Aplington Police Dept. organizes public self-defense training for local women

Even in a small town like Aplington or Parkersburg, it’s important for citizens to know how to defend themselves if the need arises. That’s why the Aplington Police Department is partnering with the North Iowa Women’s Self Defense Initiative to offer a free self defense class to area women ages 13 and up.

The class, which will be held at the A-P Middle School Gym in Aplington at 6:30 p.m. on October 23rd, will be taught by longtime victim’s advocate and self defense trainer Jessica Tierney, founder of the North Iowa Women’s Self Defense Initiative.

Aplington Police Sergeant Ben Baskerville says the idea for the class came when he and Chelsie Luhring, the Butler County domestic violence advocate for Crisis Intervention Services, were brain storming helpful and informational ways to engage the community.So Baskerville asked for help from the local Ministerial Association, who pitched in money to fund the class, and they lined up a date and time.

“I think there’s a lot of concern across the state about women being targeted for crimes,” Baskerville said. “There’s a lot of talk about sex-trafficking, abductions and things like that, especially in the last few months, and I think a lot of people want to know how they can protect themselves and their loved ones.”

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