This weekend, I talked with Paula Brown, the former Poulsbo post office employee recently convicted of stealing mail that contained gift cards and cash.
Brown wanted a chance to tell her side of the story. She’s apologetic and says the crime resulted in “the loss of my family, my friends and my dignity.” She also says she is quite ill and has lost 40 percent of her brain function. She does not wish to make excuses, she said, but she does not believe she was in her right mind when the thefts occurred.
She added that she’s endured the wrath of community members angry about the theft. Some have spit on her, pushed her and even burglarized her home, she claims.
Here’s what she wanted to say:
“I wish to sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been hurt by my careless and criminal actions while working at the Poulsbo Post Office. Those of you that cannot conceive of or forgive my actions, I understand. With the help of some excellent therapists and physicians, I am beginning to come to terms with how my illness contributed to what I did. However it may take the rest of my life to forgive myself for the harm I have caused.
For my victims who have suffered irreperable damage that the restitution that I am paying cannot heal, I can only say I carry your pain with great sorrow. Please do not lose trust or confidence in the postal service. They work very hard to serve the public. The employees at the Pouslbo Post Office are a great group of people, and do their jobs with honesty and diligence. I also would like to express my sincere apology to them and the postmaster. I would like to extend my apologies for any embarassment suffered by my family and friends.
In closing I can only say I am deeply sorry.”
