About a year ago, Atherton cop Pilar Buckley took home $250,000 by filing a lawsuit. No real opposition to the lawsuit was made by Atherton. A quick settlement was reached to compensate this police officer from the horrible wrong she suffered by being told she was sexy by a co-worker.
Top dispatcher John Mattes didn't even have to do that. What prompted his payout last night? Simply a demand that he wanted it.
Mattes is a former sheriff's deputy who retired with a shoulder injury before entering dispatch work. With connections at the county level, perhaps it should come as no surprise that Mr. Mattes gets want he wants.
To be fair, cops get what they ask for. Several years ago, another female cop (who was also involved in falsely arresting a resident) who was a K-9 handler resigned, and believed that the police dog that was donated to the Town of Atherton was actually donated to her. She demanded the dog, as well as $20,000, and was given both.
Interestingly enough, Mattes and former Chief Glenn Nielsen also are on at least one board of directors together.
There may be more than meets the eye regarding Mr. Mattes' influence and authority within the Atherton Police Department. He and former Chief Glenn Nielsen appear to be playing active roles in managing the goings-on there.
One thing is for certain. Although John Johns was told by the council and by the bloggers here that he has no business at all thinking he can ever work for the Town of Atherton again after initiating legal proceedings against it, no such standard has been applied to Mr. Mattes, who continues to work at the APD.
