Above: Katelyn Morrisey, of Cliffwood Beach, works on self-defense maneuvers with instructor Detective Sgt. John Merced of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. Below: Marilyn Glennon, of Cliffwood Beach, uses new techniques to fend off Hazlet Police Detective Jerry Burgos and Detective Sgt. John Merced of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. ABERDEEN – Area women participating in a recent self-defense class walked away with not only major moves, but with lifelong guidance from two veteran police detectives.
Instructors John Merced, a detective sergeant with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and Jerry Burgos, a detective with the Hazlet Police Department, led the self-defense class that was infused with their criminal justice knowledge and extensive background in the martial arts.
“I have had students who later told me, ‘I was alone on a dark street and I heard John’s voice and your voice telling me to pay attention,’ ” said Burgos.
Patrolman Raymond Campbell and the Aberdeen Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 163 hosted the Safety Awareness and Rape Prevention Program for Women that ran from Feb. 4 to March 10 at the Aberdeen Hose and Chemical Fire Company on Lloyd Road.
About 13 women participated in the six-week program that focused on becoming aware of their surroundings and preparing themselves in case of an attack from someone wishing them harm.
“We really would like to do it again in another six months,” Campbell said. “I would like to try to get it into the high school and teach some of the students about being aware of their surroundings.”
Campbell first heard of the program through a mutual friend and contacted Merced, a 20-year Aberdeen resident.
“We have been running this program for about eight years now, and it actually started as a community service project through the Knights of Columbus in Keyport,” said Merced. “We do programs for both adults and teenagers, with parental consent.”
The course covers everything from how to handle physical confrontation to avoiding identity theft. Participants extolled the values of remaining calm in situations and keeping a level head as well.
The class sessions opened up with a stretching period and a questionand answer session. Burgos and Merced drill participants in different scenarios.
Questions like, “What do you do if service people come to your front door?” The answer – shouted back – is, “Check their identification and call the service company to confirm that this person works with them.”
The instructors then put the participants through their paces, even turning out the lights, simulating a nighttime attack.
“We try to keep the maneuvers simple,” Merced explained. “That fancy stuff you see on TV, that doesn’t work.”
Merced explained how the class has been therapeutic for former students who had already been victims of a sexual attack.
“We had participants who had been victims of attacks and after taking the course, felt like they had more control of their lives,” he said. “We really try to get families involved in this kind of thing too, teaching people how to handle domestic issues.”
Denise Black, of Middletown, is a dispatcher with the Aberdeen Police Department and felt the class was something she should participate in.
“I think it is good to know that you really shouldn’t go places alone at night, and even if you don’t retain all of the moves in your mind, you know how to handle yourself,” Black said. “Officer Campbell had actually asked me if it was something I thought residents could benefit from, and I certainly do think they would. I would recommend this course to anybody.”
Black also suggested the course be offered to high school students in the area.
“Especially seniors,” she said. “With a lot of girls and boys going off to college for the first time, it would be very useful to have this kind of information available to them.”
Some women taking the classes work at night and were encouraged to participate by their employer.
“Our manager put the flier up in our break room and told us that he felt it was a good class for the women [to take],” said Tami Cianfrona, of Cliffwood Beach. “And this has certainly been a good class. It is certainly valuable to people who work late shifts.”
Cianfrona’s coworker Katelyn Morrissey, also of Cliffwood Beach, agreed.
“I have taken a lot of kickboxing classes and have done karate in the past, so I was interested in the class,” Morrissey said. “But it is interesting to know this kind of stuff for when I am by myself.”
Marilyn Glennon, another active participant, agreed with the others.
“After one class, I was more aware of everything and everyone around me.”
“I know everyone has had a good time and it has given me the chance to meet some people from the community. I would definitely like to see more participation in the future,” Campbell said. “I also feel like the township has given these people a tool to work with to prevent rape or another crime.”
The Hazlet Township Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Amato’s Karate and Weapons Academy of Hazlet, and the Knights of Columbus, Jesus the Lord Council 12232, of Keyport, sponsored the class.