Tewksbury Police Department to Offer Rape Aggression Defense Courses

The following information was provided by the Tewksbury Police Department:

Resisting aggression is a choice. You are responsible for how you respond to any event in your life. Your decisions contribute to your past, present, and future. Only you can make the choice to transform your life by committing to resist aggression.

By investing your time and effort into this program, you will be presented with educational options to resist aggression. You will be asked to raise your awareness of aggressive behavior, to recognize how aggressive behavior impacts your life, to take steps to avoid aggressive behavior, and to look at how you can be part of reducing aggression and violence. 

Unfortunately, in a small number of incidents, physical confrontations may be unavoidable.

Resisting aggression with defense is designed to empower women to make different decisions when confronted with aggressive behavior. This is the first step towards reducing aggression and violence for ourselves and the one's we love. All courses are taught by nationally certified R.A.D. Instructors.

The goal of R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) is to provide realistic self-defense options to women, regardless of their level of physical conditioning. Students at all levels of ability, age, experience, and strength will be provided with techniques and information that can be effectively used from the first day of class. R.A.D. is not a martial arts program, nor does it require students to be athletes in training to succeed.

The R.A.D. system will provide students with the knowledge to make an educated decision about personal defense. We provide information on physical and non-physical options, as well as insight into the attacker mindset.

Every student receives a manual for reference and practice. Once a student has completed a R.A.D. program, their signed manual becomes a ticket for free lifetime return and practice with any R.A.D. instructor in the US and Canada.

The widespread acceptance of the R.A.D. system is due to the ease, simplicity, and effectiveness of our tactics, solid research, legal defensibility, and unique teaching methodology. R.A.D. is the only selfdefense program endorsed by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA).

The R.A.D class is offered at no charge by the Tewksbury Police Department for high school juniors, seniors, and college students. Those who sign up must be a minimum of 16 years of age. The classes are scheduled for June 18th, 20th, 25th, and 27th from 6-9PM.

All classes will be held at the Tewksbury Senior Center, 175 Chandler Street. While the simulations are voluntary, you must commit to attending all four (4) scheduled classes. 

Class size is limited to 20 students, so register now and bring a friend!

For questions or to register, contact Officer Jennie Welch, 978-851-7373, EXT 230/ jwelch@tewksbury-ma.gov or Detective Andre Gonzalez, 978-851-7373, EXT 219/ agonzalez@ewksbury-ma.gov .