PITT COUNTY, N.C.- Like most Greene County deputies, Jon Willis went through extensive training to become a law enforcement officer. But sometimes even the most prepared officers don't know what to expect.
When Jon Willis responded to a domestic call in Brooke Meadow Mobile Home Park, he was prepared.
"Domestic violence is probably the most dangerous, volatile position that an officer can be in ever,” said Jeffrey Robinson, Director of Pitt Community College Public Safety Training.
Robinson instructed Willis at Pitt Community College's Public Safety Night Academy in 2002.
He taught him how at any given moment, he must be ready to put his life on the line.
"Immediately get the officer to think that I'm going into a possibly a hostile situation where it's going to be dangerous,” said Robinson.
He gave Willis the tools to be technically sound.
"From there, just try to address the issues, be aware of your surroundings and your environment as best as you possibly can and, you know, basically hope and pray that everything will turn out OK,” said Robinson.
Criminologist William Bloss says officers are trained to expect the worst.
"Often times the officer may receive a call and be dispatched to it with the notion that it's a very low risk, benign type of activity but when they get there they find quite the contrary,” said Bloss, Chair of the Criminal Justice Department at East Carolina University.
Bloss says domestic disturbances and traffic stops are the two most dangerous encounters for law enforcement officers.
"Because you're on someone's home ground, in their home, giving them directives about how they ought to manage or navigate their personal relationship with another,’ said Bloss. “That in and of itself makes it highly personal."
Robinson says he was more like a father to Willis during his training and he'll never forget how Willis gave the ultimate sacrifice.
"He died doing what he wanted to do and that was to protect and serve,” said Robinson.
Dr. Bloss says no one can predict human behavior. He says not even an extensive criminal history like the one Myers had can be a reliable predictor of how someone will react. Bloss says all Willis could do in a situation like that was rely on the training he had.
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