Diane Obbema
Author, Speaker, Detective (Ret.)

About Diane 

Law Enforcement Career

 

Diane Obbema began her career with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Golden, Colorado in 1985. She was the first women to graduate Top Recruit in an academy class. Diane's first assignment was as a patrol officer.

 

In 1990, Diane was selected to pioneer the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in Jefferson County Schools. Over the next 5 years she taught thousands of students in a dozen elementary schools, becoming affectionately known as "Deputy Diane." In 1995, she returned to full-time patrol duties.

 

In 1998, Diane was promoted to detective. She specialized for 12 years in the Crimes Against Children Unit where she investigated over 400 cases of sexual abuse, physical abuse or neglect, and child deaths. During this time Diane became a key investigator in the Columbine High School shootings. She was awarded a special commendation for her investigation of the 10 murders and multiple injuries that occurred in the school's library.  

 

In addition to her case work, Diane was a field training instructor. She managed her department’s sex offender registry and conducted Community Notifications regarding sexually violent predators.

 

Over 10-years Diane was a member and former Chair of the Jefferson County Child Protection Team, reviewing the timeliness and adequacy of Social Services Caseworkers' response to child welfare situations. 

 

As a POST certified law enforcement academy instructor, she taught officers throughout Colorado in the area of forensic interviewing of children. Diane has been a featured speaker to Criminology students at Regis University in Denver, CO.

 

Her multiple awards and commendations including the prestigious Distinguished Service Medal and Professional Conduct Award. In 2009, Diane joined the Professional Standards Division while continuing to instruct on Crimes Against Children in law enforcement academies.  

 

Diane is the author of the book, Protecting Innocence. She speaks to groups and organizations on how parents and caregivers can protect their childrens' innocence through proper boundaries, role modeling, and age-apppropriate conversations. 

 

After 30 years in law enforcement, Diane retired in 2015. She speaks locally, nationally, and has traveled twice to Mexico speaking at schools, conferences, mother's groups, and training local officials to promote child protection.