Strategy #23
Field Training Officer/
Probation/Initial Retention
Development of a program that will provide a highly structured and standardized Field Training and Evaluation (FTE) program for new officers just completing academy training. Ensure that a detailed performance appraisal process is in place to determine whether a new officer meets established performance standards during the probationary period.
Background
To ensure that law enforcement agencies have competent and highly trained traffic enforcement officers, it is essential that an FTE program provide trainees with the opportunity to develop skills to perform their duties safely and effectively. Additionally, this program should monitor trainee performance in order to detect problems for early remediation, and identify and select only those trainees who are able to handle the demands of law enforcement. Probationary officers should be given regular written performance appraisals to ensure that they continue to meet established performance standards.
Actions
- Develop a system of highly structured and standardized field training with systematic documentation and analysis of trainee performance. This training program should contain a significant traffic safety component.
- Open and maintain career paths within departments by providing qualified, experienced officers with the opportunity to serve as Field Training Officers (FTOs) and gain additional training to broaden skills and enhance leadership ability.
- Ensure judicious selection, training, and retention of FTOs to ensure success of the FTE program.
- Provide recognition and rewards for officers serving as FTOs.
- Establish a probationary appraisal process that will afford departments the opportunity to determine if new officers continue to meet performance standards.
Benefits
- Highly trained and motivated officers capable of meeting or exceeding the performance standards required by departments.
- Standardized field training and systematic documentation will improve the validity and make more defensible the officer selection and retention process.
- Establish new career paths within departments by providing qualified officers with the opportunity to serve as FTOs and gain additional training to broaden skills and enhance leadership ability.
Other Considerations
- Personnel hours lost due to training.
- There may be costs associated with career development training in terms of personnel away from work to conduct training and or to attend training.
- Reduced number of officers in the field when partnered with trainees.
- Reduced number of overall enforcement hours when officers are training assigned officers.