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Hopkinton, MA Police
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R. A. D.  

Rape

Aggression

Defense

“Rape is something like a pebble dropped into a pond.  Its impact, so visible at first, quickly diminishes as society forgets, leaving the victim alone with her pain.  The forgotten pebble is yesterday’s rape, tomorrow’s statistics.”

“The crime of rape is reported so infrequently that society in general is oblivious to its magnitude.  Until it happens to ‘them’ or someone ‘they’ know and love, it’s just another headline, or just another crime that happens to someone else.”(RAD Manual)

Hopkinton Police Rape Aggression Defense Systems Training

In 2000 Hopkinton Police Officer Linda Higgins began offering the Rape Aggression Defense Systems Training Class for female residents in the Town of Hopkinton.  Since introducing the class to the female residents of Hopkinton the program has taken off.  Approximately 200 women have been certified in this internationally offered basic women’s self-defense class, including one class at the Hopkinton High School. 

RAD SYSTEMS HISTORY
In 1989 Lawrence N. Nadeau founded Rape Aggression Defense Systems Self-Defense Training for women in Poquoson, Virginia.  In 1984 Larry was honorably discharged from the United States Marines where he had served four years as a military police officer.  Upon honorable discharge he entered civilian law enforcement and continued to teach karate, earning his second degree black belt in the martial art of Hapkido.  When asked by his law enforcement superiors to develop a self-defense program for some women in his community, he, along with help from current Senior Staff Instructor Sheri Iachetta, developed what has become RAD Systems Training.  Larry combined his martial arts background, his knowledge of law enforcement crime prevention techniques and practices along with Sheri’s knowledge and experiences dealing with women who had been sexually and or physically assaulted and abused into what has become RAD .  The program stresses awareness prevention, risk reduction and avoidance and progresses to hands on physical self defense.  Together Larry and Sherry invested time, finances and unconditional efforts into the program.  Over the past sixteen years the program has blossomed into an all encompassing training system offering programs in basic women’s self-defense, advanced women’s self-defense, pepper spray defense, keychain defense, radkids defense, and rad for men.  Initially marketing his program to colleges and universities nationwide, RAD quickly received recognition and support from IACLEA (International Association of College Law Enforcement Administrators).  Now offered in all forums of law enforcement agencies and rape crisis centers, RAD is taught throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia and has been introduced in Europe.  Based on the philosophy that women are most often attacked physically, emotionally and sexually, predominantly by men, Basic RAD for women teaches awareness and avoidance techniques and ultimately culminates with physical self-defense and a simulated attack.  Taught to people of all ages and physical abilities, RAD is an empowering class for people of all backgrounds and origins.

HPD BASIC RAD CLASS FOR WOMEN
According to the United States Department of Justice (US DOJ), somewhere in America, a woman is sexually assaulted every two minutes.  The US DOJ also indicates that 68% of rape victims knew their assailant.  Statistics indicate that one in four women will be the victim of a sexual assault before the age of twenty one.  The US DOJ state that between 1973 and 1987 over 2.3 million women reported sexual assaults in the United States.  71% of these women avoided being raped because they took some sort of self-protective measure, ranging from screaming and yelling to punching and kicking to using weapons or tools that we possess on our bodies at all times.  Could you defend yourself if attacked?  In your home?  On a date?  In your car?  Walking down the Street? 

Currently we offer an average of two classes per year involving 4-5 sessions per class.  If demand occurs we will and have offered more than two classes per year.  The class is free of charge, takes approximately twelve hours and return and practice is encouraged but not required.  To participate in the simulated attack at the end of the class students must be present and participate in each of the previous classes.  Protective equipment for simulation is provided as are snacks and water.  Students are not required to be fitness “gurus” but do need to be able to kick, punch and / or move in a defensive manner.  Women need to wear work out style clothing, aerobic or running type of sneakers, and be prepared to learn and participate.  All protective equipment for simulation is provided.  The class is taught at the Hopkinton Police Department on the second floor in the training room.  Women over the age of twelve are welcomed (13-16 years of age – parental waiver required).  A manual and several handouts are provided. 

If anybody is interested in taking the class or has any questions about the program or when it will next be offered please feel free to call or email Instructors Officer Linda Higgins (x316) or Detective Tim Brennan (x303) at 508-435-2123.  They have received extensive training, certification and recertification in RAD Systems.  Linda has been an instructor for seven years and Tim has been an instructor for eleven years.  Together they have collectively certified and trained hundreds of women in RAD Systems. 

STAY ALERT – STAY SAFE!