After 10 days, numerous phone calls, two emails, and two filed complaints, I received the following fax from Mr. Bacala. Note the total lack of details as to what action if any to my filed complaints had been taken, other than to mention a unit was sent to check the situation.
FAX: 225-621-8323
July 24, 2000"
Dear Mr. Le Mieux,
I received your FAX concerning mud on St. Landry Rd, a few minutes ago. After reviewing the letter, I sent a unit to St. Landry Rd. to check the situation and to take necessary action.
The reason for this letter, however, is to suggest that a different course of action needs to be taken by you if you want an immediate response to an issue. Sending E-mail to my home Internet account will not usually result in a quick response. I may not see it for several days. Also, sending a FAX may not result in an immediate response.
As a matter of fact, I understand that you had some displeasure with me personally recently because no immediate action was taken relative to some Email from you to me. I would like you to know that I was out of town for a week with my family, on vacation, and was not in a position to receive or respond to your messages. For that reason, I feel that your displeasure was unjustified. It certainly was not appreciated.
The way to get an immediate response to an issue is to call our dispatch center and file a report. Over 40,000 calls are taken every year and are given immediate attention by this method. It is the method used by every law enforcement agency in the country to respond immediately to citizen needs. For emergency situations you can call 911 and for non-emergency situations you can call 621-8300.
I hope that this letter helps you to better understand how you can get an immediate response to an issue.
Anthony Bacala, Jr
Chief Deputy
Ascension Parish Sheriff' s Office
And my reply to Mr. Bacala.
July 25, 2000 4:26 PM From: www.inascension.com Fax #: (225) 673-3062 Page 1 of 1
Tuesday,
July 25, 2000
Ascension Parish Sheriff
Tony Bacala
6218323
Chuck Le Mieux
Response
Time: 4:26 PM
Total # of Pages (including cover): 1
Memo:
First< I made a complaint on July 17th, after finding out you were out of town.
Second evidently nothing was done, as when I called to get an update on July 19th your dispatcher, and desk sergeant could not find the report. I then made the complaint again the evening of the 19th.
Third called the 21st and there still wasn't anything in the second report.
Fourth, I was not upset that you were not available. As I stated when I found out you were out of town I went ahead and filed a complaint.
Fifth, 5 days after the fact, and nothing done does in my belief not constitute immediacy.
Sixth, it was your suggestion I use your AOL email as there isn't one available at your office.
And finally I still have absolutely no idea what if anything has been done to get the contractor to remedy the situation. You sent a Fax raising hell with me, but no information on two complaints.
Have a nice day.
If all pages were not received, please call back immediately:(225) 677 -8670
If the other 39,999 calls the Ascension Parish Sheriff Department receives are handled with this so called "immediate attention", then we are in very deep trouble folks.
