Mariah Timms , The Tennessean Published 3:44 p.m. CT June 6, 2017 | Updated 4:24 p.m. CT June 6, 2017

Lanise Harden, a rising sixth-grader who attended the Junior Deputy Camp, demonstrates her favorite radKIDS technique, the elbow strike.(Photo: Submitted)

Nearly 80 students entering sixthgrade in Rutherford County schools attended a Junior Deputy Camp hosted by the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office.

I love how they teach us to defend ourselves if our parents are not around, rising sixth-grader Lanise Harden said. I will do anything to defend myself.

Harden gained confidence while learning self-defense techniques from school resource officers at Riverdale High School and Stewartsboro Elementary School over the four-day course, according to a release from the RCSO.

The students were taught methods of defense from the radKIDS Personal Empowerment Safety Education Program, which teaches decision-making skills and physical resistance options to escape violence, the release said.

Chris Erwin, an SRO with the sheriffs department, led group classes while other SROs helped students hone their skills one on one.

This is to protect you from danger, Erwin said in the release, adding that regular practice will help students turn the techniques into instincts they can act on in case of an emergency.

To allow students to practice the moves properly, Riverdale SRO Jason Urban wore a protective red suit when instructing the children. He said the program teaches students how to get away from an abductor.

SRO Sgt. Tim Hayes, who coordinated the camp at Stewartsboro, said the physical training was the primary focus of the camp.

We train the kids on how to protect themselves from abduction and gave more knowledge of what law enforcement is all about, Hayes said.

More than just teaching children how to defend themselves from theoretical strangers, the SROs held discussions with students about bullying, internet safety, bicycle safety and more.

SRO Mike Farmer of Buchanan Elementary talked with the kids about how to deal with bullying because verbal abuse lasts a lifetime, according to the release.

It means everything in the world to me to show them extra attention, Farmer said.

Students learned about investigations and evidence and how bloodhounds can help track lost children. They also were toured the adult detention center and learned about first aid from Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services paramedic Terry Cunningham.

Overall, the sixth-graders enjoyed the experience.

Shawn Walding said he would definitely remember the radKIDStraining, which he described in the release as awesome and I get to defend myself.

Student A.J. Wilcox liked the different moves he learned, the release said, and fellow student Lucas Lovell said he learned self-defense, preparing him to run away to a safe place.

The Junior Deputy Camp is held annually after the end of the school year and is open to rising sixth-graders attending middle schools.

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Students learn self-defense, gain confidence at Junior Deputy Camp - The Daily News Journal