DEPUTIES' RAPE DEFENSE CLASS GIVES WOMEN THE SKILLS TO FIGHT BACK.

Byline: Karen Thacker Community Columnist 

Every few weeks, a room at the Lancaster sheriff's station is set aside for women only.

Inside is a Rape Aggression Defense class, a free course taught by women for women that prepares them for countering aggressors - ranging from a knife-wielding rapist to a man who won't let go at a party.

The four-week course physically prepares women by teaching martial-arts blows and even allows them to throw punches and kicks with all their strength against a male deputy volunteer in the final class.

``It mentally prepares them so they know what to do if a situation happens,'' said sheriff's Deputy Theresa Dawson, who started the course in April 1998.

The course explains a woman's options - verbal and physical - that can leave an aggressor with results ranging from minor discomfort to extreme pain.

``The object is to develop and enhance the options of self-defense so they may become viable considerations to the woman attacked,'' Dawson said.

The next Lancaster class starts Feb. 24. The program runs for three hours one night a week for four weeks.

Dawson, fellow Lancaster station Deputy Tania Bower and Santa Clarita station Deputy Susan Rogers are each trained to conduct the class, taught on Wednesdays in Lancaster and Thursdays at Santa Clarita City Hall.

The first week's emphasis is on preventive measures, like a woman keeping her car's gas tank at least half full so she never has to get gas or visit an automated teller machine at night.

``Ninety percent of avoidance is awareness,'' Dawson said. ``It's being alert and reacting with confidence.''

The next two weeks concentrate on how to fight back: hitting, kicking and explanations of what responses are appropriate for different situations.

``There's several myths out there about women: one, that women can't defend themselves,'' Bower said. ``Women have just never been taught technique or learned to be aggressive. Some of them have never even made a fist.''

The final class provides a chance to put their new knowledge to work on male deputies, who wear padded suits for protection against the blows.

The element of surprise is what's most effective, Bower said. ``Most males don't expect females to fight,'' she added.

A quick move can give a woman just enough time to ``stun and run,'' she said. ``So they can use the technique and get a window of opportunity to escape.''

Added Dawson, ``We try to make it a fun class, because it's a hard class to teach and there are survivors in our class.''

Dawson, 31, has been in law enforcement for nine years, the last three in Lancaster. Within a 10-month period before starting the program, she personally assisted in 80 sexual-assault cases, including some involving children.

That motivated Dawson and Bower to attend training to teach RAD classes.

Bower taught a self-defense class for a year before RAD, but it was a single eight-hour course.

``With RAD we break it down to spend more time on the technique and practice it, and they can retain it better,'' she said.

Having a few weeks to memorize skills gives participants a chance to learn the moves.

``It's more second nature than, Oh, what do I do now?'' Bower said.

About 120 women in Lancaster and 180 in Santa Clarita from all walks of life have taken part in the free program so far.

``We didn't charge because we wanted to make sure it's available to all women,'' Dawson said.

The padded gear is costly, however. Aggressor suits cost about $1,000 each, and more are needed. Most of the padded gear the three deputies paid for themselves.

People can make donations through the Lancaster Sheriff Boosters Club if it is earmarked specifically for RAD.

Those interested in signing up for a class can do so by calling Dawson or Bower at [phone].