The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the virtual training “Katrina Brownlee: From Survivor to Detective.” During this presentation, Katrina Brownlee will discuss her experience surviving domestic violence and how it led her to a path of healing, hope, and resilience and allowed her to become the type of law enforcement officer she wished had helped her.
In 1993, Katrina Brownlee experienced the unimaginable. Her corrections officer boyfriend shot her ten times and left her for dead. This icident was not the first time he had assaulted her, as she had endured multiple acts of violence by him. She had reached out to law enforcement many times seeking help. Her abuser would flash his badge each time, and the law enforcement would back away. After she had left him and returned home to gather some belongings, he shot her multiple times.
Katrina fought to heal emotionally and physically. During this healing journey, she decided to be a difference maker. She wanted to be the type of police officer she wished had responded to her calls for help. In 2001, Katrina joined the New York City Police Department Academy. She rose through the ranks, becoming a first-grade detective and part of the personal security detail of New York City’s Mayor DeBlasio. Now retired from the NYPD in 2021, Katrina has been sharing her story of survival, hope, and resilience. The television show 48 Hours featured her story in an episode titled “Katrina Brownlee: The Good Cop.”
Retired NYPD Detective Katrina Brownlee is a sought-after speaker regarding her triumph over domestic violence. Her story has been profiled in many places, including The NY Times and CBS 48 Hours. Detective Brownlee heroically turned adversity into an advantage and found her voice to tell her story after the stigma of domestic violence almost left her dead.
When Katrina was 22 years old, she was shot ten times in a violent domestic relationship with her ex-fiancé, who worked in law enforcement. The attempted murder of her life left her paralyzed, and several surgeries later, she had to relearn to walk. She calls it the "blue wall of silence." Each time she called 911 after he beat her, she says the police walked away after seeing his shield.
After this life-altering traumatic experience, her challenges didn’t end, and she and her children became homeless. Katrina triumphed and overcame this and many other obstacles of her troubled past and then attended the College of New Rochelle.
She decided to join the New York City Police Department (NYPD) after her cries went unanswered for so long, and she wanted to help others. Twenty-four years later, she retired as the highest ranking first grade detective in the largest police force in the country, and she was on the Mayor of New York’s security detail team. Today she speaks to communities and institutions about the need for domestic violence resources and how to identify them.
Detective Brownlee has received many accolades for her mentorship work as the founder of Young Ladies of Our Future, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for at-risk young women. The organization's mission is to heal the wounds of interpersonal violence, build self-esteem, and promote health and wellness so young ladies can achieve their goals and live successful lives.
Detective Brownlee recently wrote her memoir, “And Then Came The Blues.”
Participant Registration and Cost:This training is free. Participants need to register in advance for the training. Click here to register.