SOUTHWICK – Selectman Russell Fox asked the Board of Selectmen last week to help the Southwick Police Department bring back the R.A.D. program.
Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) is a program designed to provide women with the techniques and concepts needed for defending oneself. It employs easy, effective, and proven self-defense/martial arts tactics but is not a martial arts program. In addition to tactics, the program also teaches awareness and prevention, as well as risk reduction and avoidance.
Police Chief David Ricardi requested $1,500 to fund R.A.D. in his FY2016 budget request but the board asked for tight budgets this year and the funds were cut.
Fox asked if the board could use its gift account for the program.
“The chief was looking to start up the R.A.D. program and I’m asking that if we have the funds, we give the chief the funds for R.A.D.,” said Fox.
The goal of the program is to develop and enhance the options of self-defense, so that they may become viable considerations to the woman who is attacked. R.A.D. enables women to take a more active role in protecting themselves and in their psychological well being. It is a completely natural response when an individual resists during a violent encounter. Yet, unless a woman has developed her options of resistance with education and training, the resistance she attempts may be futile. R.A.D. tries to strengthen innate survival techniques by making her options more available. Preparation through education and training is usually the best way to survive an assault situation. The class ends with a simulation scenario where the student is able to employ self defense techniques in the training environment.
