On the evening that Beacon Police Chief Figlia presented his defense of the City’s use of Flock cameras for license plate tracking for pre-identified targets driving in or out of Beacon, as well as the cameras placed along Main Street that track movements of people out on the sidewalk, a Beacon resident presented her dissatisfaction with the apparent lack of arrest of a local male resident who had mooned the public at least three times on a Friday afternoon, one of those times being recorded on civilian video, if not also on the City’s cameras.

Dean Catalano was identified as the man who mooned a car with a child in it, and was caught on camera again mooning a civilian at a public picnic table by the DMV parking lot while the Beacon Police’s backs were turned.

“All these cops know me!” Dean screamed to another man who was in disagreement with his actions. Dean implied that he was protected by the Beacon Police, knowing they would do nothing to him as he verbally threatened a man walking across the street, announced he was going to moon everyone again, and then did moon again.

The transcription of the public statement is below the video published here.

Good evening. Katie Hellmuth, Ward 1.

Many years ago, a white man stood at this podium to complain that he brought his friends to Memorial Park, and saw a Black Power fist flag on a building across the street. He said Beacon wasn't racist, and was embarrassed about the flag. A legal battle followed between the building owner and the City, with the building owner defending himself to keep the flag up. It was an expensive battle.

Last Friday afternoon, as I sipping my iced mango lassi, enjoying the late summer Friday in Beacon, I saw Beacon Police activity at the corner of the DMV parking lot. I learned that a white man had allegedly mooned a car with a child in it. Several other men were yelling at him.

Multiple people had their videos out and were recording.

I am a reporter. I came into possession of a video of this man. I learned that he is a longtime member of the community. I reviewed the video and had the displeasure of watching each frame to capture any quotes and body language for my article.

From the video, in front of Beacon Police, the mooner offered to re-enact his mooning. He said he would "moon everybody now."

The police officer discouraged him, and other officers tried to de-escalate him. But he was enraged. He threatened another man who was walking away from the scene, telling him he wanted to kick his a.s.s., and put him in an ambulance.

At some point, the two police officers who were with him, walked away. It was at this point that the mooning man looked at another community member sitting at a public picnic table, lifted his shirt, pulled down his shorts, yelled "Now!" and mooned this person. The video showed full cheek and a half. The mooning man looked back at the police officers, put himself back together, and acted as if nothing happened.

As far as I know, no arrest was made.

As a reporter, I know of stories from women of assault and abuse that do not make it into Beacon Police reports. Their abusers walk these streets of Beacon.

The Beacon Police Department and this administration continue to not respond to me when I email questions, like I did to Chief Figlia about the location of Flock cameras several weeks ago after the high school student was at this podium to complain about them and wonder why we have them if the Tioronda Assaulter is still at large.

Today I ask the Beacon Police: Section 245 Public Lewdness: I witnessed the man have intent to moon the community member at the picnic table while people walked by and was caught doing it on civilian video. How much butt crack do the Beacon Police need for it to become a Class B Misdemeanor? Do they need a tape measure to measure that crack to make sure it's "enough exposure" before they take action?

Otherwise, this man on the yellow e-bike has just been enabled to threaten to assault people, moon us, and who knows what else.

A local reader responded to the article, suggesting that people get over it. That the Spirit of Beacon Day used to have Mooning Contests. I checked with the Spirit of Beacon Chair. He confirmed to me that mooning contests have not happened in recent years, and will not be happening this year.

I stand at this podium today to say I am discomfortable with a white man mooning and getting away with it.