The toughest town in the U.S.

Quantico, Va. - What can arguably be called the most crime-ridden community in the United States can be found in Prince William County.

On one side of its tree-lined streets are modular homes -- both single and multi-story -- with vehicles in the driveway. On the other side there's a bank, post office, hotel, laundry mat, barber shop, pool hall and other retail establishments.

Sounds peaceful, quiet and entirely normal.

But on an almost daily basis, there's a bank robbery, drug trafficking or officer-involved shooting at Hogan's Alley, a 16-acre training facility designed to look like your typical American town A town that is run by the FBI at the Training Academy at Quantico Marine Corps base.

"This is where they're operating," said John Wilson, new agent training manager for the FBI. "Some of these are actual buildings. Some are facades. We needed to create what your average town looked like."

Hogan's Alley first opened in 1987 after a model by Hollywood set designers. Its "residents" are role players who portray terrorists, drug dealers or bank robbers in scenarios that test the mettle of the men and women Wilson and his staff is molding into FBI agents.

"We get people they don't know," said Wilson. "Their heart rate goes up. They experience the same physiological stress in training as they would in real life."

Wilson said that the 20-week new agent program teaches trainees how to plan and make arrests, process evidence, conduct interviews and clear buildings.

On the day last week that the News & Messenger visited the facility, the trainees were divided into several groups.

"It's a busy day," Wilson said with a smile.

Some were gathering evidence from "crimes" that had occurred in the Hogan's Alley housing area while others participated in a felony car stop that ended in a shoot-out.

Sirens blared as the car driven by the role players eased around a bend in the road. When the car stopped, the pursuing agents took up tactical positions. The role players were uncooperative and shots rang out within minutes of the stop.

"We want them to learn what it's going to take to survive a critical situation," stressed Wilson. "We put them in situations that are winnable, provided they do the right thing. They don't do the right thing, they get shot. They get their handcuffs taken away, the suspect runs away."

The trainees and role players use what are essentially paintball pistols in their simulated gun fights.

Wilson said that opting to use deadly force is the most critical decision an FBI agent or any law enforce-ment officer will be called to make.

"We have to apply deadly force when certain parameters exist. They're taught legally what our policy is," said Wilson.

The trainees are critiqued and given immediate feedback by their instructors following each scenario.

"They did well. They reacted appropriately," said Wilson of the trainees who participated in the car chase.

There are approximately 50 students in each new agents class, Wilson continued. Out of the 50, one or two will not graduate. They might get hurt during training and are placed in another class or might decide to drop out of the program, he said.

"It's not a gimme that you're going to get through it," he said.

Among the current trainees are Eric and Melanie, who asked they be identified only by their first names.

Eric served as an FBI intern while in college. He said that sparked his interest in becoming an agent. Melanie has been in law enforcement for four years and said her training inspired her to make a difference as an FBI agent.

"We take upholding the Constitutional rights of every American seriously in pursuit of our job," Eric said. "There is a misconception that we're going to violate all their rights."

Melanie also noted that another misconception the public has is that FBI agents are arrogant. She said its important to note that agents are taught to "be humble and do our best in our job."

To learn more about the FBI and Hogan's Alley, visit the bureau's website at fbi.gov.

Military editor Julia LeDoux can be reached at 703-369-5718.