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PRINT THIS STORY | E-MAIL THIS STORY PSL police to teach kids how to foil abductors By Will Greenlee staff writer January 4, 2005 PORT ST. LUCIE — Youths can learn techniques to prevent abduction, along with other safety tips, in a program scheduled by the Port St. Lucie Police Department. The radKIDS initiative — an interactive, 10-hour program for 5- to 12-year-olds — includes instruction on everything from dealing with bullies to making good decisions. "We're not doing it as a result of any crime trend. ... We want to be ahead of that," Officer Rich Wilson said. "We want to have an education program and get as many kids through this as we can to prevent something like what happened in Sarasota with Carlie." Carlie Brucia, 11, was kidnapped in February in a crime videotaped by a car wash security camera. Her body was found several days later. Officer Vickie Leasher, one of two radKIDS instructors, learned about the program while researching the police department in Crossville, Tenn. — where she's moving — on the Internet. She said children are taught to tell potential abductors to "stay back" and run away and look for a safe space. They're also instructed to call 911. The children also learn to repeatedly poke an abductor in the eyes and yell if they are grabbed. "The goal is to get away and get help," she said. "The strength is not there, however the temporary strength with the vulnerable areas is there, and as long as they can get away ... and get help then we've got another survivor." Wilson said abductors usually approach children verbally and persuade them to walk away. "We have to train children in how to defend themselves, because typically these things happen when there's nobody around to help them," he said. "If you don't teach the kids what to do, they're not going to know." The program is taught in two age groups, 5 to 7 and 8 to 12. A class for 8- to 12-year-olds is expected this month. For more information, call (772) 871-5027. - will.greenlee@scripps.com Subscribe to The News, Tribune or Press Journal: PRE-PAY and Receive a FREE GIFT Copyright 2005, Scripps Treasure Coast Publishing Co. Click for permission to reprint

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