Newton Police Dept. Offering Free Rape Aggression Defense Class in January

The Newton Police Department will be offering another free Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) course for local females next month.

The Tuesday evening course will consist of three classes that run on January 15, 22 and 29.

The classes will run from 5:30 p.m. to approximately 8:30 p.m. and are open to females age 16 and older. In the past, the courses have been taught at the Emerson Community Center in Newton Upper Falls. 

According to Newton Police Sgt. Billy Spalding, there are only a few spots left to the Tuesday class (another Sunday class is already filled). Those who are interested can email radnpd@gmail.com.

The techniques taught in the Newton RAD class have had notable success in the past; Newton South graduate Lily Konowitz attributes the skills she learned in the Newton RAD class to saving her life when she was attacked in Aruba last year. 

Since that incident, Konowitz has started her own foundation that works to raise money to purchase equipment for self-defense and rape prevention courses like the Newton RAD class.