***UPDATE***
They can't print it w/o it being considered an allegation. No witnesses, no story. She was nice, but can't help. Fuck it. I tried, right?
****************


ISome of you already know about all this. I decided to write a letter to the local paper. They want to do a story now. I'm terrified. Should I? Only if it's anonymous? I don't feel particularly martyr-like today.

Gah....



Here's the letter:

****

Hi to all,

Well, I took Aunt L's advice and wrote to the Bowie-Blade News about the problems I've had of late. I think it's probably far too controversial to be published, but I had to try, right? I don't know that it will help, or that it won't cause me trouble, but it feels good to get it out - that's for sure. I tried to remain intelligible and serious, we'll see how it goes. If I disappear, look to Sgt. ****** of the PG Police Dep't, or ***** of Bowie Police, okay?

Wish me luck...the letter is below.


To the Editor:

I would like to address some serious problems with the new Bowie Police force. Since its inception, I have been the victim of several crimes in the ****** ***** area and have not been assisted by the force, and in fact have been caused further anguish.

I would like to say, firstly, that I have yet to see a Bowie police officer patrolling the highest-crime areas of Bowie. I see them in parking lots at Hilltop Plaza staring into space, I see them in vacant lots in Belair, presumably waiting for a call, and I have seen them only once in my neighborhood - in my rear-view mirror late at night, riding my bumper with high beams on, swerving about in an attempt to scare me into committing a traffic violation, as apparently there are no real crimes occurring in my neighborhood.

Their absence was most noted a few weeks ago as I walked from the Bowie Town Center, where I work (NOTE: It was better than saying "coming home from the bar"), to my home, around 1 A.M . While walking down ******* Drive, a man jumped out at me from behind a bush. Thankfully, I suffer from PTSD and am hyper-vigilant, and turned abruptly with a knife in my hand. He backed off at first, then continued to follow me all the way to my home, harassing me along the way. I pretended to live at another house, and when he eventually left, I ran to my own home the moment he was out of sight. He continued to harass me in the following week, and must have noted my real address, as he showed up to my doorstep one afternoon. I politely informed him that I was romantically involved with a police officer (a farce, but an effective one), and that I did not appreciate his visit. We have not seen him since, but I know he lives only a few blocks away.

I would have called the local PD to get help, but felt that it would be counter-productive. I had attempted to call the Bowie police about two months ago to report being harassed and threatened while walking past ******* ***** park, from the bus stop to my home. As Bowie was "too busy to help" (doing what, I have no idea - the police blotter appeared lacking in major crimes that week), a PG County officer was dispatched to my home to take a report. The officer arrived and, upon inviting him inside, had me repeat what I'd already told the dispatcher. This was hard for me considering the disgusting, graphic details of the harassment. The harasser threatened me with death by shooting if I did not reveal my female assets to him. Again, since God is on my side if not the police, I was far enough away that I was able to run and evade any potential harm. The harasser was one in a group of about ten or so young males. The officer informed me that there was nothing he could do if I could not identify the one boy who threatened me, and said since they were all dressed alike in gang fashion, that'd be a tough task. The officer did not make any attempt to break up the group, investigate, or even scare off the group.

I suppose I am generally considered attractive, and the officer told me he "didn't blame them, as you're obviously a very attractive young lady with a lot to stare at up top." He continued on, saying that he did not "understand why a guy would shoot a girl for not showing her tits - what good is a dead girl for sex?!" I was already scared by the days events, and had no idea how to react. I gave nervous laughter, pretending to be amused, since I had no idea what I could say. He proceeded to tell me that my best bet was to secure my home, as there's a good chance that the kids were neighbors, and may do further harm if they saw me on the street again (never offering protection, mind you). He gave a few helpful hints, helped me create a sliding door barrier, and then continued the "jokes". He picked up a belly dance costume of mine from the floor (I practice Raqs Sharqi for exercise and fun), held it up and said "what's this? Ooh, can I watch?" Intimidated, I again laughed nervously, and handed him a flier for my upcoming recital. To his credit, I don't recall him showing up. He left without taking an official report or attempting to resolve the incident in any way. I decline to offer his name, as I greatly fear being targeted by someone more legally powerful than myself, "blacklisted" as it were.

I couldn't be more grateful that I am moving out of the neighborhood in less than a week, and relocating to Massachusetts. This saddens me greatly - I grew up in the neighborhood, played in the same parks, walked the same streets and walked to and from work for years without an incident until about five years ago. I always thought that Bowie was where I was going to come home to when the time came, to raise my children just as my mother did in 1985, and her own mother did in the early 70's. All of my beloved childhood memories are gone, replaced with memories of violence, fear, intimidation and helplessness. And it would appear that all the new Bowie "Police force" can do is lounge in lots and harass residents for what are scarcely crimes compared to what goes on every day. The new Bowie police chief was just recently seen publicly beating her child at Bowie High, slamming his head into lockers up and down the hallway, and offering insolence to those who approached her with concern. What hope do we have? Good luck and fare well, my formerly beloved Bowie.

(I know that anonymity is not an option. I hope I'll be safe should this be published - and I sincerely hope it is.)

--*****, age 25, ******* ***** neighborhood--