The Norfolk County Sheriff Office will offer a series of free self-defense classes for the community thanks to a new partnership with the Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation.
NCSO held a soft-launch of the program on Tuesday, March 7. The event was a huge success with a waitlist of over 80 people, which staff say demonstrated a strong interest and demand for such a program.
“Giving people the tools, skills, and confidence to take care of themselves is central to our mission of public safety at the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office,” said Sheriff Patrick McDermott. “By partnering with the Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation, we are able to help more people across the county feel safe and secure in their homes and in public. That is the heart of what we want to achieve.”
NCSO staff worked with the foundation to train officers as self-defense instructors to teach the classes.
“The Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation is proud to partner with the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office on important self-protection training,” said Caroline Tocci, President and Co-Founder of the Foundation. “Both organizations are committed to increasing safety awareness and reducing violence.”
At the first event, participants learned moves and tips they can use to keep themselves safe and increase their situational awareness.
“I signed up for this self-defense class to make me more aware of my surroundings and to better envision what could happen to me, to make myself more proactive rather than reactive in these types of situations and to educate my daughter,” one participant said.
The Sheriff’s Office plans to hold self-defense classes at locations across Norfolk County. More information about future classes will be published on their social media accounts.