Department of Public Safety
University Police

Aggression Defense Training

Tufts University Police Department offers several levels of self-defense and awareness training to the Tufts community's men, women, and children. The classes that are offered include:

  • Basic Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.)
  • Advanced Rape Aggression Defense (Advanced R.A.D.)
  • R.A.D for Men (RFM)
  • Keychain Defense Options (KDO)
  • radKIDS®

Medford/Somerville Campus

Basic R.A.D.

  • Dates, Time, and Location to be determined
  • Instructors: to be determined
  • Open to female students only

Advanced R.A.D.

  • Instructor: to be determined
  • Dates, Time, and Location to be determined
  • Open to female students only

For more information about RAD on the Medford/Somerville, Boston health sciences, or SMFA campuses:

Medford/Somerville or Boston health sciences campus: please contact Officer Mark Roche via email.

SMFA Campus: please contact Sgt. Darren Weisse via email.

Grafton Campus

Basic R.A.D.

  • Dates, Time, and Location to be determined
  • For more information about the RAD program on the Grafton campus, please contact Officer Andrew Fyvie via email.

The RAD system objective is based on the philosophy of choices, "to develop and enhance the option of self-defense so that they may become more viable considerations to the woman who is attacked." It is a completely natural response when an individual resists during a violent encounter. Yet, unless a woman has developed her options of resistance with education and training, the resistance she attempts may be futile. We try to strengthen innate survival techniques by making her options more available. Preparation through education and training is usually the best way to survive an assault situation. The class ends with a simulation scenario where the student can employ self-defense techniques in the training environment.

Advanced R.A.D.

The Advanced R.A.D. program builds on the techniques and strategies from the basic level class and adds defenses against an edged weapon and a firearm. This program also covers more prone defense strategies, multiple subject encounters, and even low and diffused light simulation exercises.

R.A.D. for Men

Resisting Aggression with Defense was adopted by the Tufts University Police as a self-defense program in the fall of 2010. This course also has its foundations in education and awareness. The course includes lectures, discussions, and self-defense techniques, suitable for men of all ages and abilities.

For more information on the R.A.D. for Men, please contact Officer Mark Roche via email.

Keychain Defense Options

Continuing to enhance the many options of self-defense, the Keychain Defense Options course is one of the only realistic impact weapons programs available for the general public. Combining proven R.A.D. Physical Defense strategies with revolutionary impact weapon defense techniques make this program a worthy addition to the R.A.D. System. This program includes realistic employment, combat effectiveness, "light impact, " fluid transitions, and even simulation training exercises.

For more information on the Keychain Defense Options, please contact Officer Mark Roche via email.

radKIDS®

radKIDS® is the national leader in children's safety and is the newest self-defense and awareness program offered by the Tufts University Police Department. radKIDS® is brought to children and parents by the training and development of nationally certified instructors drawn from their communities. By empowering a community with certified local instructors, the radKIDS® Personal Empowerment Safety Education package is not just a program but a true gift to the community.

radKIDS® Curriculum topics include:

  • Home, School, and Vehicle Safety
  • Out and About Safety
  • Realistic Defense Against Abduction
  • Good-Bad-Uncomfortable Touch and more.
  • Stranger Tricks (including Physical Defense against Abduction)
  • Self-realization of personal power

For more information on radKIDS®  please contact Officer Mark Roche via email.