In an exclusive interview with NY1, Mayor Bill de Blasio today strongly defended a new Police Department training course designed to combat officers' prejudices.

Responding to criticism from the police sergeants' union to the “implicit bias” program, the mayor explained the rationale behind the training program, which is set to go into effect this spring.

"I think implicit bias training’s an enlightened approach," de Blasio told NY1 Political Anchor Errol Louis.

"I don’t know any of one us that doesn’t grapple with the biases we grew up with, or that are all through our culture. I mean, that’s what the Black Lives Matter movement has been about."

The mayor also strongly supported members of the City Council who voted themselves a pay raise last week and discussed his continued opposition to the horse-carriage industry despite the collapse of legislation last week that would have curtailed the industry.

"It's something I committed to in my election campaign very clearly. And I said why. And I believe it’s the right thing to do. So everyone knows what I believe. I’m not going to change my beliefs. I’m going to stick to them," de Blasio said.

See the full interview on "Inside City Hall" at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.