LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — FOX5 Reporter Karla Salinas experienced the intense training that Las Vegas Metro Police recruits undergo, participating in scenarios that test decision-making under pressure as part of a recruitment series.
Salinas and former FOX5 reporter Molly McBride, now at the station’s sister station in Phoenix, went through an accelerated version of the police academy training to show viewers what officers experience during their preparation.
The project began as a simple observation of recruit training but evolved into hands-on participation when Metro officials invited the reporters to experience the academy themselves.
Early morning intensity
Training began before dawn with officers treating the reporters like actual recruits, complete with flashlights and shouting.
“I remember the officers, I mean, they treated us like recruits on that day,” Salinas said. “So they came out with flashlights because, as I mentioned, it’s dark. And they were flashing them right in our face, saying, ‘Recruit, get up. What are you doing?’”
The intensity was designed to test reactions under stress, with recruits helping each other prepare for the rigorous standards.
“The other recruits, I remember, before the officers came out, they were just like, ‘Okay, make sure that your bag is this way. And make sure that you’re standing like this,’” Salinas said. “It’s the whole team or nothing, so if one person messes up, they all suffer.”
High-stress scenario training
After hours of physical training, including running and push-ups, Salinas faced a simulated bar fight scenario that tested her ability to make quick decisions under pressure.
“They said, ‘Okay, now you’re going to experience what it’s like going out on a real call, but first, we’re going to get your heart pumping,’” Salinas said. “Because usually when officers get to a call, their heart is pumping.”
In the scenario, Salinas encountered two men fighting and attempted to intervene as a police officer would.
“I’m like, ‘Hey, Metro Police. Stop what you’re doing, stop,’ and the guy’s like, ‘No, no, it’s okay, it’s okay, leave us alone.’ He goes back to punching the guy,” Salinas said. “So I get closer, well, the guy starts punching me.”
Split-second decisions
The physical confrontation forced Salinas to make the type of instant decision officers face in real situations.
“So in that moment, I screamed, that was just my visceral reaction and I kind of backed up a little bit and then that’s when the training came in,” Salinas said. “From what we had learned that day, I pulled out my taser, and I tased him.”
The training used real equipment, though not at full power for safety reasons.
Mock city scenarios
At Metro’s state-of-the-art training facility, which includes mock casinos and hotels resembling a real city, Salinas faced another scenario involving an armed suspect.
“They said, ‘Okay, now you’re walking into another call. Well, you don’t know if they have a weapon. You’re walking into this guy’s house, go,’” Salinas said.
The situation escalated quickly when the suspect grabbed a knife.
“He just grabs a knife out of a drawer, or God knows where it came from, because it was two seconds and then he charges at us with the knife,” Salinas said. “And so that’s when I got my taser out and tased him.”
Emotional impact of training
The physical and emotional intensity of the training affected Salinas deeply, particularly after being struck during the bar fight scenario.
“I remember once I left, and they said, ‘Okay, clear,’ I started crying, I started crying and it wasn’t because it hurt,” Salinas said. “It’s just, like, the adrenaline mixed with exhaustion, mixed with, I just got hit in the head.”
The controlled environment highlighted the challenges officers face in real situations.
“We were in such a controlled environment, and then these officers are having to face these situations every day. They don’t know what they’re walking into. They don’t know if a person has a weapon,” Salinas said.
MORE: Inside the academy: From CCSD teacher to Las Vegas Metro Police officer
New perspective on law enforcement
The experience changed Salinas’ understanding of police work and the split-second decisions officers must make.
“It’s one thing to be able to see a video over and over and over again of when an officer decides to use force,” Salinas said. “But it’s another to put yourself in that position, and now your life is on the line, and you have a split second to make that decision and protect not only yourself, but maybe another person.”
The training emphasized the difference between analyzing incidents after the fact and making real-time decisions under stress.
“It all comes down to a split second, and it’s not a video; you’re there in real life, and not only that, but you have adrenaline through the roof, and your heart is pumping, and you’ve got people counting on you,” Salinas said.
Ongoing training commitment
The experience revealed Metro’s commitment to continuous training, with officers returning annually for additional preparation.
“These officers go back every single year to go through training again and again and again,” Salinas said. “And so when that worst-case scenario hits, it’s really nice to see just how extensive the training was.”
The training facility and ongoing education are part of Metro’s recruitment efforts to attract new officers with advanced technology and comprehensive preparation.
“This department is going to train you. This department is technologically advanced,” Salinas said. “And, even just seeing the jetty, that mock facility, I mean, it’s state-of-the-art.”
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