“Unfortunately someone said “Hey, here’s a ray of sunshine, let’s secretly take it away because we don’t need it anymore” then “let’s cover it up and try to bully anyone who wants to know any truth.” – Alan Bagshaw on FB
The Facebook webpage, Save Sarge Butters reports that the Town Board of Mocksville demanded that the Mocksville Police Department (MPD) get rid of the station’s resident and very popular cat, Sarge Butters. He was removed as was his popular Facebook page. The town’s administrators said that the FB page was unprofessional. They believed that having a cat at the police station and the FB page made the police look unprofessional.
The citizens of Mocksville, as far as I can judge from FB postings, disagree with the city administrators. They appreciated Sarge Butters and believe that he contributed to better police/community relations. They created the cat’s FB page with the purpose of getting him back. They want to convince them to reinstate Sarge Butters.
“Pretty amazing story of how to get it really right…then blow it. Not only did Mocksville pull a PR miracle- people all over the world charmed by Sarge Butters- but they found a clever and personality infused way of relating to their town, their region- the world! Butters WAS Mocksville’s best known ambassador. Then, self inflicted disaster. One small cat (even a handsome Ginger) can’t solve all the crimes or right all the wrongs, but SB made the police seem approachable, human and humane. What a screw up. Unforced error, Mocksville!” – Boo Barnett on FB
And also Sarge Butters improved morale in the department. However, for me, there is what I would call ‘smoke and mirrors’ surrounding the removal of this popular red tabby-and-white male cat.
There appear to be shenanigans going on and that includes Facebook which removed a post by Susan Whitener about a lack of transparency from the authorities. The police chief who supported Sarge Butters was on holiday when Butters was removed.
“I smell a conspiracy….the Police Chief IS on vacation while all of this is happening & he’s an advocate for Sarge” – Angela Khan-Norton on FB.
And there is an argument about whether the police officers themselves loved and appreciated the presence of Sarge Butters. In the screenshot below you can see that a person named Benita claimed that the police officers were happy for Sarge Butters to be removed from the office.
Susan Whitener (posting on the FB page started by Sabrina, Save Sarge Butters), said that in her personal experience of visiting the police department the officers liked Sarge Butters around.
“And to address the text to me about most of the officers didn’t like Sarge, well I know what I have seen with my own two eyes each time I stop by and here are more than a couple different officers in pictures proving otherwise. Sure doesn’t seem like fake smiles to me!”
And Kathy makes a good point:
“Fact: Sarge Butters does not just belong to one person…this kitty belongs to our community!! They had no right to just give or put this kitty somewhere. He belongs to all of Davie County!!! They should let the community decide where he should go…if he has to be moved somewhere!!! We all love him and want to visit with him!! WHERE IS SARGE BUTTERS!!!!” – Kathy A Anderson on FB.
Yes, and another thing: the concerned citizens of Mocksville want to know where Sarge Buttes is right now. What happened to him?
Finally, there is a petition in support of the reinstatement of Sarge Butters. It is doing well.
Comment: Personally I am a great fan of workplace cats. There are many examples of ‘working cats’ improving the working environment and public relations. Bring him back please.
All good question but I don’t have the answers. If you can find some answers that would be great. I’ll do a bit of nosing around.
Do you know who did remove Sarge Butters? Why all the secrecy? Is the person who has him in fear of their life or job? Or has Sarge been harmed or abandoned in some way?
Thanks for that. I think the moral of this part of the story is that IM communications on FB or anywhere else can be converted to images using screenshots and end up on the internet.