Junior Deputy Camp
Rising 6th grader Lanise Harden gained more self-confidence after School Resource Officers taught her self-defense herself during the annual Junior Deputy Camp last week.
“I love how they teach us to defend ourselves if our parents are not around,” Lanise said. “I will do anything to defend myself.”
Lanise and about 80 Rutherford County Schools’ students entering 6th grade spent four days with SROs at Riverdale High School and Stewartsboro Elementary School. They learned the radKIDS®Personal Empowerment Safety Education Program that teaches decision-making skills and physical resistance options to escape violence.
SRO Chris Erwin demonstrated techniques while other SROs honed skills with students individually.
“This is to protect you from danger,” Erwin said, adding students will retain more through practice and instinct if something bad happens.
Student Shawn Walding said he would definitely remember the radKIDS® training he described as “awesome and I get to defend myself.”
Student A.J. Wilcox liked the different moves he learned.
Fellow student Lucas Lovell said he learned self-defense, preparing him to run away to a safe place.
SRO Jason Urban, who coordinated the camp at Riverdale, said the radKIDS® program teaches students how to get away from an abductor. The SROs demonstrated what to do in threatening situations.
Urban wore a protective red suit and did several scenarios with the students so they could learn theradKIDS® skills.
SRO Sgt. Tim Hayes, who coordinated the camp at Stewartsboro, said radKIDS® training was the primary lesson.
“We train the kids on how to protect themselves from abduction and gave more knowledge of what law enforcement is all about,” Hayes said.
SRO Mike Farmer of Buchanan Elementary talked with the kids about how to deal with bullying because “verbal abuse lasts a lifetime. He makes sure students know they are important.
“It means everything tin the world to me to show them extra attention,” Farmer said.
Sheriff’s Office detectives taught students about Internet Safety, investigations and evidence while K-9s demonstrated skills of the bloodhounds to track lost kids. They learned about bicycle safety, toured the Adult Detention Center and heard about the SWAT Team.
Firefighters from Rutherford Fire and Rescue talked about fire safety and Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services Paramedic Terry Cunningham discussed first aid.
