Safety officer accused of attempted rape impacts womens trust, safetyissues

MARION COUNTY, OREGON   GHN News - Nigerian
police routinely kill, rape and torture women, according to
international reports;
but this is rare in the United States, yet when it happens it
heightens women's safety concerns.

 Michael

Scott James, age 45 was arrested by Oregon State police for kidnap, sex
abuse and attempted sodomy on September 29.  He is accused of violating
a female acquaintance at his residence in Keizer.

James
has been an employee of the Department of Public Safety Standards and
Training.  His arrest followed a two-day investigation into an alleged
kidnap, sex abuse and attempted sodomy.

The
investigation was initiated on Monday following a reported incident
that occurred early Sunday morning at JAMES' Keizer-area residence. The
32-year old female victim is an acquaintance but does not reside with
the suspect. JAMES was arrested without incident at the DPSST facility
where he worked for 1 1/2 years as a Training and Development Specialist
in the Private Investigator / Private Security Program.

JAMES is being placed on administrative leave and was lodged at the Marion County Jail.

Rape
victims, considered the most intimate of crimes, often talk about
feeling unsafe after the incident.  When a crime involves someone whose
job is to provide safety, that feeling of being unsafe is

magnified.  Rape and attempted rape is often described as an act of power and control, something inherent in a public safety officer's role.