This was during the afternoon, broad daylight. I was wearing a T-shirt dress. It was very hot outside. A police car was driving down the street at the same time I was about to cross. He yielded to me (which I guess drivers are technically supposed to do, but I despise it because it gives drivers a long chance to check you out). Then he drove forward a little, pulled over, and rolled his window down.

He was a police officer, so I felt like I had to talk to him. He’d been driving slowly and I thought maybe something had happened in the neighborhood he wanted to either ask or warn me about. So I approached his car.

“I just wanted to tell you that you’re absolutely gorgeous. Is it ok for me to tell you that?”

I smiled awkwardly and waited, honestly still thinking he wanted to talk to me about some neighborhood police issue. He kept going on about how gorgeous I was. He bragged about how he was on his way to the gym. He asked where I lived, and I gestured vaguely and said, “Over there,” unsure if he was going to make me show him my house. He kept asking me questions, how old I was, who I live with, what my profession is, and I answered reluctantly, trying to figure out if this was sketch or not. As always my instincts were right; I don’t know why I didn’t cut the conversation off earlier. He found out I speak Spanish and made me say a few sentences as though I was on display just for him. He kept pressing me to give him my number and I said no several times but he kept pressing. Finally I figured out that I needed to get away and I hurried off; he didn’t drive away until I was gone, enjoying the view of my ass I suppose.

He was polite and his comments were much more respectful than your garden-variety street harasser. But I think he knew he was making me uncomfortable, and he deliberately used his power and position as a police officer to ensnare me. He was able to get much more information from me than I’d give to any other stranger simply because he was in a squad car. He didn’t technically do anything wrong, and I did appreciate the compliment because it seemed sincere, but I was disgusted with the way he used his power to get to me. He made me feel much less safe in my neighborhood. Not only because his gaze and power unnerved me, but because I’m scared now if I report other incidents this cop will take the side of my harasser.

I’ve seen reports of firefighters on this site, but has anyone else had issues with DC or MoCo police?

Submitted by Anonymous on 6/25/2010

Location: Glenallan Avenue and Randolph Road

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