Wagoner Police Department Hosting Women's Self-Defense Class

The Wagoner Police Department is hosting a free women's self-defense class this weekend. 

The class is for women and girls above the age of 13. 

Deputy Chief Tony Ponds says he had the idea to host a women's self-defense class to ensure women know what to do if they feel threatened. 

The class will focus on changing your mindset.

"We want to be assets and not a liability in those moments because at the end of the day, we all have things that we love and we want to go back to them," said Officer Mychal Ball. 

Officer Mychal Ball is teaching the class and says he will start with the basics. 

"We're going to show you how to properly throw a strike, because at the end of the day, it's a gateway for them, hopefully learning other disciplines that will help them prepare themselves," he said. 

Deputy Chief Ponds says as an officer and a father, it's important to make sure his community is safe.

"I've been a police officer here at this department for 31 years. I've watched a lot of the older ladies now come up from younger ladies, and I am a father of daughters. It's just important to me and important to my heart that our ladies stay safe."

The class will start Saturday at noon at the Wagoner Civic Center and last until about 3 p.m.