A Grain Valley police officer is hosting the first-ever rape aggression defense, or "R.A.D." training in the city.
Officer Daniel Iiams is a school resource officer with the Grain Valley School District who said, "I felt compelled to seek out the training necessary to become a certified R.A.D. instructor, so when they go to college and off on their own they will be safe."
Grain Valley Police Chief David Starbuck supported Iiams because he feels, "Anything that gives people more sense of well-being or personal security is good."
The course is a 3-day, 30-hour program that includes classroom instruction and hands-on training. Right now, there are 33 R.A.D. programs in Missouri and 4 in Kansas. About a dozen of those programs are offered in the Kansas City metro area. The first course in Grain Valley was completely filled and people are already expressing interest in the July course.
We met Courtney Trusler, a mom who's going through the program with her 13-year-old daughter Sarah.
"It's been hard," Trusler said. "I hate to think of her ever being in a spot that she's going to need this, but then again it's also really helpful for me and makes me feel good that she's going to be able to defend herself if she needs to."
For a listing of the R.A.D. programs in Kansas, click here.
