Local women complete MSO R.A.D. Class

A participant in the Middlesex Sheriff's Office R.A.D. class practices a self-defense technique with instructor Ken Doucette.Nearly 30 women from across Middlesex County participated in the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office first Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) Program, held January 9-11 at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Training Academy in Chelmsford.

The three-day basic women’s self-defense class was taught by instructors from the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, along with the Billerica, Concord and Tewksbury Police Departments, with additional support from the Chelmsford Police Department.  Participants in the program ranged from age 16 to 63.

“I want to thank all of our instructors and partners for their work,” said Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian.  “R.A.D. is an incredible program that combines classroom education with dynamic hands-on exercises, which prepare women - both mentally and physically - to be able to respond in threatening situations.”

R.A.D. was founded in Virginia in 1989 as a program to teach self-defense tactics to women through a combination of classroom learning and hands-on defensive training exercises.  Since its establishment more than 900,000 women have received R.A.D. training.  Today, R.A.D. also offers programs specifically designed for kids, seniors and men.

“The feedback we have received from participants in our first class has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Sheriff Koutoujian.  “We look forward to growing the program and continuing to support existing classes across the county, as we have for the past year.”

To learn more about the MSO’s R.A.D. Program please contact the Office of Community Affairs at 978-495-7408 or visit our website http://www.middlesexsheriff.org/community-affairs/pages/rad.

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