No civility, mutual respect, hospitality and professionalism not only from officer Lindsey Pahl, but especially police Chief Steve Shay and mayor Michael "Mike" Mortimore. Apparently, too many jaded career politicians in it for themselves and forgot about service for the common man.
Officer Pahl clearly demonstrated she preys on non-locals who are unfamiliar with the area to give tickets to. She was very familar with the area and leveraged it to take advantage of visitors who are not. After explanation and evidence of no ill will she stil did not care or consider it. She lacked total empathy and understanding.
I tried complaining to her supervisor Chief Steve Shay and he rudely and disrespectfully hung up the phone on a complainant's and civilian's face! Like a brute, before hanging up, he repeatedly tried to talk over and interrupt the issue the complainant was bringing to his attention about his subordinate. He didn't want to hear it. If that's not a clear representation of a potential level of bias, corruption, complicity, accomplicity, groupthink, blue wall of silence, blue code, blue shield and protection of wrongdoing/wrongdoers, then this gives this town a bad name. No apology or return call was ever given.
I then proceeded to complain about Shay and Pahl to the Mayor Michael "Mike" Mortimore about this complete lack of civility. And guess what? The mayor blindly felt nothing was wrong. Mike even listened to the recorded call but felt nothing was wrong (in terms of respect for citizens, professionalism, civility, cordiality or even impartialness for the image of Thermopolis). The mayor as well showed a lack of professionalism, civility, representation and a crude impression of the town. The mayor even ended up threatening to do the same (hanging up the phone in a person's face). And had the audacity to blame me 100% before admitting that he himself has done the same as I with officer Pahl and he is also far from perfect. This mayor and some police staff have little to no empathy, communication or people skills to bridge a gap with the community I see. The mayor unpleasantly ridiculed me for my complaint, this has become less about the officer and more about the town's hospitality, cordialness and reputation.
Just for good measure to see if this was a structural/cultural problem with the town and not a few individuals/bad apples, I then raised the issue to city council. It amused me that the city attorney, not a town council member, then responded by being completely defensive and at some points offensive. I think it shows the level of potential corruption and bias in the Thermompolis system from the top-down. The appropriate or better response would be at the minimum is to acknowledge the wrongs that Sherriff Shay and the Mayor did when communicating with civilians. As if to say they didn't do anything wrong, handled things perfectly or couldn't have done things better. That is pure arrogance.
I feel officers and city officials should be mutually respectful, polite, cordial, hospitable and empathetic to civilians/citizens. Especially out of towners (who have never visited) looking for a good first impression of Thermopolis. Maybe they are just the career politicians people talk about and forgot about what it is to serve the people, I guess.
Never plan to go back and don't recommend it to out-of-towners. Many officials are too narrow-minded. This lack of insight and view of the big picture left a very negative impression of Thermopolis. Although, I know not everyone there can be like this. I still believe I met many bad apples and it's not the entire batch. If you live there and still believe in cordiality and respect for your common man, move out as soon as you can or change them from within! Don't let them pollute you. read more