorities announced felony charges against Dominic M. Miller and Lyndell Mays days after announcing charges against two teenagers

 Jamie Squire/Getty

Two adults have been charged with murder following last week’s deadly mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs parade celebrating the team's Super Bowl victory.

Dominic M. Miller of Kansas City, Mo., and Lyndell Mays of Rayton, Mo., were each charged with second-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced Tuesday. 

Miller is 18 or 19 years old, according to local KMBC . Mays is 23. The two men are both being held on $1 million bond. 

Their arrests come days after authorities announced that two teenagers were charged with gun-related and resisting arrest charges in connection with the shooting, according to The Associated Press . The shooting injured 22 people and killed Lisa Lopez-Galvan , a mother of two and a radio DJ for local KKFI 90.1 FM. More than half of the 22 people shot were under the age of 16.

The two juveniles may possibly face trial as adults given the circumstances, KMBC reported.

It's not immediately clear if any of the suspects have entered pleas or retained attorneys. The shooting took place last Wednesday when “a verbal altercation occurred and gunfire broke out with no regard for thousands of other individuals in the area,” Baker said in a news release announcing the charges.

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty 

At a press conference Tuesday, Baker broke down the alleged series of events that led to the shooting. 

“From the evidence, it appears that [Mays] was in a verbal argument with another individual,” Baker alleged, clarifying that Mays didn’t know the individual beforehand.

“That argument very quickly escalated to Mays drawing his firearm, a handgun,” Baker alleged. “Mays pulled his handgun first. Almost immediately, others pulled their firearms. Defendant Miller was one of those individuals. While both adults are charged with murder, the evidence tells us that it was Mr. Miller’s firearm [that] struck Lisa Lopez-Galvan.”

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for  PEOPLE's  free True Crime newsletter  for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves described the men’s alleged actions as “reckless” when she spoke at Tuesday’s press conference, and the city’s mayor Quinton Lucas said “consequences must be swift, certain, and severe.”

Baker said “this investigation is still very, very active and ongoing” and continued to ask for anyone injured while trying to flee the shooting to reach out to investigators.

“We seek to hold every shooter accountable for their actions on that day,” Baker said. “Every single one.”

Nick Wagner/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty

Members of the Kansas City Chiefs have since spoken out about last week’s deadly shooting. Travis Kelce called the mass shooting “deeply tragic” this week and donated $100,000 to two girls who were shot and recovering, while Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany Mahomes visited several children in the hospital last week.

“Just like #ChiefsKingdom has always been there for me and my family, we want to be there for them,” Mahomes, 28, tweeted last week, announcing an emergency response fund to help victims and their families pay for their recovery. More than $860,000 had been raised as of Tuesday afternoon.

Related Articles

• St. Petersburg

Did coffee mug photo lead to St. Petersburg fire chief’s retirement?

• Colleen Wright Times staff

It was Christmas Day, a few months after the St. Petersburg mayor cleared Fire Rescue Chief James Large of hostile workplace allegations, when the chief’s daughter posted a photo to social media.

It showed her father grinning and holding a coffee mug that read: “Go ahead, call HR.”

A screen grab of the photo was emailed that day to Mayor Ken Welch, his chief of staff and all City Council members. On Jan. 18 — 23 days after the photo was taken, posted and distributed — the city announced that Large would retire in March after 50 years with the department.

Not amused by the coffee mug was Michelle Methot, who publicly accused Large of fostering a hostile workplace, only to have her complaint dismissed by city officials last year. She said she took the photo personally.

“I’m the only person who ended up going to (Human Resources),” she told the Tampa Bay Times. “Who else is it directed at?”

During his annual address Tuesday, Welch had only good things to say about Large and his “long list of accomplishments.”

“Thank you, Chief Large, for your lifetime of service and commitment to public safety,” Welch told the crowd. “We wish you and your family all the best in your future endeavors.”

Minutes after Welch’s remarks, the mayor was asked by the Times about the coffee mug photo and if it hastened Large’s retirement announcement.

Welch replied: “Well, I’ll tell you. I was not happy with it.”

While Welch said the city’s Human Resources Department told him the photo was not in violation of any rules, the mayor did say that it was in “poor judgment” and that he told Large that, too.

“Certainly, you don’t want that on social media,” Welch said. “And it doesn’t send the right message.”

Asked if he had asked Large to retire, Welch said he and Large had discussions about Large’s retirement “going back several months.” Welch said he was “comfortable” with Large retiring March 1.

Conditions of Large’s departure, however, suggest the fire chief was pushed out.

City spokesperson Erica Riggins said Large is eligible for a base severance package of $52,000, as well as a payout of $21,670 in unused sick leave, on top of the monthly pension he has been collecting for nearly 20 years while continuing to work for the fire department. According to city policy, administrative management employees are eligible for severance if they either resign or retire at the mayor’s request, or if their position was eliminated or changed. Employees terminated for misconduct are ineligible for severance pay.

When asked by the Times about the photo, Large declined to comment. It was publicly posted using a temporary feature on Instagram by Large’s daughter, a doctoral student, with the caption, “if you know, you frickin know” and a laughing emoji.

“Once again, a non-issue (is) being made into a self-serving issue by certain parties,” said Large’s attorney, Jay Hebert. “We stand by Chief Large and his 50 years of exemplary service to this great city and the members of the St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue Department.”

But the photo made it difficult for City Hall to move on from nagging questions about Large’s conduct. Large was placed on administrative leave by the mayor last year after he was accused of fostering a workplace environment hostile to women and minorities. Until then, Large had no disciplinary records in his file.

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The Times subsequently interviewed seven firefighters who described inappropriate interactions and comments from Large and others in the department, including racist and sexist jokes. Each employee said the encounters created a hostile workplace.

Methot, the lone firefighter who allowed her name to be used for the story, told the Times that Large showed photos of her before she was hired, disciplined her more harshly than her male supervisor who missed the same exam after coming back from paternity leave and falsely accused her of abusing sick leave after a 2018 miscarriage. In August, she filed a complaint with Human Resources. That department determined it to be unfounded.

Large, however, was counseled in writing by the mayor in an October memo about the inappropriateness of a joke the chief made to a witness in Methot’s case: “What does one saggy tit say to another? We need support or they will think we are nuts.”

Methot said when she called to complain about the social media post on Dec. 29, Human Resources told her it was “clear targeting” and that department officials were “working through it.” Later, she said she was told by Human Resources that there was no way to prove Large had malicious intent.

Methot posted a screenshot of the photo on her Facebook page and wrote that Large had “mocked” her. City Council chairperson Deborah Figgs-Sanders said when she saw Methot’s post, “It kind of raised a level of sensitivity for me. At someone else’s expense, I thought it was in poor taste.”

The email of the mug photo was sent to the mayor and City Council from the same email address that in July circulated negative comments made about Large as part of an anonymous employee survey to City Council members. The subject of the Dec. 25 email read “Merry Christmas from Fire Chief Large.” The email text said: “Our firefighters deserve better.”

In August, council members proposed hiring a consultant to do a management and culture evaluation of the fire department. The City Council voted 5-0 on Thursday to negotiate with an outside firm, which has proposed doing the analysis for $103,000.

Two council members, Richie Floyd and Brandi Gabbard, had called for new leadership at the fire department when the hostile workplace allegations surfaced. Gabbard said she believed the employees’ accusations because of her own experiences with Large. Floyd and Gabbard later faced calls to resign from some in the public because the city charter bars council members from “directly or indirectly” calling for the appointment or removal of a city employee.

“The photo speaks for itself,” Gabbard wrote in a text. “I continue to be faithfully committed to the men and women of St. Pete Fire and Rescue and support them through this time of opportunity for the department.” Floyd declined to comment.

Copley Gerdes, the council vice chairperson, said he brought up the photo of Large in an already scheduled one-on-one conversation with Welch.

“I considered it poor judgment and left it there. It’s not my intention to meddle,” Gerdes said. He added that when Welch called to let him know of Large’s retirement, the photo was not part of that conversation.

Council member Gina Driscoll said she didn’t see the photo as a city issue since it was not posted by a city employee and it was not done on city time. She said it seemed like an inside family joke that a family member posted.

“Whether or not that was good judgment on their part, I’ll let them decide,” Driscoll said, adding that she was glad Methot spoke up and filed a complaint if she felt it was targeting her.

Esther Matthews, president of the St. Petersburg branch of the NAACP, called for Large’s termination in August. She said Tuesday night that she had seen the photo of Large with the mug and spoke to Welch about it. She said she believed the matter was “handled internally.”

“I’m excited to hear he is retiring,” Matthews said. “We should not have allowed voluntary retirement.”

After Welch cleared Large of wrongdoing, Matthews said the NAACP branch would work with the city’s chief equity officer to develop a “fire department action plan” to address a disparity in promotions, which Welch also mentioned in a video to employees in which he announced he was clearing Large of misconduct. Matthews said Tuesday night that none of that work has been done.

Riggins, the city spokesperson, said Large was able to first draw his pension in 2004 after becoming eligible for the state’s Deferred Retirement Option Program, which allows employees to receive retirement benefits while continuing to work. Per the state’s rules, Large retired before he was rehired as fire chief in 2006.

Riggins said Large has been receiving a monthly pension of $7,542 since Feb. 28, 2004. That’s on top of Large’s current annual salary of $225,359, which increased from the $210,375 he was making last August. Riggins said Large will not receive a new pension.

Colleen Wright is a reporter covering St. Petersburg. She can be reached at [email protected].

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