OVERLAND, Mo. — Police officers are equipped with safety training, but it doesn't always prevent them from becoming a victim.
It's something former police officer Lisa Mash said she learned after she was sexually assaulted. Now Mash has made it her mission to educate other women on how to prevent it from happening to them.
"I love it very much it’s my passion. I want to get these ladies aware of their surroundings," Mash said, "aware of what’s out there in life and how they can protect themselves."
But, it was a horrifying experience that led her here.
"A little over seven years ago, someone I knew raped me, brutally raped me. He handcuffed me, put me on the grown and put a gag in me," Mash said.
And with all of her knowledge in safety training, it still was not enough to stop the attack.
"I’m a former police officer, a black belt in aikido. For 12 years I've been teaching concealed carry, I carry a gun and for it to happen to me it was almost like wow," Mash said.
Which is why she's encouraging other women because it could happen to them to.
"A lot of people want to take self-defense cause they’re like 'Oh yeah, I want to do that,' but it’s like on the bottom of the totem pole," Mash said.
Cassie Booth is the Owner of Whole Peace Journey in Overland, where the classes are taught. Booth said this self-defense class is something in which entire families can participate.
"Just to have an awareness," Booth said. "Not only the mother, but the child to understand that yes these things can happen. We can talk about them openly and give them defense strategies so they're able to feel equipped."
Although it was a bad situation that sparked the passion, Mash turned it into a lesson and she’s telling others to do the same.
"It can happen to anybody. Tell your story. Don't stop. No means no, no matter what," Mash said.
That self-defense class took place at Whole Peace Journey in Overland, and there will be two more classes on Sept. 22, and Oct. 20th.
For more information click here.
