Mike Mette Is Back In His Police Uniform!

Chicago, IL—Second City Cop is reporting that Chicago police officer Mike Mette who is fresh out of that Iowa prison has been attending classes at the academy. That means he was given his star, shield ID card and new pile of training materials.

Mette is in what’s called a retread (as in used rubber tires) class held for officers who have been off for extended periods such as leaves of absence. I can’t think of another similar case where an officer was convicted of a crime, sent to prison and later cleared on appeal going back to work.

This training covers new laws and departmental rules and procedures and requalification on the firing range. Soon a personnel order will be cut sending him to his permanent assignment. It remains to be seen if he returns to Fillmore (011) or is sent elsewhere.

Crimefile wishes Mette the assignment of his choice and some much needed privacy to continue his life. Mette is going to discover the department has changed a lot since he last worked the mean streets. Stay safe Mike...

Chicago Cop Freed From Prison In Iowa Injustice By Appellate Court Panel

Des Moines, IA—The Iowa Court of Appeals has ruled on the controversial case of Chicago police officer Michael Mette. Mette has been serving hard time in Iowa’s prison system. So far Mette has been behind bars for nearly an entire year.

It was on October 8th 2005, Chicago police officer Michael Mette of the Fillmore District was attacked by a Dubuque college student, 20-year-old Jake Gothard while attending a birthday celebration at his brother’s home. Before it was over, officer Mette was arrested, prosecuted, convicted and has been serving a mandatory five-year Iowa prison term.

The problem with the conviction is that Mette’s action came as a result of pure self-defense to avoid injury from an assault by the drunken Gothard. The assault was compounded by the findings by a lower court judge who convicted Mette despite strong evidence that there was no crime.

While in prison Mette complained of abdominal pain and was refused medical treatment. Mette had appendicitis and finally his condition became life threatening and he had to have a portion his bowels removed in emergency surgery.

The case has proven to be an outrage that has mobilized Mette’s fellow officers, Mayor Daley and Chicago’s police superintendent Jody Weiss to seek Mette’s release from this unjust conviction.

With the reversal of the conviction Mette should be able to return to duty as a Chicago police officer without delay. I suspect that he should be getting back pay for the work he’s missed while in prison. I know that Mette’s fellow officers will welcome him with open arms.

The sad part of this story is Michael Mette and his family will never get back that year of his life wasted by an unjust conviction. This is at best a bittersweet conclusion to a frightening and sad story.

So far prosecutors have not said if they plan to take their case to the Iowa Supreme Court. They have 20 days to do so. I would expect a fairly quick release of Mette from prison as a result of a yet to be entered lower court order.

Here is a copy of today’s ruling by the Court of Appeals:

Mette - Upload a Document to Scribd

J-Fed Earned Some Serious Credibility With Chicago Cops.

Chicago, IL—It was October 8th 2005 when Chicago police officer Michael Mette of the Fillmore District was attacked by a Dubuque college student, 20-year-old Jake Gothard while attending a birthday celebration at his brother’s home. Before it was over this week, officer Mette was arrested, prosecuted, convicted and now faces a mandatory five-year Iowa prison term.

Iowa justice is beyond strange because at a Dubuque County Court bench trial the judge, Judge Monica Ackley found that Chicago Police Officer Mette "was not the initial aggressor of this incident," Jake Gothard was. Astonishingly, Judge Ackley ruled that Mette was guilty, because even after Gothard struck him three times, Mette should have just ignored it and retreated.

Officer Mette's infamous felony crime was to punch the 6 foot, 2 inch tall Gothard once in self-defense knocking him out. Gothard has demonstrated his inability to hold his liquor landing on local court dockets on a regular basis. Mette has been serving hard time in an Iowa prison while he appeals that dubious conviction to the Iowa Supreme Court.

Cook County State's Attorney Richard Devine, Chicago Police Superintend Jody Weis and other officials have stood up for Mette by requesting a Pardon from Iowa Governor Culver.

Let’s hope the Iowa Supreme Court sees the error of Judge Ackley’s verdict and findings. If the Iowa Supreme Court does the right thing or a Pardon is granted I hope to see Mike Mette back in his Chicago police uniform soon.

As for J-Fed He still has to mend some fences in order to lead the department, but this is a big step in the right direction.