Sexual Abuse is Abuse of Power Printed in the Register Guard in July, 2004.       Responding to the sex abuse trial of ex-cop Roger Magaña, bob Welch's June 24 column advised against stereotyping police just because one or two act in predatory, abusive ways. He says doing so erodes common ground between the community and the cops.       It's comforting to think that if we're just open-minded and non-judgemental that we can find resolution. But we will never put an end to sexual abuse in our community if we ignore its underpinnings: power and privilege.       Sexual abuse happens when someone chooses to abuse the power they have over another. Abusers aren't just evil people; they generally believe their actions are justified. They say that power corrupts, and we've certainly seen that cliche play itself out recently: Catholic priests nationwide, Abu Ghraib prison guards in Iraq, and Eugene police officers.       What do they all have in common? They're given vast institutional power and asked to control or safeguard people considered at best to have reduced rights, and at worst to be less human: children, Iraqi militants, and prostitutes. These power dynamics--systemic and age old--transcend the bad apple theory and underlie a deeper problem.       Are we setting ourselves up by giving a group of people sweeping powers, then expecting their power never to be abused? Are there fundamental problems with the power police hold over the citizenry? It's not about stereotyping. Not all cops are bad people--but I still have compelling reasons not to trust them.