FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 20, 2014

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

**Media Advisory/Calendar Listing**

Melrose Police Department Announces Free Spring R.A.D. Class Schedule

WHAT:

Chief Michael L. Lyle announces that the Melrose Police Department will be conducting free Rape Aggression Defense training courses on Wednesdays this spring.

“We are proud to be able to offer this resource to the women of Melrose,” Chief Lyle said. “While we hope that they never have to use the tactics and lessons learned here, we hope women will feel a sense of empowerment from these courses, and the department applauds the women who complete R.A.D. training.”

The Rape Aggression Defense System is dedicated to teaching women defensive concepts and techniques against various types of assaults by utilizing easy effective and proven self-defense tactics. The course begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, while progressing on the basics of hands-on defense training.

WHERE:

The Milano Family Senior Center, 201 W. Foster St., Melrose

WHEN:

R.A.D. classes are taught over a period of 12 hours – four classes, three hours each.

The first batch of courses is reserved for Melrose High School Seniors, and they will meet April 2, 9, 16, and 30 from 3-6 p.m.

The open class begins May 14 and runs May 21, May 28, and June 4 from 4-7 p.m.

HOW:

Women interested in taking part in the class should email Tricia Quinn at pquinn@cityofmelrose.org or call her at 781-979-4457. The classes are free.

NOTES:

The first class is an overview and discussion on risk reduction and prevention. The next two classes consist of learning and practicing physical defense moves. The final class is the simulation of an attack. This is the class where everything the student learns comes together.

The students must attend all four classes to complete the course. Students do not have to participate in the attack simulation. It is strictly voluntary and the students can still complete the course if they choose not to volunteer; but they must be present.

The goal of the course and the culminating simulation is to make women leave with a feeling of empowerment. The Melrose Police R.A.D. instructors are specially trained to teach these classes.

These courses are only possible – and free – because of the generosity of donors in our community, especially Melrose-Wakefield Hospital and the Melrose Running Club.

###