Blog - Recruit - August 2007

There is an age old question that surfaces in this column of mine: How long will the FTO be my FTO? The first answer to this is that it depends on which phase of the training process you are in, but that is the incorrect answer. The real answer is, for life.

The FTO program is where you experience real-life application of academy training, and with this comes consequences. But there are some chances left for a "do over." Yes, in the FTO program you can get hurt, killed, sued, and all of the nasty things of a cop's life up to and including termination. Do not get faint of heart. Just know that this is still a learning program and you will make mistakes!

Example Three: Cops ask a resident if she minds if they search a bedroom.
“No problem,” she says.
The search is conducted and evidence seized, only to be suppressed at trial. The reason? The person that granted permission had no legal standing to do so.