Taryn Asher learns every second counts in Allen Park police training

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (WJBK) - Part of a police officer's job is to make life or death decisions in a split second - and part of their boss's job is to make sure the training never ends.

The scenarios taken from actual situations Allen Park officers often come across, which is why they need to be trained and ready - and as Taryn Asher found out - it is far from easy.

Allen Park police officers are put to the test where decisions are made in a split second - and mistakes could be fatal. They invited Taryn along to see some of the rigorous training they undertake to be ready for the moment.

In one scenario, officers respond to a breaking and entering call. The suspect may be armed and is always considered dangerous. Officers go in expecting the unexpected; communication and tactics need to become instinct.

"You have got to keep safe, you never know what they have," said Officer Brandon Marshall. "Needles, knives, gun. You just have to be careful."

"Who found the gun, excellent, so it was in the lower back," Sgt. Wayne Albright said to some officers after a drill. "Hey if he was cuffed and you missed that, he could have pulled that gun from the lower back."

Albright is one of the head trainers.

"That's why we set up these types of scenarios, to put enough pressure on these officers as possible," he said.

The scenarios are the same as real life, but in these confrontations, officers with Simunition Glocks that are loaded with paint bullets.

In another situation, officers responded to a stabbing with the suspect still inside.

In the aftermath of a police involved shooting, officers are heavily scrutinized - with the average person always with a clearer picture looking back. Officers train for the moment.

"Somewhere between diplomacy and officer safety, it is a difficult line to walk," said Officer Paul Schyer. "Especially in this day and age a difficult line to walk."

And Taryn discovered - it is easier said than done. They had Taryn and another officer respond to a domestic situation, unclear with what we are about to encounter.

TARYN: "Are you okay?"

SUSPECT: "Get out of my house."

TARYN: "Are you injured?"

SUSPECT: "I'm warning you get out of my damn house."

The man charges with a knife. Stepping back, Taryn shoots him. Albright said at that point he would have already stabbed her.

"Let's go over a couple things, Taryn what did you think right away?"

"I saw him, he was obviously angry and then he came toward me, that's when I grabbed my gun," Taryn said. "But I hesitated. I might have gotten stabbed."

"Yes you did," Albright said. "You were totally in the right when you pulled your gun. The mistake you made is that you closed that gap too close to him. But you recognized the threat, you realized you needed the gun and you actually fired."

Taryn made a mistake - not even adding in the fear, anxiety, threat level and stress officers face every day - but it is why training like this is critical and more important than ever.

"That's what we are hoping for," Albright said. "To learn from our mistakes at practice and that means in real life officers are safer and community safer."