[music playing]
JAVIER CAZARES: I still haven't experienced
much of what happens in this place,
like fights and things like that.
So I'm still trying to learn the ropes,
trying to figure out what to do.
I want to become that one CO that other COs
and inmates look at, and they say
this guy knows what he's doing.
He's straight.
As soon as you walk in, inmates know when
you're a rookie right away.
And all they do is just look at you,
just trying to see how you are, try to read you.
Before this, I was working weed detail.
They're level 2s.
But 5B is the pod known for possible gang members.
Working with them is a total different thing.
With all that's been going on with the SNM,
other gang members would use this opportunity to create
havoc and-- and conduct assaults and incidences
within the units.
I honestly believe if it's not the SNM,
it's going to be somebody else.
JAVIER CAZARES: I've heard of stories of gangs
having hit on officers.
I've heard that if you ever do get
into an altercation with one of them,
it's not just going to be one of them.
They'll all jump in, and they'll get you.
It's pretty nerve-wracking.
What's going on? - Leave it open.
Huh?
- Open. - I can't leave it open.
Sure.
JAVIER CAZARES: They test rookies.
They start off with the little things,
telling you that they'll do this and that if you
do this for them.
I can't do that.
JAVIER CAZARES: Then once they see that they can get away
with the little things, that's when they
start going bigger and bigger.
JAVIER CAZARES: So as soon as I stepped in there,
I started trying to get everything
on as fast as I could.
Yeah.
JAVIER CAZARES: I'm always up for a challenge.
I'm an adrenaline junkie.
I love like just anything that has the word
danger in it or something.
Are we going to use the same gas mask from training?
Because those things sucked, man.
The moment that I put on that gas mask to try it on,
I smelled a little bit of the chemical still on that mask.
And that's when the nerves kicked in more, and I was like,
whoa.
OK.
It's time to get serious now.
If he doesn't refuse it, he complies,
then we'll escort him out.
If he refuses, then we'll clear out the pod.
We'll lock him in his cell, and then we'll bring you guys in.
JAVIER CAZARES: I've worked around the Sure os pods.
I've worked around the SNM-ers pods.
And they can be really, really dangerous.
They kill their own gang members.
What makes you think they're not going to do something to a CO?
AARON BELL: Change is happening within the gangs right now.
The job just became tougher and even more dangerous,
because they know what's happening in the SNM.
Time is 10:45.
OK, man.
[speaking spanish]
JAVIER CAZARES: In your head, you're having all these kinds
of scenarios going through.
What if the partner in front of your trips?
What if he's not ready?
What if he doesn't do his job right?
What if the person behind you--
it's something.
Something can always happen.
Even with all the training, nothing
can prepare you for when you're in the actual moment.
[buzzer]
AARON BELL: Sometimes the best things on an extraction team
is showing up.
That would be what we call the show of force.
Sometimes, when you can nip it in the bud and show force,
you're not putting officers in harm's way,
and you're not potentially hurting somebody.
That was my first almost-extraction.
It was pretty nerve-racking.
I was both disappointed and relieved that the extraction
was called off.
I wanted to do the extraction so I could learn something
different, so I can experience something new,
so I can experience pretty much a use of force.
But I was also relieved, because the inmate complied.
It's an easy day.
We all get to go home and nobody gets hurt.
I wanted to go through the whole thing, but my time will come.
[laughs]
Good job.