Saw a man exposing himself--call police?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's so laughable to me is the excuse "we're busy solving murders". As if we were stupid enough to believe that, but also, haven't they ever heard of the broken windows approach? Since they find it so onerous to solve these murders, how about preventing them by focusing on the quality of life stuff??

They explicitly state that they don't practice the "broken windows" approach. I believe in it and am angry that they don't.

[Anonymous]

Ii am the person that said that I think I see a gun. I do this now b/c EVERYTIME I have called about parties in the past, the 911 dispatcher has asked "do you see a gun?" I have said no and she laughs and literally hangs up.

So now when they ask, I simply say, "yes, I think so, it is hard to tell."

If glass, knives, and throwing punches is not enough, I will say what I need to. Once the cops roll up, if they were to accidentally shoot someone, that would be sad, but they have set up a system where they are either coming to shoot or not at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ii am the person that said that I think I see a gun. I do this now b/c EVERYTIME I have called about parties in the past, the 911 dispatcher has asked "do you see a gun?" I have said no and she laughs and literally hangs up.

So now when they ask, I simply say, "yes, I think so, it is hard to tell."

If glass, knives, and throwing punches is not enough, I will say what I need to. Once the cops roll up, if they were to accidentally shoot someone, that would be sad, but they have set up a system where they are either coming to shoot or not at all.

Interesting.

[Anonymous]

OP here, I send a report to DCPS and now know that 311 is the non-emergency # for DC. I will let you all know if I hear anything back (not hopeful, but I did add in the report that the area is near Ross Elementary and the JCC Preschool, so additional police presence might be helpful.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't lied about seeing a gun, but I have used the strongest language I could to convey my fear: "intruder", "trespassing", "dangerous" and STILL never seen a cop respond.

Where do you live? I've always had police respond right away. In fact, a police dispatcher coached me to use the word "intruder" to describe to her the homeless man that was sleeping in my backyard by my door. She then sent 2 firetrucks even before the police got there. It was sort of embarrassing when they arrived. But at least they got the guy out of there.

The firefighters confirmed that you would always use the word intruder.

I'm dying to know where you live. Can you take it up with your councilperson?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Actually, most exhibitionists are not dangerous. I'm not saying this is pleasant behavior that I want in my neighborhood."

Aren't these usually starter petty crimes that escalate to much more years later?

NO. There is absolutely no evidence or support for the notion that rapists or serial killers start out exposing themselves. This is not an escalating crime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Actually, most exhibitionists are not dangerous. I'm not saying this is pleasant behavior that I want in my neighborhood."

Aren't these usually starter petty crimes that escalate to much more years later?

YES. They tend to escalate this sort of risky behavior.

I called the police a few years ago on a guy who was dressed like a woman (I have NO problem with that) but was wearing a mini-skirt and trying on boots at a shoe store in G'town - and purposefully kicking his legs in the air to give everyone a great view of his private parts. The skirt was hiked up around his waist. Totally naked underneath.

Anyhow the police were there in about two minutes and the very young salesperson broke out into tears the second they arrived. She said she had been terrified since she was the only person in the store before I entered.

I didn't stick around to see what the police did.

I don't understand your point. How was this behavior escalated? This man is an exhibitionist, fine, he is finding ways to be an exhibitionist in a more and more risky fashion. But he's not escalating to bigger crimes like rape, murder, arson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't lied about seeing a gun, but I have used the strongest language I could to convey my fear: "intruder", "trespassing", "dangerous" and STILL never seen a cop respond.

Where do you live? I've always had police respond right away. In fact, a police dispatcher coached me to use the word "intruder" to describe to her the homeless man that was sleeping in my backyard by my door. She then sent 2 firetrucks even before the police got there. It was sort of embarrassing when they arrived. But at least they got the guy out of there.

The firefighters confirmed that you would always use the word intruder.

I'm dying to know where you live. Can you take it up with your councilperson?

Columbia Heights. CM Graham is pretty responsive to quality-of-life issues, but I have not been pleased with our local police. We have one beat cop who is very nice and completely ineffectual, and the rest of them are ineffectual without bothering with "nice".

[Anonymous]

Totally outing myself to my friends here, but anyway...

Near GW, I walked past a guy who was jerking off in his car. You could see everything from the sidewalk and I unfortunately did a double-take to make sure I'd seen what I thought I'd seen. I didn't have a cell phone (poor law student), so I went to the fire station less than a block away and asked if they could call the police. They laughed at me. Which, having had to deal with the MPD multiples times since moving to a gentrifying part of DC, is no longer any surprise.

So I'd say call, but don't expect anyone in DC to react quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Actually, most exhibitionists are not dangerous. I'm not saying this is pleasant behavior that I want in my neighborhood."

Aren't these usually starter petty crimes that escalate to much more years later?

YES. They tend to escalate this sort of risky behavior.

I called the police a few years ago on a guy who was dressed like a woman (I have NO problem with that) but was wearing a mini-skirt and trying on boots at a shoe store in G'town - and purposefully kicking his legs in the air to give everyone a great view of his private parts. The skirt was hiked up around his waist. Totally naked underneath.

Anyhow the police were there in about two minutes and the very young salesperson broke out into tears the second they arrived. She said she had been terrified since she was the only person in the store before I entered.

I didn't stick around to see what the police did.

I don't understand your point. How was this behavior escalated? This man is an exhibitionist, fine, he is finding ways to be an exhibitionist in a more and more risky fashion. But he's not escalating to bigger crimes like rape, murder, arson.

Exactly. No one said he's going to commit a rape, murder or arson. All that I said that that this paraphilia escalates to more and more risky behavior. Nearly 50 percent of men who are arrested for exhibitionism will be arrested for it again. It's a problem that gets worse and doesn't go away without treatment. Thirty percent of all arrests for sexual crimes are for exhibitionism.

My point is that the police did come when I called. And they came right away. And that the guy scared the hell out of the 18-year-old salesgirl who was forced to wait on him - alone in the store.

[Anonymous]

According to the broken windows theory, the escalation would come from other criminals who see the wanker being tolerated and assume this is an area where they can get away with something worse. After all, neighbors/ police aren't watching or acting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Actually, most exhibitionists are not dangerous. I'm not saying this is pleasant behavior that I want in my neighborhood."

Aren't these usually starter petty crimes that escalate to much more years later?

YES. They tend to escalate this sort of risky behavior.

I called the police a few years ago on a guy who was dressed like a woman (I have NO problem with that) but was wearing a mini-skirt and trying on boots at a shoe store in G'town - and purposefully kicking his legs in the air to give everyone a great view of his private parts. The skirt was hiked up around his waist. Totally naked underneath.

Anyhow the police were there in about two minutes and the very young salesperson broke out into tears the second they arrived. She said she had been terrified since she was the only person in the store before I entered.

I didn't stick around to see what the police did.

I don't understand your point. How was this behavior escalated? This man is an exhibitionist, fine, he is finding ways to be an exhibitionist in a more and more risky fashion. But he's not escalating to bigger crimes like rape, murder, arson.

Why do you think the salesgirl cried? She feared seeing the sick boy? Think again. You ain't never been raped, huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Actually, most exhibitionists are not dangerous. I'm not saying this is pleasant behavior that I want in my neighborhood."

Aren't these usually starter petty crimes that escalate to much more years later?

YES. They tend to escalate this sort of risky behavior.

I called the police a few years ago on a guy who was dressed like a woman (I have NO problem with that) but was wearing a mini-skirt and trying on boots at a shoe store in G'town - and purposefully kicking his legs in the air to give everyone a great view of his private parts. The skirt was hiked up around his waist. Totally naked underneath.

Anyhow the police were there in about two minutes and the very young salesperson broke out into tears the second they arrived. She said she had been terrified since she was the only person in the store before I entered.

I didn't stick around to see what the police did.

I don't understand your point. How was this behavior escalated? This man is an exhibitionist, fine, he is finding ways to be an exhibitionist in a more and more risky fashion. But he's not escalating to bigger crimes like rape, murder, arson.

Why do you think the salesgirl cried? She feared seeing the sick boy? Think again. You ain't never been raped, huh?

I don't get your point. No one is doubting the salesgirl's fear, or saying that exhibitionism should not merit a prompt and forceful police response. I just pointed out that numerous studies have shown that exhibitionists do not escalate their crimes to more serious violent crimes, i.e., that exhibitionists are not potential rapists. That's my point. Where you got the idea that I was saying that the salesgirl did not have a right to feel bad, or was not hurt by the exhibitionism or some such nonsense, I have no idea

[Anonymous]

"I don't get your point. No one is doubting the salesgirl's fear, or saying that exhibitionism should not merit a prompt and forceful police response. I just pointed out that numerous studies have shown that exhibitionists do not escalate their crimes to more serious violent crimes, i.e., that exhibitionists are not potential rapists. That's my point. Where you got the idea that I was saying that the salesgirl did not have a right to feel bad, or was not hurt by the exhibitionism or some such nonsense, I have no idea"

New Poster - not the person you quoted, but I just want to say that I see your point that these people don't tend to be the rapists and murderers, but I think that the effects this kind of thing have on people should not be dismissed. I think some people would think "ew gross what a freak" and move on, but some people like the sales girl, and children, could be really upset by it.

I have a friend who was flashed by a man when she was little, and even though she is grown and mature now, she says that image will always be there - it was confusing and scary and it really affected her. Obviously this is better than having a rapist around, for sure, but if we can do anything to get these guys off the street and make them have consequences for this crime, it would be best.