Police Magazine
MENU
SEARCHMENUSEARCH
Teaching can be a perishable skill, so you've got to practice. There are several outlets for an FTO to practice his or her skill set. We want to keep the mind sharp by providing a workout for the instructional part of the brain.
Read More →
Murphy's law is the adage that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Count on these three Murphy-isms to crop up during your first year as an officer.
Read More →The role of the Field Training Officer (FTO) is more or less defined as that of a one-on-one supervisor and trainer. They're the direct connection between graduates of the academy and self-actuated functioning police officers. The FTO has a defined mission to be the trainer, evaluator, supervisor, confessor, and many other roles.
Read More →Let's not relive the past. Listen to the recruits' questions and help them. I can recall several questions that were fired at me from the old dinosaurs of my youth. Let's go over a few.
Read More →
My Field Training Officer (FTO) often compared police work to playing on a football team. He would say, "The team with the least amount of penalties wins." The analogy always stuck with me and after 10 years as an officer, it still rings true.
Read More →This blog often focuses on tactics, off-duty survival, surviving the FTO program, or making it though the academy. However, what can often get overlooked is making it through those first few years as a parent. A single-parent recruit has been given the most difficult assignment of all.
Read More →
The Field Training Officer (FTO) stands as the guardian at the gates leading to Copland. The FTO is the link from the academy to the realities and harshness of real-life applications. They oversee how you apply all of the principles you've been taught and determine whether you're worthy of carrying on the burden of these to the next generation.
Read More →
Feedback can come from the officer watching himself on a dashcam or a sergeant telling him he turns his back on a violator every time he keys his mic. This is a lot better than spitting teeth out in the back of an ambulance or worse.
Read More →
After realizing his partner Officer Jarred Slocum was down, Officer McFarland relied on the "dummy drag," a technique he learned at the police academy. Officer McFarland holstered his sidearm, moved into the line of fire, hooked his arms around his partner, and dragged him to safety.
Read More →
A recruit may wonder if he or she will ever get some down time. My job is to drive you to develop a fine knowledgeable officer, rather than someone wanting an easy pass. Training is hard work, even if it's a game.
Read More →