ABERDEEN – Women in the Matawan and Aberdeen areas are being offered a chance to learn how to fend off a possible rapist or attacker, thanks to a sixweek program hosted by theAberdeen Police Department.
“This is really more of a prevention program,” said John Merced, a detective sergeant with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and a 20-year Aberdeen resident.
“I had done this program in other towns, just as a service to the community, and people really loved it, so now we go all over the state.”
Detective Jerry Burgos of the Hazlet Police Department is Merced’s former partner and longtime friend and accompanies him during the safety awareness classes.
The two have been conducting the safety class over the past eight years and now will offer the course inAberdeen after being contacted by township Patrolman Raymond Campbell, who heard about Merced’s program and felt it could benefit the Aberdeen community.
“I had heard about it, so I contacted [Merced] and he told me to coordinate it and he would be there,” Campbell said. “It is really heavy into self-defense tactics, and it will cover a lot of small tricks that many of us take for granted.”
Both Campbell and Merced explained that they hope it will raise awareness among women and help prevent future attacks from happening.
“After someone has been attacked, it can’t be undone,” Merced said. “So hopefully we can prevent women from becoming victims by promoting awareness and teaching women how to protect themselves and thwart a possible attacker.”
Merced, a seventh-degree black belt, is also a karate instructor atAmato’s Karate in Keansburg.
The Aberdeen Safety Awareness and Rape Prevention program will run over the course of six weeks, beginning the week of Feb. 4. Classes will meet 7-9 p.m. at the Aberdeen Township Hose and Chemical Company on Lloyd Road on Mondays.
For more information or to register, visit http://www.aberdeenpba163.com/ events.htm or contact theAberdeen Police Department at (732) 583-4200.
– Erin O. Stattel