August 12, 2019

On a day I don't normally patrol, I decided to patrol the South End for the first time.  There were concerns about the area of Methadone Mile.  However since I don't know where that is (I even tried Google & couldn't find it), I felt like it had to be like trial & error.  Anyway, I felt like asking anyone in the area was like the boys in the movie, Milk Money before they found Melanie Griffith (take it for what it's worth).  So I felt asking was out of the question.  I was very nervous because there was a lot of residential streets, almost feeling like a stuck out thumb.  As I went towards areas where there were homes & businesses I noticed something by Union United Methodist Church.  There were bags & I think papers left there with rocks holding them in place.  I looked down at the stairs outside going down, no one was there.  I had to leave it, because I felt it was like a marker for something.  I checked on a few people that were outside late at night.  They were okay but some couldn't care less. As I passed something I saw a man entering the area the back way.  It did caught my interest, but when I heard a noise, I looked & saw what was someone doing something to a car I went there first, which was a mistake.   Because by the time I went there, there was no one, a total illusion of the eye at night.  I checked the other area, but there was no one, the only thing was a parking garage.  I will tell you going around was a little tougher.  In one area, what I thought was a different street, turned out to be an area I shouldn't go.  It could've been a business like a community college, but it looked like a private housing area, so went out of there quickly.  I even went all the way down to Albany Street, a little near I-93.  I did see the buses sleep.  Compared to the trains in Gallivan Boulevard in Dorchester, the trains have it better.  I will say from what I heard about the garbage from sources, they were right.  I do seee it as a concern.  I do hope elected officials will find a way to take care of that.  Another sad thing there two areas I did see some homeless people sleeping.  One by a park over by baseball bench.  The person even looked like an athlete.  The other was on the other side of a church by a door.  Normally, if they were awake, I would give them a cereal bar.  But asleep, but I'd be more like the boogeyman.  I did cross a Housing area.  Since I was on the sidewalk & not on property, I wouldn't be breaking rules.  But people can still see me over a fence.  A group outside, said WTF?  I told them who I was, & I wouldn't cross.  They appreciated it so I moved on.  I passed Blackstone Park where a couple was waiting for a bus.  A lady spotted me & we had a great conversation.  She took my picture, asked questions, & I gave her my card.  She was even helpful with some information.  As I went to a 7-Eleven, a man outside said it was closed.  All of a sudden a woman who looked a mix of being high & hurt came up to us.  She wanted a drink, but the store was closed.  She was very depressed.  Both me & the man were concerned, as we both tried to comfort her.  She soon left, but came up immediately later calling for her.  I had a bad feeling about this, so I went to make sure there wax no trouble.  As I took chase, there was an alley, I was going to go down there but I looked & once again saw a shadow.  I didn't know if it was them so I went towards the area.  I was immediately diverted by a man looking with a flashlight, seeing if he would find "diamonds."  As I checked doing double duty, it turned out it was very small rocks from the pavement that shined.  I warned him to stay with those & not anything else on the residential property.  Her denied doing that but better safe than sorry.  My chase ended when I was near the Boston Medical Center, there was no way, I could spot them in the crowd.  Disappointed, I headed back.  I told the man at 7-Eleven the news.  He told me they were probably going somewhere to get high & I did my best.  The consolation was that I made a friend.  As I was on Massachusetts Avenue, I heard some yelling, heavy yelling.  I checked it out, but they said everything was okay, so I moved on.  I did help some homeless people near the closed Pru with giving them some cereal bars.  One guy wished it was candy, but I said that this was probably better for him than that.  I passed by some tourist who enthralled to see me.  Another very active patrol.