Mascorro placed on administrative leave by town

At last Tuesday’s Thermopolis Town Council meeting, Police Sergeant Michael Mascorro was put on administrative leave for an undetermined amount of time. A press release issued after the meeting by Mayor Adam Estenson does not explain why Mascorro was placed on administrative leave.

Mayor Estenson states in the press release, “The Town and Department have fully cooperated with the Wyoming Department of Criminal investigation which released their findings earlier this month. Upon review of the facts and evidence collected by the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation, Special Prosecutor Daniel Erramouspe found no grounds by which to criminally charge Thermopolis Police Sergeant Michael Mascorro in the shooting death of Buck Laramore.”

At the Oct. 3 Town Council meeting it was decided Sergeant Mascorro could be returned to active duty upon being medically cleared, per department and employment policy. Mascorro had returned to active duty on Oct. 5.

The recent press release further states, “The Town of Thermopolis Police Procedures and Policies have been sent to a third party for review. Any recommendations for updates or changes will be taken seriously. The Town of Thermopolis periodically reviews and updates their policies to ensure our Police Department operates with stringent ethical and procedural expectations. We will continue to do so now and in the future.”

The press release concluded with “Out of further respect for all parties involved, the Town of Thermopolis will not be commenting further on this matter at this time. We will continue to keep the public informed as new information can be shared.”

Several members from the community were in attendance at the October 17 Thermopolis Town Council meeting. Mayor Estenson opened the meeting for comments from the public by reading a statement laying the ground rules. Estenson said, “The goals of these ground rules are to keep it civil and to keep the meeting moving along. With all the people who do not appear on the agenda to address the town council, I as the mayor and chairman of this meeting, will be more than willing to recognize people. We do ask that you keep your comments to 3 minutes. It is a statement you’re making for the record to the council. There won’t be any back and forth is what I’m getting at.”

Estenson continued and said, “But I do want to read one thing here just so I get it all clear because I know what’s on the community’s hearts and minds. If any member of the public has a complaint or concern about the conduct of an individual officer or the Department as a whole, we ask that you please use official channels to formally file your grievance. Filing your complaint through a sworn statement to the Chief of Police will ensure it is thoroughly investigated and addressed. The Department takes all public complaints seriously and we cannot properly look into or remedy issues that are not formally brought to our direct attention. We thank the community for assisting us in this way and stand ready to accept and respond to all grievances filed in this way. So tonight, please keep your comments to generalities. If you have specific complaints, you need to go to the Chief and that goes for any department. If you had an issue with the road crew, go to that department head there as well. We will take those seriously. With that, I will turn it over to anybody wishing to come forward and address council.”

Concerned citizen Dave Denton addressed the council and said, “I’m here to support Mike Mascorro and his job and his duty and his performance. I believe that as a town, a small town in a small state, we need our law enforcement. We have to be prepared for things that happen. Everybody wishes this never happened, but it happened. So we have to stand behind him and support him.”

Mayor Estenson thanked Denton for his statement and asked for further comments, but there were none.

Following executive session of the council, Mayor Estenson read the following statement. “On April 28th, 2023, Thermopolis experienced its first officer-involved shooting where a person’s life was lost. This has been difficult for all parties involved and we appreciate the public’s patience during this process. We take this matter seriously.”

“The Town and Department have fully cooperated with the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation which released their findings earlier this month. Upon review of the facts and evidence collected by the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation, Special Prosecutor Daniel Erramouspe found no grounds by which to criminally charge Thermopolis Police Sergeant, Michael Mascorro in the shooting death of Buck Laramore.”

“At its regular meeting on October 3, 2023, the Town Council was informed that Sergeant Mascorro could be returned to duty upon being medically cleared, per department and employment policy.”

“Sergeant Mascorro is currently on administrative leave for an undetermined amount of time.”

In other business, Town Engineer Anthony Barnett presented a letter with a schedule from DEQ that is for the transfer station discussion. DEQ is looking at the possible landfill closure to be sometime at the end of 2026 or sometime in 2027. Barnett added he is doing a survey of what space is left in cells 10 and 11. Barnett also reported that the sludge judge reviewed the lagoon and a report will be coming soon.

Assistant to the mayor, Jim Jeunehomme, reported that the Family Park’s new playground equipment has been installed. More work still needs to be done on the grass, but the park is open and being used.

Jeunehomme and Mayor Estenson then discussed the TextMyGov app and service. The Hot Springs County Commissioners have already signed up for the service. The council discussed the possibility of combining the use of the app with the county as it would save money. If the town were to be on its own, the cost would be about $5,400. The service works on cell phones, but not landlines. The council voted and passed the approval to explore communication with Hot Springs County to potentially combine accounts but keep departments segmented.

Mayor Estenson mentioned there will be a workshop in the next couple of weeks to discuss a possible increase in water rates. If there is a change, it would require an update on the ordinance.