Syracuse police recruits undergo intensive training
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Syracuse Police Undergo Intensive Training
Cam McGraw: Every year, the Syracuse Police Department opens its doors to a new class of recruits, a process that pushes both the body and the mind.
McGraw: Along with the physical training in the gym and running up the stairs of the building, Sergeant Thomas Blake explained the practical training that takes place in the shoot house, a simulation designed to mirror real-life scenarios. The area is built with movable curtains and attachable pipes that shift room layouts and create a new situation with each test.
Thomas Blake: When we bring them in on the first day we invite them to keep an open mind and just kind of think about things in a forward manner and kind of get rid of some of the those prejudices they had coming in here and just look at it for what it is take the training that we give them and then use that to make the decisions when we get out here.
McGraw: With props like TV remotes and garbage on the ground, it’s meant to emulate a typical Syracuse apartment where officers are often on duty. With endless possibilities, Blake explains the type of communication and actions that typically take place.
Blake: “Pops the door open quick like this, and maybe they’re posted here, and then you’ll have maybe two guys that go through, usually somebody’s on rear security, and then you develop a plan.”
McGraw: While it is just training, the officers to face a practical threat when going through the situation. Painful projectiles that serve as a reminder of real-world danger.
Blake: “You can see whether they were hit by the projectile or not. They sting pretty bad, so you know when you’re hit, which will obviously change behaviors as well. If you’re struck by one of these, you’re probably putting yourself in a position you shouldn’t have.”
McGraw: Although recruitment for the Syracuse police department in the last five years has been on the decline, Sergeant Commisso and the rest of the Syracuse police say they’re not changing any of their recruiting techniques.
Joseph Commisso: “We will not reduce our expectations because our numbers are down; you still have to go do the same job. Because we can lower expectations and we can lower the standard of which the officer we’re putting out there, but think about the damage that would do to not only the department but the community.”
McGraw: Commisso says training’s meant to be tough because mindset is what makes a strong officer.
Commisso: You have to not quit that big thing I share with my recruits, is I want to know their why. He who has a why can bear almost any how.
Commisso: Commisso, now an experienced officer and training coordinator, says the position has had a huge impact on his life.
Commisso: Unless the Yankees are calling for a shortstop that can’t hit or field, this has been the most meaningful job that I’ve ever had.
McGraw: The department continues to strengthen its recruits, hoping each one can bring that same mindset to serve and protect the community.
Cam McGraw, NCC NEWS
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Every year, the Syracuse Police Department opens its doors to a new class of recruits, a process designed to challenge both the body and the mind.
Inside the department’s “shoot house,” recruits are put through a series of simulated real-life scenarios. The training space includes movable curtains, attachable pipes and props like TV remotes and garbage, mimicking a typical Syracuse apartment where officers often respond to calls.
“We invite them to keep an open mind,” said Sergeant Thomas Blake, who helps lead the training. “Get rid of some of those prejudices they had coming in and just look at it for what it is and take the training that we give them and use that to make decisions when we get out here.”
Recruits learn how to plan and communicate effectively as they navigate the unpredictable setups. “Pops the door open quick like this,” Blake demonstrated. “Maybe they’re posted here, and then you’ll have two guys that go through, usually somebody on rear security, and then you develop a plan.”
While the training is controlled, the danger is also simulated. Recruits face gunfire using projectiles that sting on impact, a reminder of the risks officers face on duty.
“They sting pretty bad, so you know when you’re hit,” Blake said. “If you’re struck by one of these, you’re probably putting yourself in a position you shouldn’t have.”
Even as recruitment numbers have declined in recent years, Sergeant Joseph Commisso said the department isn’t lowering its standards.
“We will not reduce our expectations because our numbers are down,” Commisso said. “We could lower the standard of the officer we’re putting out there, but think about the damage that would do to not only the department but the community.”
Commisso, now an experienced officer and training coordinator, said the most important part of the job isn’t physical endurance, it’s mindset.
“You have to not quit,” he said. “That’s the big thing I share with my recruits. I want to know their why — he who has a why can bear almost any how.”
For Commisso, the role has been life-changing. “Unless the Yankees are calling for a shortstop that can’t hit or field,” he joked, “this has been the most meaningful job I’ve ever had.”
As the department continues to train the next generation of officers, leaders like Blake and Commisso hope each recruit carries that same mindset forward to serve and protect the Syracuse community.