Help With FTO

[CinnamonBear723]

I just got sworn in today, and I begin phase 1 of my FTO training tomorrow. I got the basics down like studying the maps and driving the city. I know how to stay humble and be respectful and all that. I did well in the academy and graduated top 5 and such. I am confident in my academic skills, as well as people(my last job was a paramedic.) I still feel quite overwhelmed with the amount of information i have to learn in the next 18 weeks.

My question is, beyond the basics, what are some tips and tricks that will help me be successful during my FTO program? I really want to do well and learn as much as possible. If you were an FTO, what would be your expectations of a trainee? Thank you in advance.

[Rico911]

Don't be hesitant to put hands on detainees/suspects. I not talking about using force, but don't wait to control/hand cuff a suspect who needs it. Quite a few trainees look for direction from their FTO before taking action that needs to be quick and decisive. That goes for taking the initiative at a call after you already have handled a symilar call and should know what to do by then. Don't just sit there waiting for your FTO to tell you what to do if you already experienced a situation like that. Showing initiative shows eagerness and that you are applying what you are learning.

[RedVines]

Be as active as you can early on. First phase is kind of like a freebie, so make all your mistakes now and learn from them. SIA and take every single call you can. That way when third phase rolls around hopefully you won't be doing stuff for the first time. Good luck.

[P5Ret]

I'll tell you the same thing I told all my recruits. If you don't know ask. Don't be afraid to say I don't know or I'm not sure, especially in first phase. Don't be too eager. Pay attention to everyone on the shift you have to work with, by that I mean watch and listen to how they interact or deal with things you may be covering them on, but only ask questions and advise of your fto. Last but not least check and recheck anything you are going to hand in to your fto. Accept the fact that you are going to make mistakes, we all do, don't make excuses for them, accept and fix them. Keep in mind that this is one of the hardest jobs to get, but easiest to loose, by doing foolish things. Good luck on a hopefully long successful career.

[ls2monaro]

Make sure you review all episodes of cops for the last 5 years and demand your fto buys you lunch everyday.

[knowyourrights]

I did this to my trainees all the time, BOOM, I have been shot, where are we!!!!! So always know your location.....

[RDT72]

I agree with Rico, I had to learn when and how to take control of people. Example: During a subject check you tell a guy to keep his hands out of his pockets. During your conversation with the man he seemingly inadvertantly returns his hands to his pockets while still speaking casually. What do you do? Do you remind him a second time to keep his hands out of his pockets or do you walk up and begin a patsearch?

The correct answer I learned is: you tell him, "ok sir i'm going to pat you down because you keep putting your hands in your pockets while i'm talking to you. " and then you pat search him. My FTO taught me this by saying in the presence of the subject (after I asked him 2-3 times to keep his hands out of his pockets), "How many times are you going to tell him, before you do something about it?" I never forgot that and applied the same concepts whenever dealing with the public.

[Falconis]

I did this to my trainees all the time, BOOM, I have been shot, where are we!!!!! So always know your location.....

One of my FTO's had a "history" of doing this to his recruits. Except he would drive all the way down to the end of a dead end alley that was dark as hell. My luck that night was there was a sign on a building that was lit and well visible to me. Which was fortuitous because I couldn't see the corner street sign to save anyone's life.

Basically don't forget observational skills have a lot to do with the job.

[rolncode3]

This is just my style. Good luck! Stay safe.

Be prepared for lots of "Why" questions: "Why did you do that?" "Why didn't you do that?"

Lots of "what if" questions. What if this was different, or that was different. What were your other options? Why didn't you do any of them? Was your chosen action the best of all your options? If not, why not. If so, why?

While going to calls, I always engage my trainees in chit-chat or start grilling them on policy. 90% will completely miss turns and freeway exits. We've had people almost leave the County before they remembered they were going to a call. Multi-tasking is key. Don't forget to listen to the radio at all times too!

Know the general orders. Be prepared to justify your actions against policy. I like asking trainees to explain whether their actions were within policy or not. I get a lot of blank stares and "ummm"s.

Another thing I love doing - ask my trainee a question. They give me an answer. "How certain are you you're correct?" Their reply: pretty certain. "So are you correct or not?" "I think so" "So why are you doing something if you're not certain?". The point being - we need to be right, or we need to get the right answer. We do (and need to) make mistakes - but not because we didn't take the time to find the right answer (when we have the time). Be confident, but not to the point where confidence replaces good judgement.

We make thinking people who can critically analyze situations and their own behavior, and later justify their actions. I don't want to work alongside a robot and won't tolerate someone who can't think and explain.

I've had 10 trainees over the past 8 years are so. No two are alike, no two struggle in the exact same areas, but common themes always pop up. Navigation is one. It's great if you know your way around - but make sure you can read a map and relate it to the real world also.

Anyways, field training is one of my favorite things to do, but I struggle with good remediation plans and adjusting my teaching to the individual. So the teacher is also the student.

[IA300]

One of my FTO's had a "history" of doing this to his recruits. Except he would drive all the way down to the end of a dead end alley that was dark as hell. My luck that night was there was a sign on a building that was lit and well visible to me. Which was fortuitous because I couldn't see the corner street sign to save anyone's life.

Basically don't forget observational skills have a lot to do with the job.

I did this to my trainee's too, but I would engage them in conversation while driving to the location(s). Invariably, they would be too busy talking and not paying attention to the street signs...
So, if that happens, be able to describe the general area with specificity, if that makes sense. I am West of ... North of ... I can see ... building with this sign, etc...

[micro911]

1. Asking a lot of questions is a good thing..
2. Know your location.
3. Keep studying penal codes and other laws your are enforcing.

[NuGunner]

Don't expect a lot of praise for things you've done right. You'll be critiqued more than the latter. Knowing that, just keep this in mind, no news is good news. Paramount to everything is officer safety. Paperwork can be learned, common sense can not. Exposure is everything, especially in phase 1, try to do a lot of DUI's and 11550's. They can always lead to bigger investigations.

[vgourdik]

get off the computer and start reading what your FTO told you to read.

[9mmepiphany]

I'll tell you the same thing I told all my recruits. If you don't know ask. Don't be afraid to say I don't know or I'm not sure, especially in first phase. Don't be too eager. Pay attention to everyone on the shift you have to work with, by that I mean watch and listen to how they interact or deal with things you may be covering them on, but only ask questions and advise of your fto. Last but not least check and recheck anything you are going to hand in to your fto. Accept the fact that you are going to make mistakes, we all do, don't make excuses for them, accept and fix them. Keep in mind that this is one of the hardest jobs to get, but easiest to loose, by doing foolish things. Good luck on a hopefully long successful career.

I can tell were had very similar training styles.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes, but learn from each one.

Try not to repeat mistakes

Be prepared for lots of "Why" questions: "Why did you do that?" "Why didn't you do that?"

In Phase one, I'm not even looking for a correct answer. I'm looking for is a rational train of logic, while applying the law as you understand it

[CBR_rider]

I think I was told much of the same information as above posters have said prior to/during my FTO program... and they are right.

Also, even though you should take some time during your days off to study (get a legal source book or something similar if you haven't already) remember to take a little time for yourself. You aren't going to be doing yourself any favors by not getting enough sleep/decompressing at least a little bit on your weekends.