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Free bodyguards provided for abused women

7:16 AM on 12/12/2009

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Imagine having your own personal bodyguard outside your home all day and all night at no cost. That's what an Albuquerque non-profit group is providing, specifically for abused women.

There are a lot of women in Albuquerque who feel helpless and vulnerable when they file a restraining order against a violent ex, and they're sitting at home with no one to protect them. But now, those women have a new, unique service to turn to for help.

Equipped with video camera, walkie-talkies, and a lot of patience - these bodyguards are on the lookout.

A woman thinks her ex is going to pay her a visit at home despite a restraining order against him. Bodyguards have seen pictures of him, they know the history of the relationship and they sit and wait all night long for the guy to show up - and they are doing it for free.

"Our first priority is to de-escalate the situation. We're not trying to be the baddest kid on the block or anything else, we're not trying to physically abuse the subject," says Douglas Muhu, President of Ordo Dei Imperceptus.

This is a religious, but non-denominational group aimed at helping defenseless women who are at risk of being abused by spouses or exes.

"The only way to actually solve that is to provide 24/7 protection, the police can't do that, they do not have the manpower and they don't have the resources, so it comes down to our community doing it themselves," adds Muhu.

If a guy shows up who shouldn't be there, the volunteers will try and talk the man into leaving the place peacefully. Some of the bodyguards are armed, others are not. At worst they will make a citizens arrest. Either way, every encounter is documented and forwarded to Albuquerque Police.

Tania Serrano-Guerra is their first client. Since November, she says her ex-husband had violated a restraining order six times. She has volunteer bodyguards following her when she runs errands around town.

"They've followed me to one appointment, I also have numerous doctors appointments because of health problems and that's where he's going to catch me, somewhere like that. I think it's great, I think it's actually a resource that is needed," adds Serrano-Guerra.

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Imagine having your own personal bodyguard outside your home all day and all night at no cost. That's what an "Albuquerque":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albuquerque,_New_Mexico non-profit group is providing, specifically for abused women. There are a lot of women in "Albuquerque":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_mexico who feel helpless and vulnerable when they file a restraining order against a violent ex, and they're sitting at home with no one to protect them. But now, those women have a new, unique service to turn to for help. Equipped with video camera, walkie-talkies, and a lot of patience - these bodyguards are on the lookout. A woman thinks her ex is going to pay her a visit at home despite a restraining order against him. Bodyguards have seen pictures of him, they know the history of the relationship and they sit and wait all night long for the guy to show up - and they are doing it for free. "Our first priority is to de-escalate the situation. We're not trying to be the baddest kid on the block or anything else, we're not trying to physically abuse the subject," says Douglas Muhu, President of Ordo Dei Imperceptus. This is a religious, but non-denominational group aimed at helping defenseless women who are at risk of being "abused by spouses or exes":http://www.thegrio.com/2009/11/domestic-violence.php. "The only way to actually solve that is to provide 24/7 protection, the police can't do that, they do not have the manpower and they don't have the resources, so it comes down to our community doing it themselves," adds Muhu. If a guy shows up who shouldn't be there, the volunteers will try and talk the man into leaving the place peacefully. Some of the bodyguards are armed, others are not. At worst they will make a citizens arrest. Either way, every encounter is documented and forwarded to Albuquerque Police. Tania Serrano-Guerra is their first client. Since November, she says her ex-husband had violated a restraining order six times. She has volunteer bodyguards following her when she runs errands around town. "They've followed me to one appointment, I also have numerous doctors appointments because of health problems and that's where he's going to catch me, somewhere like that. I think it's great, I think it's actually a resource that is needed," adds Serrano-Guerra.