(Harlan) A human trafficking case led the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to host a defensive tactics class focused on high school to college-age women. R.J. Bielenberg, School Resource Deputy with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, is also a Defensive Tactics Instructor.
Deputy Bielenberg says statistics show one in five women have been sexually assaulted or attempted to be sexually assaulted.
Deputy Bielenberg says about 20 young women attempted the first class on August 9. The course taught females how to keep themselves safe, situational awareness, and what is happening around them as far as people, paying attention, staying off the phone, and locating exit signs.
Bielenberg says the course covered the reasonable force code, what they can and cannot do, defense of self or another, to understand what they can legally do. Attendees learned stand-up, striking, grips and grabs, and ground techniques.
Deputy Bielenberg plans to conduct two of these types of classes per year.
