October 14, 2016: Republican Candidate’s Controversial Remarks. Central Park Crimewave. The Virtual Training of Tomorrow’s Police.

> TONIGHT ON 'METROFOCUS,' THE CANDIDATE, THE COMMENTS AND THE CONTROVERSY.

MEET THE MAN RUNNING FOR NEW YORK STATE SENATE WHO'S INCENDIARY COMMENTS MADE SEND HIM RUNNING FOR THE HILLS.

AFTER A SERIES OF BRUTAL ATTACKS IN NEW YORK CENTRAL PARK, POLICE STEP UP PATROLS AND PUT CITIZENS ON HIGH ALERT.

IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW CRIME WAVE?

PASS OR FAIL MEANS LIFE OR DEATH AT NEW YORK'S MONROE COLLEGE AS CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDENTS STEP INTO A SIMULATOR TO TRAIN FOR DEADLY CONFRONTATIONS, BUT CAN THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY REALLY TEACH US HOW TO POLICE?

[ GUN FOOIRP ] ALL THAT AND MORE AT 'METROFOCUS' STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪♪♪

Announcer: THIS IS 'METROFOCUS' WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY --

Announcer: CORPORATE FUNDING FOR 'METROFOCUS' WAS PROVIDED BY -- MUTUAL OF AMERICA.

YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY, AND BY SPE & G, SERVING CUSTOMERS STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE INVESTING IN THE FUTURE.

> WELCOME TO 'METROFOCUS.'

I'M JACK FORD.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH OUTRAGE IN HARLEM AND A CANDIDATE FOR NEW YORK STATE SENATE AT THE EYE OF A RACIALLY CHARGED FIRESTORM.

JON GIRODES, PRIMARY IN NEW YORK'S 30BLE DISTRICT CAME UNDER FIRE PROMISING RACIALLY STEREOTYPICAL FOOD AS A LOCAL CAMPAIGN EVENT THAT IS TURNING THE STOMACHS OF HIS ONE-TIME SUPPORTERS.

NBC 4 INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER SARAH WALLACE HAS THE STORY.

Reporter: HE MADE REFERENCES TO FRIED CHICKEN AND WATERMELON, BUT 39-YEAR-OLD JON GIRODES ISN'T APOLOGIZE ARE FOR REMARKS MANY FEEL ARE RACIALLY EXPLOSIVE.

IN FACT, DOUBLING DOWN DEFENDING HIS WORDS TO THE I-TEAM, AND THERE'S ANOTHER TWIST TO THIS STORY.

RACISM.

STEREOTYPES.

ALL OF THAT.

Reporter: THE REACTION, SWIFT AND FIERCE ON THE STREETS OF HARLEM.

THAT IS DISGUSTING.

OKAY?

IS THAT THE MENTALITY HE HAS FOR THIS COMMUNITY?

Reporter: THE RESPONSE TO REMARKS MADE BY THIS MAN, JON GIRODES, THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR THE NEW YORK SENATE SEAT IN HARLEM.

THE 39-YEAR-OLD ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER MAKING HIS SECOND RUN TO REPRESENT THE SPRAWLING DISTRICT WITH PHOTOS WITH BIG WIGS AND A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

WHAT HE WROTE IN AN E-MAIL.

THAT HAS TO BE EXPOSED.

Reporter: HE WAS E-MAILING THE I-TEAM RECENTLY IN RESPONSE TO OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RENTAL DEAL INVOLVING HIS APARTMENT IN THIS LUXURY DOWNTOWN APARTMENT.

HE WAS HOSTING EVENT, DONATING KOOL-AID AND KFC AND WATERMELON TO THE PUBLIC.

COME TO THE STATE BUILDING.

GOING TO COME TO THE STATE BUILDINGANTS AND DONATE KOOL-AID, KFC AND WATERMELONS TO THE PUBLIC.

AND WE'RE GOING DO DONATE LIKE VARIOUS FOOTS IN HIS [ BLEEP ] IF HE TRIES THAT.

Reporter: GIRODES INVOKED MARTIN KING JR. ON THIS WEBSITE, INITIALLY ASKED WHY DOES IT NEED TO BE EXPLAINED?

THIS IS WHAT HE SAYS HE WANTS TO HAND OUT.

THAT'S PATHETICALLY RACIST.

DEROGATORY.

AND INSULTING.

Reporter: THE I-TEAM REACHED GIRODES BY PHONE AND AFTER A NUMBER OF LENGTHY CONVERSATIONS AGREED TO MEET US AT HIS CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS FOR AN ON-CAMERA INTERVIEW BUT NEVER SHOWED UP.

BUT HE DID SHOW ME THIS.

A SHOERTLESS PICTURE WITH A TEXT, MY GIFT TO YOU, AND SAID, I COULD RECORD A CONVERSATION TO BE AIRED.

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO FIND IT OFFENSIVE.

WHAT I THINK, ANYONE WHO GIVES FREE FOOD TO PEOPLE IS DOING THEM A FAVOR.

A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO WILL LET ME GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND GIVE IT OUT FOR ME.

SEE IF THEY TAKE IT.

NO, NO.

Reporter: AS WE WERE FOCUSING ON THE FIRESTORM, HIS WORDS CREATED IN HARLEM, WE GOT A NEW COMPLAINT ABOUT ANOTHER RENT DISPUTE INVOLVING GIRODES AND THE HIS MIDTOWN APARTMENT.

OUT HOW MUCH MONEY?

$750 AND NOW SHORT OF MY OWN OCTOBER RENT.

Reporter: NANCY BINDEARES SAID GIRODES AGREED TO RETURN HER MONEY AND CLAIMS HE IS DUCKING HER.

HE IS A LIAR.

HE IS SO DISGUSTING FLRT OUR PHONE INTERVIEW, GARODESE CLAIMED HE'S THE VICTIM.

I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY SCAM.

I'M INVOLVED AS FAR AT THE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SCAM ME.

SAY ARE EWING THE VICTIM OF A SCAM.

THE BIGGEST VICTIM EVER.

Reporter: HER SAID WITH ALL THE FUSS HE'S THINKING ABOUT ENDING HIS POLITICAL CAREER.

CURRENTLY HOLDING THE SEAT SAYS IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD MOVE BY HIS OPPONENT ESPECIALLY GIVEN HIS INCENDIARY E-MAIL TO THE I-TEAM.

DENOUNCE HIM AND TO SET A TONE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN THIS CITY THAT THIS TYPE OF OFFENSE DOES NOT GO UNCHALLENGED.

Reporter: GAROD EZ IS NOT BACKED BY THE REPUBLICAN STATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE OR PARTY ESTABLISHMENT IN NEW YORK CITY.

ONE OFFICIAL TOLD US HE IS NOT A REAL CANDIDATE.

BY THE WAY, SINCE OUR I-TEAM INVESTIGATION BEGAN, GIRODES HAS TAKEN DOWN HIS WEBSITE AND ALL OF HIS SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES.

HAPPY TO HAVE SARAH WALLACE WITH US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU, JACK.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

SINCE THE TIME YOU AIRED THIS YOU MENTIONED CONVERSATION HE SUGGESTED HE MIGHT BE WITHDRAWING FROM HIS POLITICAL CAREER.

IS HE STILL ON THE BALLOT?

YES, STILL ON THE BALLOT AND INDICATED SUBSEQUENTLY THAT HE IS GOING TO STAY IN THE RACE AND NOT DROP OUT.

THAT HE IS PREPARING TO PUT BACK ALL OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES.

WHEN YOU CONFRONTED HIM ABOUT THIS, HE SEEMED AT LEAST, YOU KNOW FROM THE OUTSIDE, SEEMED TO -- I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO SAY PUZZLED ABOUT IT, BUT DIDN'T SEEM TO SEE WHY IT WOULD BE OFFENSIVE TO SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU TALKED TO.

IS THAT THE SENSE YOU GOT?

ABSOLUTELY.

HE, IN FACT, SAID HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WAS OFFENSIVE.

HE COULDN'T FATHOM WHY PEOPLE WOULD THINK THIS WAS A RACIAL STEREOTYPE AND IN FACT WENT INTO GREAT DETAIL ON THE PHONE ABOUT THAT HE GREW UP WITH WATERMELON'S HE GREW UP WITH FRIED CHICKEN'S HE GREW UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT HE BE A PROBLEM.

I KNOW YOU TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WAS YOUR SENSE THAT, THAT JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY THAT YOU SPOKE TO FOUND THIS AT SOME LEVEL OFFENSIVE?

YES.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

ALSO INTERESTING, HE HAD SAID TO US ON THE PHONE.

WE DIDN'T JUST KIND OF THINK, OH, GEE.

LET'S GELT THIS E-MAIL AND GO OUT AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE THINK.

HE BASICALLY DARED US TO GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND GET A RESPONSE, AND SAID THAT HE, EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY KNOWS HIM.

FIRST OF ALL, NOBODY HE WE SPOKE WITH KNEW WHO HE WAS AND SECONDLY SAID, HERE IS -- HE SAYS EVERYBODY KNOWS HIM AND HERE'S WHAT HE SAID.

HE BASICALLY TOLD US TO GO OUT AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT AND LATER SAID THAT HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO GO BACK OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND MAKE THOSE COMMENTS PUBLICLY, AND I SAID, WELL, IF YOU DO, WE WOULD LIKE TO BE THERE FOR THAT.

YEAH.

AND -- NOTHING MORE SINCE?

NO.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME TEXTS, BUT CERTAINLY HE HAS NOT INDICATED HE'S PREPARED TO GO BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.

IF HE DOES, YOU CAN BET WE'LL BE THERE AND BE BACK TO TALK ABOUT IT.

INDEED.

CERTAINLY AN INTERESTING STORY, AND NICE TO SEE YOU.

TALKING ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

THAT CNBC 4 WITH AN INVESTIGATIVE UNIT OUT THERE.

IMPORTANT PART OF JOURNALISM.

NICE TO SEE THEY'RE STILL DOING IT.

THANK YOU.

THIS CAME FROM A TIP FROM THE COMMUNITY TO OUR CONSUMER UNIT.

HOW THIS ALL STARTED, AND SO THAT'S NICE THAT WE ARE SO COMMITTED TO GETTING TIPS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THEN FOLLOWING UP.

SARAH GOOD TO SEE YOU.

NICE TO SEE YOU, BE WELL.

THANK YOU.

YOU, TOO.

♪♪♪

> WITH ECHOES OF DECADES PART A NEW SENSE OF FEAR IS SETTLING OVER MANHATTAN OASIS.

IN LAST MONTH IN CENTRAL PARK CELL PHONE ROBBERY ON THE RISE.

SEVERAL RECENT BRUTAL ASSAULTS BY ROAMING GANGS OF TEENS THAT MADE HEADLINES.

WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND ROBBED.

FORTUNATELY ESCAPED THE ATTEMPTED RAPE AND TWO DAYS LATER HER ALLEGED ASSAILANT ARRESTED.

WITH JUSTICE HOT ON HIS HEELS TAKEN DOWN USING THE VICTIM'S, FIND MY PHONE APP.

THOUGH THE TREND IS ALARMING, POLICE SAY CRIME IS ACTUALLY DOWN IN CENTRAL PARK FOR THE YEAR OVERALL BY ABOUT 35%. JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND MAKE SENSE OF THESE STATISTICS AND HOW THE POLICE PLAN TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAYY IS GEOFFREY CROFT OF NYC PARK ADVOCATES.

GEOFFREY, NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE AGAIN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

MY FIRST THOUGHT WHEN I SEE THIS AND READ THIS INTRODUCTION IS, SHOULD I NOW BE AFRAID OF GOING INTO CENTRAL PARK?

IT'S A BIGGER QUESTION TO START WITH, BUT WHAT'S THE ANSWER TO IN A?

YEAH.

I MEAN, NO.

THE PUBLIC SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF GOING INTO CENTRAL PARK, BUT SHOULD ALWAYS BE AWARE.

ESPECIALLY JOGGING AT NIGHT.

YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD -- WE ALWAYS RECOMMEND JOGGING IN PAIRS AND DEFINITELY WITHOUT HEADPHONES.

BUT, NO.

I MEAN, THE PARK IS USED BY TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR, AND OBVIOUSLY CRIME IS NOWHERE NEAR THE LEVELS THAT IT USED TO BE, BUT ANY CRIME IS A BAD CRIME.

AND IN PARKS ESPECIALLY, THE PUBLIC, THEY GO INTO THEM.

THEY ARE RELAXED.

THAT'S THE ENTIRE PURPOSE OF GOING INTO A PARK.

A GOOD POINT.

YEAH.

NOT QUITE ON GUARD THE WAY YOU MIGHT BE SOMEPLACE ELSE.

AND NOT SUPPOSED TO BE'S SUPPOSED TO BE ENJOYING IT AND SO MANY OF OUR SPACES ARE SO BEAUTIFUL AND WE WANT TO ENJOY THEM, BUT THERE IS UNFORTUNATELY CRIME, AND THAT'S NOT GOOD.

TAKE A LOOK AT NUMBERS THAT YOU'VE ACCUMULATED HERE AND TALKING ABOUT, TALK ABOUT CITY-WIDE PARK CRIME NUMBERS HERE.

YEP.

AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS TIME PERIOD AND 2014, THIS TIME PERIOD AND 2015, IN TERMS OF TOTAL CRIMES IT'S GONE UP FROM 245 TO 352.

RIGHT?

A 44% INCREASE.

ABSOLUTELY.

IN TERMS OF VIOLENT CRIME, GONE UP FROM 148 TO 195.

THAT'S A 32% INCREASE.

HOW DO WE ACCOUNT FOR THAT -- NOT INSIGNIFICANT INCREASE?

YEAH.

I MEAN, 32% RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME IN PARKS CITY-WIDE, NOT INCLUDING CENTRAL PARK.

MORE THAN A PERSON A DAY IS NOW THE VICTIM OF A VIOLENT CRIME IN A CITY PARK AND UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE BEEN CALLING FOR YEARS FOR A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN POLICE PROTECTION, IN PARK ENFORCEMENT.

THE PARK POLICE.

AND THE CITY, YOU KNOW -- IT'S BEEN PRETTY EMBARRASSING CITY-WIDE WHAT THEIR REACTIONS HAVE BEEN, AND THAT'S, AGAIN, JUST THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2016 COMPARED TO 2015.

SO YEAH.

THAT'S A -- A VERY DRAMATIC INCREASE, AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS RESPONSE TO ME HAS BEEN PRETTY SHAMEFUL.

HOW ABOUT CENTRAL PARK ITSELF?

WHAT ARE WE SEEING IN TERMS OF THE CRIME RATE IN CENTRAL PARK?

IT'S BEEN DOWN.

DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY, WHICH IS GREAT, AND OBVIOUSLY ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN CENTRAL PARK MAKES NEWS.

THE HORRIFIC ATTACK A FEW DAYS AGO ON THE JOGGER, YOU KNOW, IT MAKES PEOPLE UNEASY.

AND OBVIOUSLY IT SHOULD.

BUT THE CENTRAL PARK NUMBERS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN, WHICH IS GREAT.

IT IS GREAT.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS COMPARED TO THE OTHER PARK NUMBERS, WHICH ARE INCREASING -- INCREASINGLY HIGHER?

WELL, WE KNOW CENTRAL PARK IS THE ONLY DEDICATED POLICE PRECINCT IN A NEW YORK CITY PARK.

THEY'RE THE ONLY PARK IN NEW YORK CITY.

SO, AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN COMMAND.

THEIR OWN OFFICERS.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN DETAILS.

SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY ONE REASON, AND WE CAN ALWAYS USE MORE POLICE IN CENTRAL PARK AS WELL.

SO I THINK THAT'S A BIG FACTOR.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, CERTAINLY DEFINITELY CAUSE FOR CONCERN, BECAUSE WE HEAR ABOUT THEM MORE.

YEAH.

WELL WHAT IS YOUR ORGANIZATION SAYING THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE DOING IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THESE NUMBERS?

WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST THEY HAVE TO REALIZE AND ACCEPT THAT THESE AREN'T 'SLIGHT UPTICKS' PARK CRIME IS NOT CERTAINLY 'RARE.'

AS THE MAYOR --

CERTAINLY NOT RARE IF YOU'RE THE VICTIM.

CERTAINLY NOT RARE IF YOU'RE THE VICTIM, AND, AGAIN, 100 AND -- 190-PLUS VIOLENT CRIMES.

I MEAN, THOSE ARE SERIOUS NUMBERS AND THAT'S JUST FOR ONE QUARTER.

SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ANNUAL NUMBERS OVER 600 VIOLENT CRIMES, IT'S MURDER, RAPE, FELONY ASSAULTS.

AND ROBBERY.

SO, YEAH.

THOSE ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS, AND YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, YEAH.

THE CITY HAS TO RECOGNIZE THAT, AND YOU KNOW, WE NEED BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

I MEAN, WE NEED ENFORCEMENT.

WE NEED A POLICE, A PARK POLICE PRESENCE IN OUR PARKS.

WE ARE INVITING THE PUBLIC INTO THESE OASISY, GREEN SPACES BUT NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECTING THEM.

IS THE SOLUTION AS SIMPLE AS SAYING, MORE POLICE PRESENCE IN THESE PARKS?

MORE POLICE PRESENCE AND MORE DEDICATED PARK POLICE PRESENCE.

ALSO WE NEED WORKERS.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE OTHER THING, TOO, AND CERTAINLY PARKS LIKE CENTRAL PARK DO HAVE MANY MORE WORKERS THERE, AND THEY ARE THE EYES AND THE EARS, AND UNFORTUNATELY IN OUR PARK SYSTEM, I MEAN, EACH YEAR WE ALLOCATE A FRACTION OF THE -- THE DEDICATED FUNDS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN OUR PARKS, BUT THOSE HAVING PARK EMPLOYEES IN PARKS MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

MORE PEOPLE YOU HAVE, OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU SAID, AS EYES.

IS THIS SIMPLY A MATTER OF RESOURCES, MONEY?

BUDGET ISSUES?

CERTAINLY.

YOU CAN GET DEEPER TOO THE SOCIETAL ISSUES OF WHY HUMAN BEINGS FEEL THEY NEED TO PREY ON THE PUBLIC USING PARKS.

THAT'S CERTAINLY A LONGER DISCUSSION, BUT IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.

AND YOU KNOW, THEY FEEL THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS.

AND THE PUBLIC, JUST -- THIS CONSTANT BALANCE.

THE PUBLIC WANTS TO AND DEMAND TO YOU'RE THEIRS PARKS.

THESE ARE OUR BACKYARDS AND THE BAD GUYS ARE SAYING, WE WILL TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU.

BOTTOM LINE, LAST QUESTION FOR YOU.

WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE TO PEOPLE WATCHING THIS SAYING, BOY, I KIND OF WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT IN THE PARKS, BUT NOW MAYBE I'M AFRAID THAT I SHOULDN'T?

WHAT WOULD UP SAY TO THEM?

WELL, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY YOU SHOULDN'T LIVE IN FEAR.

THAT'S A TERRIBLE THING, BUT THE SAME TOKEN, YOU NEED TO BE AWARE AND YOU NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS.

I MEAN, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE IN PUBLIC PARKS.

YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS.

AND DEFINITELY START, YOU KNOW, PRESSURING THE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE THIS A PRIORITY, BECAUSE THEY JUST -- THEY HAVEN'T.

GEOFFREY CROFT, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TALKING WITH YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BE WELL.

> AND THE NEW YORK CITY PARK ADVOCATES WERE RELEASE A REPORT ON CITY-WIDE RIME CRIME STATISTICS NEXT WEEK.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE STORY ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND AT 'METROFOCUS.'

♪♪♪

> SIR, YOUR COMMUNITY, DON'T BE APART OF THE PROBLEM.

WE'RE HIRING.

WE'RE HIRING.

GET OFF THAT PROTEST LINE AND PUT AN APPLICATION IN.

AND WE'LL PUT NEW YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WE WILL HELP YOU RESOLVE FROM OF THE PROBLEMS YOU PROTESTING ABOUT.

IT'S BEEN A TURBULENT YEAR FOR POLICE FORCES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE AS VIDEOS OF POLICE SHOOTINGS OF UNARMED MEN MAKE HEADLINES.

ALL-TIME HIGH.

TENSIONS AT BOILING POINTS AT POLICE OFFICERS IN DALLAS AND BATON ROUGE SHOT DEAD IN REVENGE ATTACKS THIS SUMMER.

VETERAN COPS ON THE ADMITTED TO UNEASE ON THE JOB.

WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION SWEARING TO PROTECT AND SERVE?

TO FIND OUT, A CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM IN THE BRONX, MOVING AWAY FROM THE TEXTBOOK AND ON THE FRONT RHINES.

THIS TRAINING SIMULATOR ENSURING THAT THESE FUTURE COPS ARE MAKING CRITICAL SPLIT SECOND LIFE OR DEATH DECISIONS.

[ GUNFIRE ]

Reporter: THE STUDENT ARMED WITH A LASER WEAPON DESIGNED TO LOOK AND FEEL JUST LIKE A SEMIAUTOMATIC PIFRTAL POLICE OFFICERS USE.

THEY'RE FACED WITH A RANGE OF SCENARIOS FROM TRAFFIC STOPS TO HOUSE RAIDS, HOSTAGE SITUATIONS, AND CONFRONTATIONAL SUSPECTS.

I NEED I.D.

I DON'T HAVE KNOW I.D.

Reporter: AS A SITUATION DEVELOPS THE TRAINING OFFICERS JUDGE NOT ONLY ON PHYSICAL ACTIONS BUT ALSO THEIR VERBAL COMMANDS.

PUT YOUR HANDS UP.

WHOA, MAN.

CAN WE START?

MY.

I DNKTS.

Reporter: THE TEACHER CAN CHOOSE WHETHER TO ESCALATE OR CALM THE SITUATION.

GETS CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS GOING AND THINKING ABOUT SCENARIOS BEFORE THEY EVEN REACH THE STREET, WHICH IS GOOD.

WHAT YOU WANT.

MICHAEL JORDAN DIDN'T BECOME A SUPERSTAR OVERNIGHT.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

I WANT THEM TO TAKE THE TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES INTO CONSIDERATION, LOOK AT EVERY ASPECT.

I WANT THEM TO KNOW THE FORCE CONTINUUM.

IN EACH OF THESE SCENARIOS, COURSE CONHAM.

FOUR STAGES FIRST AND FOREMOST VERBAL COMMANDS, CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS TOWARDS THE SUBJECTS.

IF THAT FAILS, TO DE-ESCALATE THE OFFICER MOVES TO THE NEXT STAGE.

PHYSICAL FORCE, FOLLOWED BY NON-DEADLY FORCE, WHICH COULD MEAN THE USE OF A BATON, PEPPER SPRAY OR TASER.

IF AT ANY POINT THE STUDENT FEELS AS THEIR THEIR OR OTHER LIVES ARE AT RISK TURN DIRECTLY TO THE FOURTH STAGE.

DEADLY, PHYSICAL FORCE.

CASEY RA BARRA IS UP NEXT FROM THE BRONX AND HOPES TO JOIN THE NYPD AFTER GRADUATING MONROE.

YOUR MIND IS RACING.

THINKING ABOUT ALL THE POSSIBILITIES THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE SIMULATOR.

YOU TRY TO CALM DOWN.

NOT TO SHAKE TOO MUCH, UNTIL THE SIMULATOR, THE SITUATION HAPPENS, THEN YOU HAVE TO REALIZE WHAT'S GOING ON.

WHAT DO I DO?

AND SO THAT ONE SIMPLE ACTION, THE PERPETRATOR, OR VICTIM DOES, THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION DO I SHOOT, NOT SHOOT?

Reporter: CASEY AND HER PARTNER ON THE WAY TO A SHOOTING AND WERE FELLOW OFFICER ALREADY HIT.

PUT YOUR HANDS DOWN.

PUT YOUR HANDS DOWN!

KEEP THEM UP, KEEP THEM UP.

DOWN ON THE GROUND.

[ GUNFIRE ]

STAY ON THE GROUND.

KEEP YOUR HANDS UP.

I'M ON THE GROUND.

HANDS ARE RIGHT HERE.

KEEP YOUR HANDS UP.

Reporter: THAT'S AN INTERESTING SITUATION, BECAUSE WHENNY CAME AROUND THE CORNER YOU SPOKE TO YOUR FELLOW POLICE OFFICER AND THEY IMMEDIATELY TOLD YOU THEY HAD BEEN SHOT YOU KNOW THERE ARE FIREARMS IN THE SITUATION, AND IT'S A HOSTILE SITUATION.

DO YOU IMMEDIATELY THERE AT THAT POINT KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIRE BULLETS AT SOME OINT OR THOUGHT YOU CAN STILL PERHAPS DE-ESCALATE THE SITUATION AND LET IT UNFOLD PEACEFULLY.

DEFINITELY I WOULD HAVE PULLED OUT MY FIREARM.

BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T SCARED TO SHOOT THE FIRST OFFICER THAT RESPONDED.

WHAT WOULD I THINK IF BECAUSE OF ME THEY WOULD DE-ESCALATE THE SITUATION?

I'M PULLING OUT MY FIREARM I KNOW THEY'RE NOT SCARED TO SHOOT THAT OFFICER, SO THEY MIGHT SHOOT ME OR MY PARTNER.

YOU NEVER KNOW THE PERPETRATOR TURN THE CORNER, RIGHT THERE, IN YOUR FACE.

YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW.

ONCE IN THE SITUATION GOT TO SEE THE SITUATION AND ACT QUICK.

MY LIFE OR MY PARTNER'S LIFE CAN BE TAKEN IN ONE SECOND.

Reporter: WHEN IT COMES TO USY DEADLY FORCE STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT NOT ONLY WHEN TO SHOOT BUT WHERE TO SHOOT.

THE AIM IS CLEAR.

CENTER MASS.

LARGEST PART OF THE BODY.

AS A POLICE OFFICER YOU DON'T HAVE THAT SECOND CHANCE.

ONESY WITHDRAW YOUR WEAPON AND SHOOT IT IS WHAT IT IS HERE.

FEELS SURREAL.

GIVES YOU THE SAME ADRENALINE THAT A POLICE OFFICER WILL FEEL OUTSIDE.

SO YOU LOOK AT THE SITUATION DIFFERENTLY.

A LOT 6 TIMES PEOPLE QUESTION, OH, WHY DID HE SHOOT?

OR YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO MAKE THE OFFICER SEEM LIKE THE BAD GUY.

BUT WHEN YOU PUT IN SITUATIONS THAT IS LIFE OR DEATH, YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.

YOU THINK ABOUT GOING HOME AND REALLY YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

Reporter: THE LEVEL OF SCRUTINY AND CRITICISM FACING THE PROFESSION THESE STUDENTS PREPARE TO JOIN IS IMMENSE AND BECOMES ABUND COUNTRILY CLEAR THE NATIONAL DEBATE OF POLICING AND RACE RELATIONS IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR MINDS AS THEY EMBARK ON THEIR TRAINING.

I'M GOING TO, IN A CONSTANT BATTLE BETWEEN THE TWO LOOKS ON THIS, BECAUSE I AM MINORITY.

I DO LIVE IN A POOR NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT I'M PURSUING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER.

I HAVE A -- A FEAR, I BELIEVE WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE WAR ON COPS, AND BLACK LIVES MATTER, BLUE LIVES MATTER, EVERYONE'S LIFE MATTERS.

IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT ONE RACE OR ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

IT'S ABOUT EVERYONE.

WE ALL HAVE FAMILIES.

WE ALL WANT TO LIVE TO SEE THE NEXT DAY AND I ACTUALLY THINK THE SIMULATION SHOULD BE OPEN FOR THE COMMUNITY.

JUST FOR THE SCHOOL OR IN A COMMUNITY CENTER AND HAVE CIVILIANS DO IT, BECAUSE IT REALLY CHANGES YOUR OUTLOOK ON SITUATIONS WHEN YOU'RE PUT IN THAT PREDICAMENT OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

YOUR LIFE OR THEIR LIFE?

Reporter: WHEN I TOOK FRANCESCA ON THAT OFFER AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE SIMULATOR FIRSTHAND, CALLED OUT TO ASSIST A FELLOW OFFICER SHOT IN THE LEG.

TO THE LEFT.

SHOW YOURSELF WITH YOUR HANDS UP.

THAT'S HIM!

JUST COME OUT.

I NEED YOU TO PUT HANDS UP.

ANYTHING NO YOUR HANDS, PUT DOWN AND COME OUT IMMEDIATELY HANDS UP.

Reporter: I'M UNABLE TO STABILIZE THE SITUATION AND I RETURN FIRE WITH A SERIES OF SHOT.

ALL OF THEM MISSED.

THE GUNMAN EVENTUALLY SURRENDERS HIS FIREARM TO THE FLOOR.

EVEN TAKING PART VIRTUAL REALITY, NOT REAL LIFE.

PULLING THE TRIGGER I MYSELF FELT ADRENALINE AND EMOTION TAKING PART IN AN EXERCISE LIKE THIS.

TO AN EXTENT QUITE DRAINING ON A STUDENT'S MIND-SET AND MENTALITY.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE AND EXPERIENCE AN EXERCISE LIKE THIS AT THIS EARLY POINT IN THEIR CAREER?

SO THEY KNOW HOW IT FEELS.

NOW HOE IT FEELS IF YOU DO SHOOT SOMEBODY YOU THOUGHT HAD A FIREARM AND DOESN'T, YOU'RE LIKE, WOW.

I JUST SHOT SOMEBODY THAT DIDN'T HAVE A FIREARM.

OR EVEN IF THE PERSON DID HAVE A FIREARM AND YOU'RE SHOOTING SOMEBODY, YOU'VE TAKING SOMEBODY'S LIFE.

NO POLICE OFFICER WANTS TO TAKE ANYBODY'S LIFE.

IT TAKES YOU ON AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER AND STUDENTS GET A FEELING OF, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A JOKE.

THIS IS REAL HERE, AND I HAVE TO -- POWER.

CITY OR STATE GIVES ME POWER TO USE THESE TYPES OF FORCE AND I HAVE TO MIKE SURE I USE THIS TYPE OF FORCE IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER.

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