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Resident urges council to address male mental-health, custody and court-process concerns
Summary
A resident described alleged mistreatment in the court and child-protection process and urged council action on male mental-health supports; councilors acknowledged the remarks and said mental health remains a priority.
Dakota Kemmer, speaking during the public-comment period, told the council he believed men in Wyoming lacked adequate mental-health and parental-support resources and urged action after describing his own experience with a protection order and family-court process.
"We are number 4 on the suicide list," Dakota Kemmer said, citing state-level suicide data and saying that in 2023 Wyoming recorded 157 suicides, 133 of them men. Kemmer said a protection order involving his daughter was extended and described being jailed and assaulted during a past custody dispute. "I was beaten and raped in my sleep...the district attorney...said they know I'm innocent, but their hands are tied," he said.
Councilors responded during the council response time. Vice Mayor (unnamed in transcript) and other councilors expressed sympathy and encouragement. Councilor Bond said mental health was "on our radar" and offered to help connect Kemmer to resources; Councilor Haskins and others said they appreciated his courage in speaking.
The council did not take formal action at the meeting on Kemmer's request, but multiple councilors said they would follow up and that mental-health supports for residents remain a city priority. No ordinance, funding decision, or referral to staff was made publicly on the record at that time.
Kemmer also said he serves on a local board (Community Action) and planned to raise related items at that body’s next meeting.
