Abuse of Power

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In 1996, while director of counseling for a community domestic violence agency, Diane created a unique program which provided specialized counseling, legal and advocacy services for victims of officer-involved domestic violence. She worked collaboratively with police departments to develop policies, provided systemic advocacy to professionals nationwide, trained community advocates, and provided thousands of hours of individual and group counseling. In 2002, Diane established an independent corporation dedicated to providing advocacy, training, and consulting services specific to police-perpetrated domestic violence. Diane has extensive experience conducting workshops and seminars for local, state and national audiences. Topics included victim safety and intervention, the unique dynamics due to the abuser's profession, working with survivors who are also in law enforcement, and collaboration between advocates and law enforcement agencies. She served as an expert witness in the U.S. and Canada, and was a consultant to the Battered Women's Justice Project.

In 2003, the President's Family Justice Center Initiative allotted $20 million for twelve Family Justice Centers (FJC). Three existing programs — the San Diego Family Justice Center (opened in 2002 as part of the City Attorney's Office), Hennepin County (MN) Domestic Abuse Service Center (a county-based program begun in 1994), and The Julian Center (founded in 1975 by the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis) — were to provide support and technical assistance in the new federal demonstration project. Casey Gwinn, then San Diego City Attorney and staunchly evangelical, was named Comprehensive Technical Assistance Provider.

Society grants members of law enforcement enormous power over citizens to enable the police to keep the peace and to preserve social order. They are granted a great deal of freedom to use their judgment regarding which laws to enforce, when and against whom. This wide range of options and authority can lead to the abuse of their power. Some police officers come to see themselves not as simply enforcers of the law, but as the law itself. Every abuser frequently reminds his victim that it is within his power to deprive her of her physical safety, security, privacy, freedom and life if and when he chooses. Most abusers, however, are not able to enlist the help of the criminal justice system to carry out their threats. Batterers within law enforcement are. Officers tell their victim, "Call the police. Who are they going to believe?" There is great systemic resistance against prosecuting an officer. If a victim decides to file a criminal complaint, she will have to present an extremely compelling story to the police and state's attorney to counter their reluctance to pursue the complaint.

Providing support and advocacy for a police victim requires someone who has worked with a wide range of women, understands the complexities of battering, has solid knowledge of available criminal and civil interventions, and understands the practices and politics of local law enforcement.

Community policing is a strategy by which law enforcement attempts to build public trust by forming relationships (i.e., partnerships) between citizens and the police. These community partners then become valuable sources of information for police and prosecutors in pursuing evidence-based prosecution. Critics say that police infiltration into community life serves the police far more than it serves citizens as it increases the reach of police. Partnerships come at a cost. Community leaders, independent advocates, and other professionals who agree or who are coerced into partnering with law enforcement may lose the community's trust. Those who agree to join may be given a seat at the table when decisions are made; those who refuse risk being excluded from decisions that impact their ability to provide services. Safety can become an issue, especially in cases involving domestic violence. Battered women's advocates often fear that if they alienate the police or prosecutors, battered women in the community will ultimately suffer the backlash.

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