RAD system ensures women will be survivors
By Diana Kuyper Special to The News-Sun January 23, 2012 7:10PM
Antioch Police Officer Chuck Smith conducts the Rape Aggression Defense program. | Special to Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 24, 2012 2:01AM
ANTIOCH — One out of three women will be the victim of sexual assault or harassment, but it is unlikely the 26 graduates of Antioch Police Department’s first Rape Aggression Defense program will be a victim.
Women ranging in age from teenagers to grandmothers learned self-defense tactics and techniques to reduce their risk of attack in the department’s first RAD training course, spearheaded by Police Officer Chuck Smith.
“It’s not a martial arts program. Rather, it raises the participants’ awareness of danger signs, progressing to the basics of hands-on defense training,” said Police Chief Craig Somerville, crediting Smith for initiating the idea for the program.
The Rape Aggression Defense System is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women offered by colleges and police departments all over the world. The RAD System is a comprehensive, women-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. It is offered free of charge by the Antioch Police Department to women who are at least 16 years old.
Since proposing the idea more than a year ago, Smith completed the RAD instructor training and was certified to teach the course, assisted by Officers Colin Shaw and Dawn Geraty, Detective Tom Nowotarski and Community Service Officer Monica Carbonara.
“We are victim-oriented here, offering support to our residents who are victims of crime, but ultimately we want to prevent victims,” said Somerville. “The key to success is mindset. We teach participants to be aware of their surroundings and how to protect themselves. Protecting, equipping and empowering our citizens are our goals.”
Training is 10 hours spread out over two sessions, with 90 percent of the program based on the four “Rs” — Risk awareness, risk reduction, risk recognition and risk avoidance.
“It is empowering when you are aware of what is around you,” said one of the course graduates, who asked not to be named. Names of participants were withheld due to the nature of the class. The women who went through the training have asked to remain anonymous, said Somerville.
One of the older participants said the training was “refreshing for older women. We tend to get lackadaisical in our awareness of our surroundings,” she said. “This class taught me that no matter what our age, women have to always be alert. We have to check around us and behind us, no matter where we go and what we do.”
“It’s a system to provide physical, emotional and spiritual protection for women,” said Smith. “I have spent more than 10 years as a police officer in constant pursuit of being a voice for those whose voice has been taken from them by being victimized by crimes,” explained Smith. “This is my passion and I wear this badge to reflect that my job is to protect other people. I hope we’ve achieved that with our first RAD class.”
Antioch police officers, all members of the Fraternal Order of Police, donated $2,000 to purchase protective gear and equipment, including helmets, for participants and officers for the hands-on part of the training.
“We teach the students to fight back, so the protective gear is essential,” said Smith. The fund established by the FOP also pays for T-shirts for graduates that proclaim, “I Will Survive.”
Five more classes will be offered in the coming months, with registration information available on the police department’s Web site, www.antiochpd.com.
“Everywhere I go, women are indicating they are interested in the program,” said Somerville. The next training session will be offered in March with more to follow later in the year.
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