The Big Lyla

[XLFD]

A company who claims to be a "news" agency (by putting that word in their business title) might want to consider some core journalistic directives.  When Shanna Avery, reporter for the Ludington Daily News went to the December 22, 2025 Ludington City Council meeting, she reported initially last week about actions the council took, nothing more other than discussions between city officials.  After Christmas she provided the following feel-good feature article based on a public comment by Ludington citizen Lyla McClelland.  Other than an introductory two paragraphs and a few sentences in summary, it reflects what McClelland said that day:

Resident shares how LPD officer went above and beyond (COLDNews, Shanna Avery)

The rush of wintery weather last month into this month didn’t give folks much of a break, but its harshness melts away by acts of kindness, which one Ludington resident can attest to with her experience on a stormy day when one Ludington Police officer, Marshall Law [pictured above], went above and beyond to make life a bit easier for her.

Lyla McClelland, third ward resident of the City of Ludington, shared her experience during public comment at the City of Ludington council meeting on Monday.

“What I have to say is not relative to anything that’s been presented before, but I still would like the public and council to hear me out,” she said, explaining how a weekly shopping trip with her daughter who lives in Walhalla was rough-going due to bad road conditions.

“On Dec. 10, which was a Wednesday, the weather was absolutely terrible, but Thursday was predicted to be worse, so I went anyway. I got hung up in the alley, which is where I have to park by the American Legion. It’s narrow,” she said.

She got towed out from the alley a half an hour later, but the roads weren’t plowed yet in Walhalla and she got stuck again through the course of the day, she explained. Finally, McLelland and her daughter finished shopping, and McClelland got back to Ludington at 10 p.m.

“Because my driveway was still a mess and the alley was still a mess and I had not been able to take care of it, I called the city police to see what my options were as far as parking, or if they had any recommendation, and they assured me that they had no right to say what the American Legion might think of my parking there, but they couldn’t imagine that they would have a problem with it given the circumstances,” she said.

“The deputy met me at the American Legion, helped me, watched me park, saw that I got a proper note in the car window, and walked me home, helped me carry the pup. The snow was too deep for her to even walk. Not only that, he shoveled from the alley to my back door, which had not been done. All everything — above and beyond what we would expect for our deputies to do. His first name is Marshall and I don’t know his last name, but I want the public and council to know that the conversations we generally hear from this program [at council meetings during public comment] about the name calling to Chief Jones, the thievery of money and misuse of funds and everything else, we have a good police department. They’re well trained. They’re polite. They’re helpful. I was very grateful, and I think it’s something everybody should know. Thank you,” McLelland said.

Several people at the meeting clapped after hearing what McLelland shared.

The very officer, Marshall Law, who brightened that stormy day for McLellan, happens to be recipient of the Ludington Police Department Officer of the Year — Arlo Slagle Award.

In an LPD Facebook post from Dec. 16 which recognized this honor, going above and beyond for the community is something Law is no stranger to.

“Officer Law’s dedication, professionalism and unwavering commitment to serving our community truly set him apart. His tireless work ethic and genuine care for others reflect the very best of law enforcement. We’re proud to recognize his outstanding service and grateful for the positive impact he makes every day. Thank you, Officer Law, for all you do!”  [END Article]

When the Ludington Torch presented our own recap of the meeting, we recognized McClelland's testimonial and gave a very positive assessment of Officer Law.  But while Reporter Avery would cover the full comment, gush about it without apparently verifying it, and only mention one other comment made at the meeting in both articles (Robert Nelson thanking the city for not considering massive fee hikes-- yet), never mentioned were 14 other comments made at the meeting, and they all were critical of city policies, officials, and/or actions.

It seems odd that a fair news organization would select the only two comments that were favorable to the City of Ludington to report about and leave fourteen comments involving some very serious assertions out of the newspaper.  Including one about the alleged drunk driving episode of Sergeant Austin Mendez (pictured above) that reportedly led to other officers suffering for it.  A feature detailing an officer doing what almost any other able-bodied person would do when an 88 year-old lady is in distress merits a feature, yet the Mendez ongoing coverup involving FOIA violations deserves no ink at all.  One can almost hear the phone call made from the LPD to the City of Ludington Daily News (COLDNews).

LPD THIEF CHRISTOPHER JONES:  "We may be forced to release damning records to that Torch guy showing corruption of the highest level, we need some good press pronto and we had one of our officials give us a glowing review at the last meeting."

COLDNEWS EDITOR:  Right away, sir.  We will dress that up and continue ignoring anything that would make you look bad as per our ongoing agreement.

 

One can see that Lyla McClelland is a long-standing paid official of the city corporate on Opengovpay.com a fact that was conveniently ignored in the feature article.  While there is nothing too fantastic to make one believe that this incident never happened, it does open up three questions.  Did Officer Law help her because he recognized her as a city official?  Did she decide to share this story with the council to further her own status within the corporation?  Who else other than a city official who may think they are entitled to special treatment, would call the police in order to get help for a parking issue?

Call me the next time this happens to you, Lyla, and I will walk over and help you out like any good neighbor would.  And if you think that our city officials are too ethical to even consider something like this, you really should start paying more attention to those 14 comments that are left out of the COLDNews and consider this.  Early on December 24th, the LFD Facebook page showed the above picture and warned folks:  

"Exercise caution while commuting on Christmas Eve morning, particularly in the 600 block of North Lakeshore Drive, where the road has been reduced to a single lane.

A single-vehicle accident has resulted in damage to multiple power poles, and crews are currently on the scene. North Lakeshore Drive in the 600 block is affected."

                                                Officer Trey Forfinski, Thief Jones and Officer Marshall Law 

The LPD responded to this one-car accident scene initially where rookie Officer Edward "Trey" Forfinski did something quite disturbing, according to an official source.  The driver showed obvious signs of being either drunk or high, there were no indications that the weather or road conditions led to this accident, showing that impairment was likely the cause.  Surely, Forfinski would conduct some sobriety tests, offer a breathalyzer, and arrest the driver if he failed those.

Not so.  Officer Forfinski reportedly violated LPD policy by looking the other way because he knew the offender favorably and allowed the young man's father to come and pick him up.  The community is very lucky to have had this young man drive his vehicle into a power pole rather than another car, resulting in fatalities due to poor choices made. 

As someone who supposedly serves the local community, Officer Trey Forfinski looks to have made another bad choice in choosing to do nothing.  Maybe he previously learned a bad lesson from what he heard happened with the officers that stopped Officer Mendez for a DUI.  As someone whose life was nearly ended by a drunk driver, this reporter is even more offended about this violation of policy than usual.

The Ludington Police Department and the city itself have suffered from a couple years of incredibly poor decisions themselves and so one of their officials heaping praise on another should be seen as nothing other than the propaganda that it is.  What one really should be doing is opening their eyes and ears to what is actually going on with their life and to those they hold dear on account of what our city leaders are doing to our city and citizens.  

[Freedom Seeker]

So well written, X. I wish you would speak this at City Council, especially the last paragraph, word for word. Expose Lyla graciously for propagandizing. Would the police department treat you the same? Just like the LDN reports good 2 good and no (12) bad comments? Will the city servants ever learn or continue giving pay raises and more than standard holidays and cry they are poor?

[XLFD]

Unfortunately, I never drink and drive, so I will never completely know for sure the answer to your first question.  But if it's equal justice under the law, shouldn't I get a ride home by our friendly LPD?

But who am I kidding; I was standing outside of city hall minding my own business, disturbing no one, not even protesting in any way, and I was threatened by a police captain with four others he commanded, equipped with guns, and was threatened by the use of force to lose my liberty because I would not accept his unlawful order.  There was zero probable cause articulated that I committed a crime or was about to commit a crime.  Was the captain ever brought up on assault charges?  Nope, I was charged with a section of disturbing the peace four weeks after I had to deescalate the situation by kissing captain boot, possibly saving my life in the process.  It's all on camera too.

The one officer who was present that day who seemed to understand how crazy of a situation it was devolving into was Officer Marshall Law.  But I could only tell that by nonverbal clues, as he would have seen his career at LPD end if he had actually said something. 

[Freedom Seeker]

Good point, X. FORTUNATELY you never drink and drive!