Bedford Police and Council on Aging Host Senior Self-defense Class

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-533-9398
Email: john@jgpr.net

Bedford Police and Council on Aging Host Senior Self-defense Class

BEDFORD — Police Chief Robert Bongiorno is pleased to report that the Bedford Police Department teamed up with the Bedford Council on Aging (COA) to host a senior self-defense class April 7, lead by Lincoln Police Detective Ian Spencer and Self-defense Coordinator Jena Salon.

“Seniors are too often targets of crimes, and programs like these are important to teach them ways to stay safe,” said Wendy Aronson, an outreach worker from the Council on Aging. “The seniors were engaged and while we hope they never have to use these techniques, we are glad they can feel safer with their training.”

About 10 men and women were in attendance for the program which taught seniors techniques for preventing crime by properly securing their homes and vehicles.

Seniors also learned how to escape dangerous situations unharmed with low-energy self-defense methods such as strikes, blocks, and kicks.

“The Bedford Police Department’s first mission is public safety, and classes like these help improve and ensure safety for one of our most vulnerable populations,” said Bedford Police Officer Kristen Dineen, who coordinated the Police Department’s role in the class. “We are very grateful to the Council on Aging, Jena Salon, and Lincoln Police Detective Ian Spencer for putting on a great class!”

Council on Aging staff members are pleased with the success of the class and are looking into continuing similar training programs with even more participants. Additional classes are expected to be announced later in the year.

Officers Dineen and Jeff French were also recently certified in Rape Aggressive Defense Systems (R.A.D.) and will be offering classes soon.

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