A woman is speaking out against the Nutley Police Department, claiming the people paid to protect have been victimizing her instead.

Donna Koeppel says she's still haunted by memories of being brutalized by two Nutley officers last year. According to Koeppel's story, she called the authorities after several men began removing paving blocks from her backyard, tearing up the lawn. The men told her they were under orders by her neighbor, a Newark cop she has had a long running feud with.

Koeppel claims two officers arrived and handcuffed her. When she asked why she was being arrested, the officers allegedly began to curse at her and kicked her cane out from under her. Koeppel needs the cane due to a painful and debilitating disorder that has required her to undergo surgery.

The woman says her nightmare then turned into a humiliating affair. According to Koeppel, an officer hit her in the back, causing her to wet herself. She was then taken to jail, allegedly being forced to leave her 3-year-old diabetic daughter alone in the house.

"It was horrible," says Koeppel. "I was treated like an animal, and I did nothing but call for help."

Nicholas Labruno, her husband, insists the harassment hasn't stopped and has caused the family to live in fear.

"We look behind us every day," says Labruno.

The Nutley town attorney has released a statement saying no wrongdoing has been done by the department.