A closer look at deputy training video

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — Video obtained by ABC News shows the training exercise between the late Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Deputy Asson Hacker and Knox County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Fisher.

The Evansville Police Department defensive tactics outline says the fight covers specific techniques that go from being on the ground to standing up and fighting.

Voices heard in the background of the video tell Hacker what to do and how to help him win the exercise. Fisher punches him and Hacker lets out an audible sound of pain followed by heavy breathing.

The lawsuit claims that fisher has significantly more training and weighed more than Hacker. When interviewed, Fisher says Hacker was about average during the seven-minute fight.

“He was strong though there was a time in – you know how it is trying to remember, but you don’t, it’s video so yeah what I remember is probably different, but he had pushed – went to do a takedown or tackle and that kind of – we both went into the wall a little bit, went down and then we moved around. He got the cuff and by then, I started to get pretty sloppy about the – I would guess the four-and-a-half-minute mark, and throwing some haymakers getting sloppy,” says Fisher.

Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Diane Moers reviewed the entire video and said she found it to be routine training.

“The video shows Hacker wrestling with another officer while both are in protective gear and is a guided match with a coach, a defensive tactics instructor, on the mat next to them and who is there for the purposes of instructing Hacker on what moves to make for training purposes,” says Moers

The fight continues and Hacker gains control, able to put handcuffs on fisher and complete the exercise. Fights continue on with other recruits also recorded and the next two videos show Hacker in the background where he is attempting to recover from his exercise.

In the interview Fisher says Hacker told him he was hot and asked to go outside.

“I was like well let’s sit you down first man, get your – get your legs under, get your breath back and let’s put a fan on you – and that’s why we put the fan down there in which they’re hot. I mean they’re in gear and you know, they’ve got to wrestle,” says Fisher.

A video can be seen with Hacker in the background with people crowding around him. Fisher says in the interview that they had planned to call an ambulance. He says an EPD officer decided to take him to the hospital instead thinking it would be quicker than waiting for help.

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