OASIS advocates honored

POST FALLS – Christine Jones knows all about domestic violence.

“After 10 years of marriage, my former husband attempted to strangle me in front of my daughter,” says Jones, crime victim advocate for Post Falls Officers and Advocates Sharing Intervention Services.

Jones left her abusive relationship, got her life back together, and in time went to work first for the Coeur d’Alene Women’s Center, and then for OASIS.

Recently Jones and Post Falls police Officer Frank Bowne were recognized for their distinguished service to victims of domestic violence by the North Idaho Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

Bowne joined the Post Falls Police Department two years ago after working for the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

Award criteria stipulated that the individuals have gone above and beyond their job description to prevent, educate or assist with regard to reducing domestic violence and/or improving services to the community; and they have volunteered to make a safer/positive environment for all members of the community.

According to the nomination form submitted by Bridget Eismann, OASIS crime victim advocate, both Jones and Bowne are “great assets to the department, are compassionate, dedicated, and truly caring people that go above and beyond the call of duty.”

OASIS is an innovative approach between law enforcement and victim advocates to provide immediate crisis intervention, support services and shelter to victims of domestic violence and other crimes.

Established in 1994 by Post Falls police Chief Cliff Hayes as a collaborative effort of the Police Department, city prosecutor and social services, the OASIS program expanded in 1997 to include the Rathdrum Police Department.

The program serves both male and female victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and their children, and assists with child abuse victims, runaways, suicides and other incidents where needed.

Advocates are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and assist officers on scene with victim interviews, written statements, obtaining medical reports, interviewing children and witnesses, and transporting or escorting victims to the hospital and shelter.

According to Jones, victims don’t leave their offender until after the seventh or eighth incident of domestic abuse, primarily because of economic concerns.

Jones’ message is clear: “We want victims to know that it is not our place to judge, and that we are here to help. Whatever they need, we will be here to help.”

“Christine’s and Officer Bowne’s passion and concern for the members of this community are insurmountable,” says Eismann. “They truly care.”

OASIS in 2007 assisted more than 428 adult and child victims of sexual assault/domestic violence, and had 3,331 crisis calls, up 40 percent from the year before.