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Health & Fitness

Seeing Through the Eyes of a Prostitute

A longtime Sheriff's Department policeman tells the story of his encounter with a prostitute named "D," and what he learned from talking to her.

I recently spoke with a young woman I shall refer to as "D," who is a local prostitute in the area I patrol in Bloom Township. I had seen this woman a few times walking down the road and realized she was new on the streets.

I stopped this young lady and asked her the routine questions, who is she and where is she from? I have learned over the years if you treat many folks with respect they will open up to you. "D" spoke free and openly about what she was doing on the streets and her choice of drugs, crack.

I asked "D" what is her story and how did she end up on the streets. Besides drugs in many cases, there has been sexual abuse in their past. "D" explained to me that her mother had many boyfriends who was allowed to live in their home. Often times mom would leave her and other siblings at home with the "boyfriends" to babysit. "D" went futher to say, the boyfriends would always "want sex" from her when mom would leave and she would comply.

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"D" went on to explain that she ended up on the streets to support her drug habit, but she also said it was because of the abuse. She simply learned to use her body to make money for something her mother's boyfriends took for free. This young woman told me she only deals with her regular older customers, not these "thugs and punks."

"I do still have some dignity," she told me.

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This is not the first time I have heard this type of story. When I see these young ladies on the streets, I realize they are someone's sister, mother, aunt. "D" told me she stays low-key to keep out of the way of police.

She told me she resides with another prostitute in a one bedroom apartment. I told "D" my prayers will be with her to be safe and to find peace. She had a short smile and with a tear in her eye, told me, "Officer Wiley, thank you for talking to me with dignity and respect."

Before we judge others, we should always try to see things through their eyes. Remember "Judge NOT, that you be not judged” in Matthew 7:1.

Let's keep "D" and so many like her lifted up in prayer today.


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