As promised, the man who calls himself Black Bullet, the self-professed crime fighter of Gays Mills, called this editor’s cellphone Monday afternoon to discuss his ideas and plans.

The phone rang at 3:28 p.m. as I sat at my office desk and the incoming call was listed as ‘restricted,’ I had a pretty good idea who it was. After a brief delay, the caller readily identified himself as the Black Bullet and yes he had some time to talk and answer questions.

“I’m ready to help in any way I can,” the Bullet began. “I believe I can serve, number one, to deter crime; and, number two, to act as a symbol of hope for people.”

“Are you serious or is this a joke?” I asked. “Or are you just putting on the community?”

“I was raised to be serious,” the man on the other end of the line replied in his usual calm and unflustered manner. “This is serious stuff.”

Bullet then explained his view of what he saw as rising crime rates not only in Gays Mills, but also all over the world. He described crime rates so bad in areas of Chicago where he had lived that people were afraid to leave their houses.

The local crime fighter told me that his recognition of crime as a major problem had grown over time.

“There was nothing big or huge that made me do this,” Bullet said of adopting his crime fighter role. “Mainly, it was a lot of little things. The older I got, the more I started noticing how bad crime was. Sheriff McCullick asked in the newspaper story, ‘Why here? Why not another area?’ Well, I’ve gotten to know these people around here and here is where I am at …so, I’m doing anything I can to help stop crime here.”

One of the crimes he is focused on is theft.

“It’s hard to avoid theft anymore,” Bullet said. However, he hopes his efforts will help to reduce it.

Black Bullet also sought to assure the public that he is not planning to take any direct action against “crime causers,” but will report information to authorities by calling 911. He is not carrying a gun and hopes to make an impact “mainly by being bold.”

The crime fighter stated that he has some martial arts training and he would employ that training if he felt a need to defend himself. However, he has no plans to become involved in any violence.

“I’ve never taken the law into my own hands,” Bullet said. “I do take this seriously.”

Bullet believes the sheriff and law enformcent can do “far more” than he is able to do. Nevertheless, he remains interested in getting his name out there and doing what he can to help stop crime.

“If I figured out who a drug dealer was, I would report it to the sheriff’s department,” he said. “But, I’m still going to try and figure it out. I’m definitely looking to partner with the sheriff.”

Black Bullet acknowledged the name Bullet might scare some people, but insisted it was not meant in any threatening manner. He selected the name Bullet to represent boldness and speed. Likewise, he realizes that some people can see something sinister in his choosing to wear all black, but says it was chosen to help him remain hidden.

“It’s better if my identity is hidden,” Bullet said. “I don’t want the crime causers to target my family.”

Black Bullet described himself as a God-fearing man who seeks peace among everyone.

Becoming a crime fighter is a decision Bullet reached over the past winter, as he heard more and more stories about crime in the area and his boss told him even more stories about crimes committed here.

As for the name Black Bullet, he said he likes it because it has “something with a ring to it.” Most of all though, he re-emphasized that he is serious about fighting crime in Gays Mills.

“I want the public to know that someone is watching,” he said. “The crime causers might think twice.”

Black Bullet said he hears people talking about the crime fighter stories and he remains silent on the subject. He heard one person call it a publicity stunt and it was difficult for him to not respond. Listening to some people talk about Black Bullet makes him nervous and he begins to sweat, he reported.

In parting, Bullet emphasized his seriousness and his hope that some people will find hope through his actions.

“I really do care for my town,” he said. “My morals are high. There are things happening in this town that shouldn’t be happening.”

Black Bullet also thanked the Independent-Scout and this editor for “taking this on.”

When asked if he would allow his picture to be taken in his crime fighter attire to help authenticate the story, he readily agreed to meet at the phone booth on Main Street in Gays Mills at 5 p.m. on Monday. At the appointed time, with one arm leaning on the phone there was Black Bullet. He held an issue of last week’s newspaper over part of his face and allowed several photos to be taken.

Unlike last week when the man identifying himself as Black Bullet approached this editor on Main Street but was not observed by anyone else, this week Seamus and Connor Murray spotted the man dressed in black. The Murrays, returning from work at Star Valley Flowers, noticed an unusually dressed person standing next to the phone booth as they drove down Main Street.