Katrina Brownlee was only 22 when her life nearly ended. Her ex-fiancé, a correctional officer, shot her ten times at point-blank range and left her to die. It was the lowest point of an already traumatic life, but it ended up being a miraculous turning point. Despite repeated 911 calls, law enforcement had failed to protect her up to that point, so in the aftermath, she decided to join the NYPD to protect herself and to be the kind of cop who never came to her rescue. Katrina served for twenty years, becoming a highly decorated first-grade detective through her undercover work in vice and narcotics and service on Mayor de Blasio's security detail.
Katrina is a sought-after speaker regarding her triumph over domestic violence. She also regularly teaches seminars to law enforcement officers on managing domestic violence incidents. Her story has been profiled on CBS’s 48 Hours and in the New York Times. Brownlee has received many accolades for her mentorship work as the founder of Young Ladies of Our Future, a nonprofit organization serving 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 women can achieve their goals and live successful lives. Brownlee also established Can’t Be Silenced, an organization working on solutions to the urgent domestic violence crisis. And Then Came the Blues: My Story of Survival on Both Sides of the Badge, released August 5, 2025, is her first book.