x
Breaking News
More () »

What Do Police Cadets Learn About When to Use Deadly Force?

SCRANTON — The investigation into a deadly shooting in Carbondale earlier this week is continuing with very few details being made public. We do know that...

SCRANTON -- The investigation into a deadly shooting in Carbondale earlier this week is continuing with very few details being made public.

We do know that the shooter was off-duty Carbondale Police Officer Frank Schulze. Schulze said he was confronted by the eventual victim Joseph Molinaro.

Molinaro suffered two gunshot wounds, one in his chest and one in his leg.

While we may not know yet exactly how the incident unfolded, we do have an idea of what may have been going through Officer Schulze's mind. He was extensively trained on the use of force about two years ago as a cadet at the Lackawanna College Police Academy.

"We put our cadets in situations. We put them in simulated situations. We have simulated weapons that we use so they're actually carrying something that can fire even though it doesn't do actual harm. And we put them in simulated situations that they might be facing, or they will be facing, as police officers," said Police Academy Director Mary Ann Grippo.

Grippo told Newswatch 16 that officers are trained to assess their safety and the safety of others before deciding to shoot someone.

Cadets are also taught that they may need to apply what they've learned in uniform when they are off duty, too. As Officer Frank Schulze was Tuesday night.

"I think people don't realize that you're dealing with human beings who are trained to help and save people. When they're in a situation that it's the opposite that happens, where they are taking a life, that's an emotional and stressful toll on them and on their trainers," Grippo added.

The Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office and State Police are working to determine if the shooting death of Joseph Molinaro is justified, a process that may take weeks.

Molinaro is being laid to rest Saturday in Carbondale. Officer Schulze is on administrative leave from the Carbondale Police Department.

Before You Leave, Check This Out