Last Wednesday while driving home, I watched our town's fire chief blatantly disregard the traffic lights, pull into the right lane and drive right through the red light with absolutely no regard for traffic in the area all so he could pull into the car dealership. There were no accidents this time around but back in February, while responding to an emergency call, he failed to slow down at an intersection, yeild the right away and smashed not only a tax payer vehicle but the vehicle of another woman (he was fined for his violation). When I got home, I was so mad about a "role model" in our community blatantly disregarding traffic laws and sent a VERY detailed email of what took place to the town manager. He replied to it saying they would investigate it. Yesterday he replied and said it wasn't the fire chief driving it but a mechanic from a local dealership. I am FURIOUS!! They're lying through their teeth to protect their own and so I responded this morning with even more detail. Keen observation skills are critical to the work that I do.... good grief I can even demonstrate how his arm was placed on the steering wheel as he was driving. My husband says to let it go, that it will do no good to continue to fight it (he's concerned if I push it too much it might ruin any opportunity for employment for me), I'm ready to fight to the bitter end because I was in effect called a liar for my detailed recount and in my mind this is poor leadership and a bad role model for those living here. This is the series of emails that were exchanged: Yesterday's response: My reply to that: The town manager has since replied to me saying that the investigation is on going (yesterday it appeared to have been addressed.... changed his story I guess). I am so mad about this!! What would you do? Would you let it go or fight it?
Your husband said to let it go, so I'd let it go. If questioned by authorities, I'd answer honestly, but I wouldn't continue to chase the guy at this point. Keep your eyes peeled for future violations, though.
I would definitely let it go. Personally, I am one of those people who hates injustice and unfairness with a vengeance. My wife, though, has taught me through the years to back off and just let things go. In your example, I'd be the one writing the email and following up. My wife would never have written an email in the first place.
I've been beaten down enough over this whole thing I throw my arms up in the air and give up. Everyone wants the "old me" back.... the person I was before dad died and when I get that little bit of fighting energy in me to fight something I'm told (not by anyone here) to sit down and shut up. I am defeated, I give up
Brenda, honey, I can hear your exasperation over this. I doubt you could win with all the town officials walking lockstep about this situation. I would keep the record of the emails, and keep my eyes open for future infractions by any city cars, and report those when you see any. Being a sharp-eyed citizen is not "giving up"! It's just being prudent at this point not to appear in any way "hysterical" or whatever other words they might come up with against you. You WILL see it again or something like it, with him or another at fault. Come to think of it, I know some folks who might write a letter to the editor of the local paper with a well-worded complaint...
I had thought about writing that letter but it isn't worth the time or effort to be made out to look like a liar when I'm not the one lying about this. He'll continue to run red lights and disobey traffic laws, he'll continue to drive around with a phone stuck to the side of his head (illegal in this province) and many will see it but I won't say another word about it. At some point, he'll smash up another vehicle at the taxpayers expense, I just hope no one is seriously hurt in the process.The town will do what ever they need to do to cover it up (the same way that a police officer was caught and prosecuted for impaired driving, suspended WITH pay and is back on the police force)..... can't wait to move away from here. This isn't the kind of "leadership" the boys need as "role models"
You did the best you could, honey. You did your job. It's the town officials who are not doing theirs.
Keep all these records, and each time you see him do this kind of stuff, record it in a diary. Some day when he kills a child, or some mother their family will need to record to sue him and your city, so they can have enough money for proper burial or life long care when they are seriously handicapped in a car wreck from him.
Right now, all you have is his word against yours...and that's not going to work. What you need is hard evidence. If you really have a bug in your bonnet about stopping this guy, you could always follow him around and videotape him breaking the law. Or, you could actually hire a private investigator to do this for you. Once you have photos, you've got the advantage. Photos can be used in the press, in future court cases, and they can be taken to government superiors. Photos will force the issue....and the appropriate resolution. With photos...and copies of your correspondence, you've got the town manager on the ropes. Either he does something about this guy, or he risks his own reputation and future legal backlash.
I think I'm more hurt at this point that in effect I was called a liar when there is a pattern of his disobedience (whether the first accident was while repsonding to an emergency call or not.... his disregard/accident slowed his own response to a fire... DUH). I'm not going to waste anymore time or effort on him. It hurt like you can't even begin to imagine when I got that email a couple days ago (thank God I knew enough to shut up and not respond to it right away - I was steaming from the ears). It's my word against his and me speaking out isn't going to change his behaviors and it might only serve to hurt me more in the end. Not worth it
I don't mean to sound uncaring or krass. But, to me your feelings being hurt really isn't the point. To me the point is please please keep the records, because to me your feelings being hurt is very small in comparison to this lack of regard to driving safely could and probably will either handicap some one severely for life, or kill some one. Many police officers killed mothers and children in NYC by drinking and driving and blatant disregard to driving safely. Some almost got off the hook of it too, till evidence proved this wasn't a once in a while thing for them, but they had habits of wreck-less driving!
Have you talked to the business who's driver was in question, to see if they would verify that it was their driver? Can you get the name of the mechanic and contact him? I agree with keeping an eye on him, he could certainly hurt somebody, even a child. Make sure your friends and neighbors keep an eye out too. Janice
I let it all go.... not worth the anxety it was causing me (for my observation skills to be called into question and then the town and many others involved basically call me a liar). Some day he'll smash another vehicle because of his lack of concern for the rules of the road.... just hope my family isn't involved in it. At the end of the day, everyone of them will answer to someone for it and can't hide the lies. As for reporting other incidents... not worth the time of day
It looks like you have done your part. As mentioned above, if you are ever questioned about it then definitely tell em like it happened. However, it seems to me that you have done your civic duty already. This is probably a pattern and now you are on record... and when something like this happens again (and it probably will) you will have done your part to make the case for the removal of the reckless offender.
