It is amazing! If you have been reviewing the different articles on the internet regarding Mike's case, you will find a recent interview that was conducted with the Iowa Prosecutor. In one such interview he comments "He was a police officer who ostensibly is trained how to handle drunken individuals, how to subdue a drunk without beating him senseless," Gallagher said. Well Mr. Gallagher at least you are admitting that Mr. Gothard was  drunk that evening in October 2005. The only problem with your comments Mr. Gallagher, Mike was not acting in the capacity of a Police Officer when he was followed and struck by Jacob Gothard and his 6'08" buddy. Mr. Gallagher you never mention that Jacob Gothard, could have and should have called the Police to get his money for the keg party or  his "not stolen phone" back, then all of this garbage could have been avoided. No Jacob, took the matter into his own hands and was the aggressor, now Mike Mette must pay! Also Mr. Gallagher, with not knowing your past, it is obvious, that you have never had to take on a drunk, who is bigger than you and then attacks you! Well, there are many readers out there, mostly Police Officers who have had some knock down drag out battles with  drunks in their careers. Maybe Mike should have waited for the fourth contact, the fifth contact or maybe waited until, Jacob Gothard pulled a knife out of his pocket, before defending himself! We commend Mike for his constraint! 

In her decision, Dubuque County District Court Judge Monica Ackley agreed with the defense that Mette was not the initial aggressor, but said that the off-duty police officer failed to "retreat from the situation to avoid any problems." Well Judge, Mike, his brother and their friend did retreat! They left Jacob Gothard's house and walked away only to have been chased down by the intoxicated Jacob Gothard, who obviously as you admitted in your written conclusion, was the aggressor. Then you state that you are held by law to send him to jail! What you are held by Judge, is to listen to all the facts, be impartial and rule on the evidence presented in the case. Obviously by your poor decision, you did none of that!

Kudos to Chicago Tribune Columnist John Kass who has written another excellent article on Mike. John on behalf of the Michael Mette Defense Fund, we thank you for your coverage, on reporting the truth and facts in this matter!  We also want to thank ABC7 I-Team reporter Chuck Goudie for his excellent and exclusive, news report on Mike's plight!

7/21/07

Mike, was interviewed on the radio this morning on WIND 560 AM, by Big John Howell and his guest John Kass. Once again Mike was very candid with his reponses. This is exactly what Mike and this cause needs, bringing the true facts out to the public, regarding this injustice! Help us keep people informed, by letting them know about our website!

8/23/07

Mike appeared this morning on WIND 560 AM radio with Big John Howell, who encouraged listeners to donate to the fund and come to the fundraiser tonight at the White Eagle. Thanks Big John, for your coverage and support of Mike's story!

08/21/2007

Mike was interviewed on the Roe Conn show WLS 890 AM. Mike did an excellent job answering Mr. Conn's questions. We want to thank Mr. Conn for allowing Mike to tell his story and once again getting the word out about this terrible injustice! 

7/26/07

If you noticed there is a new link, in the right hand column to an article written and sent to Dubuque County Attorney Ralph Potter. Mr. Potter has written an open letter as he calls it to the citizens of Dubuque as well as the people of Chicago. In it he obviously defends his office with the arrest and conviction of Michael Mette. I responded to Mr. Potter after finding many inconsistencies from his story to that of Judge Ackley's ruling.  As an experienced law enforcement officer I had many questions for Mr. Potter on the initial arrest and the failure to press any charges against Jake Gothard, especially for striking Mike Mette first. It has been our stance from the beginning, that Mike Mette was not the initial aggressor in this incident. Judge Ackley also ruled that he was not the initial aggressor.  If the Dubuque Police had no other choice in the matter with charging Mike, "which we believe they did," then Jake Gothard should have been charged also.

This entire incident would most likely have been avoided had Jake also been charged with Assault in this case. From my experience, at least in our county and state, cross complaints are frowned upon by the prosecutors. The parties involved are considered "mutual combatants," in which case it makes it very difficult for a Judge to rule in favor of one party or the other! With that said,  the case is thrown out, the majority of the time. 

I am not sure that this applies to Dubuque County Iowa, but I can assure you one thing,  that had Jake Gothard been charged with Assault as Mike Mette requested, this case would have a totally different ending and Mike Mette would not be going to jail! I am positive Jake's dad would be pleading to drop the entire case! For those wanting to read Mr. Potter's open letter, you can go to his website or read the story in the Dubuque Herald on line.

There has been a tremendous amount of controversy in this matter. No matter what has been said, we stand firm on our beliefs and we will continue our fight until the only proper justice in this case is reached and that is the complete exoneration and freedom of Mike Mette.

                                Update

On September 19th, 2007 Mike's attorneys filed their briefs for the appeal with the Iowa Attorney General's Office, who will then respond. From there the process should include the assigning of a hearing date with the Appellate Court! We will keep you posted!

Mike's Chicago based attorney's are utilizing the services of Mark McCormick from the law firm of Belin, Lamson, McCormick Zumbach and Flynn, from Des Moines.  Mr. McCormick's impressive bio follows:

I don't know if all of you have seen this photo, but here is a picture worth a thousand words!

Career Chicago Police Detective Bob Mette, during a proud father, son moment, pinning Mike's star on to his uniform! 

Mike, we are not going to standby and allow this Iowa injustice, to tarnish that star, we are going to be with you every step of the way, until  your freedom is gained!

For those who missed it, Mike's story was aired on Anderson Cooper 360 this evening at 9:00 p.m. Mike did an excellent job in the interview. They interviewed prosecutor Gallagher who stated in his opinion that the proper justice was served in this matter. Well Mr. Gallagher, no one in Chicago cares about your opinion, as Mike's days of freedom left diminishes to approximately 30  and Jake Gothard is still out playing golf.  Speaking of poor Jake, his injury photos were shown on Anderson Cooper and there is no doubt in my mind that Mike punched him once in the face, because the bruising was centralized in one area. They showed bruising behind Jake's arm and claimed the injuries were from "stomping". They looked like and could have been marks from the ambulance attendants putting poor Jake on the stretcher. Mr. Gallagher, since Jake was approximately a .27 plus alcohol level, did he fight with those attendants by any chance? We're with you all the way Mike and this battle is not over by any means!

While reviewing the Dubuque Telegraph Herald today, I found an article which I thought all of Mike's supporter's should read. I found the article quite amusing, as I am sure all of you will also. The article was written to announce a new program promoting tourism in the State of Iowa. Several large Iowa cities, including Dubuque have spent their money on 30 second television advertisements, which will be shown on local stations here in Chicago, starting in the spring of 2008.  The ads are to include people singing and laughing while driving to Iowa destinations! How corny is that! The director of the Dubuque Convention and Visitors Bureau states that Chicago is one of our main markets. She added that "people from the outside are in awe". Well I know one thing for sure Ms. Director,  come Monday October 29th, 2007, Bob and Patti Mette along with their daughter Jenny and son Marc will not be singing or laughing as they drive Mike into Iowa enroute to prison! But they will be "awe, just as all of us are, in the fact that the City of Dubuque would allow this terrible miscarriage of justice to occur.

I encourage all of you readers to boycott travel to Iowa as well as boycotting the Colleges of Iowa. We have plenty of great schools of our own here in Illinois. Let's boost our own economy instead of Dubuque's. What happened to Mike could happen to anyone of our children or us!  Mike stay strong, we are still with you, all the way!

               http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=177740