To resign or be released from probation.

[dirtracer24]

I've got a buddy who was told that after 4 months of FTO that he wasn't where he needed to be this far along in the program. He was given the option to resign or to be released from probation. What is the smart option for him to do, in your opinions. Thanks

[Samuelx]

I've got a buddy who was told that after 4 months of FTO that he wasn't where he needed to be this far along in the program. He was given the option to resign or to be released from probation. What is the smart option for him to do, in your opinions. Thanks

No way to tell for sure. Only way I'd be able to give you an educated/"legitimate" opinion is if I had been supervising/training him for the last 4 months.

[Spec]

My thought is NEVER GIVE UP....patrol training sucks at times and FTO have used that tactic in the past to get rid of "struggling" people...i wouldn't give up. if the trainee is so bad that he/she is an officer safety risk they will fire him/her anyway (rightfully so).

[TRICKSTER]

Is this a situation where he was called in and officially told that he has the option of resigning or termination or was this just something his FTO told him?

[Tripper]

Is it a PD or SO?
for a SO, Does he have an option to 'resign' -back' to the jail
I've seen that happen more than I can count.

Modesto might not do that.

the diff being, resign=go back to work the jail.
be released from probation=no longer have a job at either

[rolncode3]

If he doesn't need to worry about unemployment benefits, I would resign.

[Notorious]

Well... what's his primary concern? Re-employability in the LE field?

If that is the case, it makes nary a difference, really.

Resigning on probation is not uncommon and other agencies will look at the reasons why you resigned and most of them will be very careful with someone released on probation so they will dig into everything around it and see if it is report writing, officer safety, bad attitude, or just bad luck that your supervisor hates you. It happens.

If you are lucky and apply to a good agency with good people in personnel, they might give you the time to look into it. If you apply to most agencies who are understaffed and/or with people who aren't as diligent, you will be passed up for someone without baggage just like that.

If you don't resign and get fired, it's the same thing. The hiring agency will go through the same analysis, maybe a little less.

The only saving grace is that with the resignation, you might have someone vouch for you that it was just a bad fit or that you aren't a bad guy and just needed more maturity or time before you try again, and you can actually get a second chance that way.

[dirtracer24]

Sorry I meant to get back on last night and give more info but life got in the way.

He went to academy with me and was hired by a central valley PD in July. He was almost done with FTO. His FTO called him into the office as he was loading up the car and getting ready to start his shift last night. He was told that the agency has very strict guidelines on where an officer should be by this stage of training and that he wasn't yet at this level. No officer safety issues and no integrity issues. I personally believe that his failing marriage was a big distraction and he wasn't leaving that crap at home.
He went in and talked with his LT and his chief they have him till tuesday to resign or be released on probation, they said no hard feelings shook his hand and sent him on his way.

On a side note, what is he legally supposed to do with his 15 rd mags that he purchased?
He also has a ton of cases that are going to be coming up in court, will he get paid to go to court?
How long should he wait to start applying again?

[Petro6golf]

If he is going to get fired he should resign. If the end is coming he should quit instead of getting fired. From everything I have seen it will be hard to get hired again.

[hitman13]

Why haven't they rephased him to help correct his deficiencies? Where I work we have 4 phased of FTO that get progressively "harder". If you don't meet the standards, you repeat the phase (with a different FTO). If you fail the phase again then you are cut loose...

[yzfrider]

Similiar situation back in 99. Either way, if he decides to pursue another position in LE, he will have to explain why he left. The agency will interview the department and his "not being where they want him to be" will come up.

If I could do it over, I would have asked to resign into a reserve position. If the answer was no, fire me and pay me unemployment.

I hope it works out for him. If he needs to speak w/ someone who went through it, pm me. It was very difficult to deal with.

[dirtracer24]

Why haven't they rephased him to help correct his deficiencies? Where I work we have 4 phased of FTO that get progressively "harder". If you don't meet the standards, you repeat the phase (with a different FTO). If you fail the phase again then you are cut loose...

My honest opinion of what's going on with his situation is this. The agency is rather small 30 something sworn. I guessing that someone's buddy or a rockstar officer from another dept is trying to lateral and they need to make room for him. They are trimming the fat so to speak, why waste money on training this guy if they could get an awesome pre trained officer.

[CSACANNONEER]

He can legally keep all magazines that he legally aquires while he is a LEO unless, the dept. has it's own policies about that. So, he has until Tuesday to aquire more +10 round mags.

[ZombieZoo]

Not a LEO, but I'd resign and have some "positive" reason for doing so.

hint: Jr Colleges on the quarter system (Foothill and De Anza...De Anza has large "Admin of Justice" program) are starting new quarter on Jan 7).

Here is a plan: Have him do an honest "self assess" or ask his boss what he needs to improve on and resign and take a class at De Anza to address that "area" and get an "A", and a great recommendation as a star student and class leader from the 'professor'.

Thus the whole "episode" will be a story of him able to 'self correct' in a positive fashion, and also of him NOT making his boss do stacks of extra paperwork and "Sweat Blood" about their liability if they are "wrongfully terminating" him.

What is your guess as to the reason they are less than thrilled with him? I'm assuming it isn't a unrelated budget cut.