Activist critical of police undergoes use of force scenarios
PHOENIX - It was a story we first brought you last night at 9, high-profile community activist Rev. Jarrett Maupin and FOX 10's Troy Hayden joined deputies with MCSO, for a force-on-force training drill.
Both Troy Hayden and Maupin got an opportunity to experience a real-world scenario about how quickly law enforcement officers have to act when confronted suspect.
That story had a lot of people talking, including other law enforcment agencies around the country. Many of them tweeting the story to their followers.
But there was much more than you didn't hear, Rev. Maupin joined FOX 10 in studio to talk about the experience.
ORIGINAL STORY IS BELOW:
We've seen protests all across the country after police officers have been accused of shooting people who aren't armed.
But what would happen if one of those protesters looked at what it's like to wear a badge, and be put in a life or death situation.
Jarrett Maupin has been very vocal during the recent protests, leading marches on the Phoenix Police headquarters after officers shot an unarmed man who reportedly fought with them.
He agreed to go through a force on force training with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and went through three scenarios where you have to decide to shoot, or not to shoot.
>>You can see the full body cam footage from Maupin's simulation, and how police debriefed him on what happened:
Scenario one is a call of a man casing cars in a parking lot. Maupin approached the man and started asking questions. The suspect in the drill shot Maupin, who was asking him what kind of car he drove. It happens that fast.
FOX 10 asked him when he thought it was time for him to address the scenario with the use of force. "When he came to the back of the vehicle and started hiding, I could sense something was wrong," said Jarrett Maupin.
Scenario two is a call of two men fighting. "What's going on today gentlemen, what are you doing?" he said. He fired at the suspect in the scenario.
FOX 10 asked him why he shot the suspect. "Hey, he rushed me... I shot because he was in that zone, I didn't see him armed, he came clearly to do some harm to my person," said Maupin. "It's hard to make that call; it shakes you up."
Scenario three was a call about a possible burglar walking down the street. Maupin gets him on the ground, but the suspect is not complying. "I need you to keep your hands up sir, I need to check that's in the waistband," he said.
There were no shots fired, but the suspect did have a knife in his waistband.
FOX 10's Troy Hayden went through the scenarios too, without seeing what Maupin did.
It was the same results for both of us; things happen so fast. FOX 10 asked Maupin what his biggest take-away from the exercise will be. "I didn't understand how important compliance was, but after going through this; yes my attitude has changed, this happens in 10-15 seconds. People need to comply for their own sake," said Maupin.
FOX 10 would like to thank the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for helping us with this story.