FTO time

[retdetsgt]

This came up on the Line of Duty thread and that's not the proper place to discuss it, but I'm curious.

How long does your dept require a trainee to work with a FTO before they work alone?

One mine, after the academy, they have to work with at least 3 different FTO's from different precincts and usually one is in traffic. They have about a year on before they go out on their own. We have an 18 month probation, so that allows the Sgt to watch them for 6 more months as they work solo.

Personally, I realize that's kinda expensive, but it gives us three objective views of the person's work, plus gives them opportunity to experience a lot more different situations before they have to be alone.

[rdp]

Academy training here is 22 weeks. Then 21 weeks of FTO with a minimum of 6 fto's and they switch stations half way through.

After they graduate FTEP, they are working alone.

Probation is 18 months from the date of academy graduation.

[sbrad]

12 weeks FTO with 3 different FTO's during that time. 12 month probation.

[FloridaLEO]

12 weeks FTO with 3 different FTO's during that time. 12 month probation.

Same at my dept.

[acreature]

12 weeks straight out rookie.

Laterals, minimun 4 weeks. Getting one in 2 weeks from Mike's neck of the woods.

[Gooch]

It's supposed to be 12 weeks at my department but since I came in with prior experience they pushed me through an accelerated 8 week program.

[JD45]

28 week academy followed by 4 FTO's for 4 weeks each.

You're on an 18 month probation, until you're released to full time status.

[scott715us]

10 week academy (can only go home on weekends). THP is 16 weeks. After our guys get out of the academy, they have 8 weeks police FTO and 8 weeks Fire FTO. Also 60 hrs of First Responder.

They do have several weeks of orientation, uniform stuff, etc before going to the academy. The FTO program doesn't start until after academy. All new recruits are put with different FTO's.

[txinvestigator1]

3 FTO's over 3 months, then a 2 week "plain clothes" evaluation. You work on your own but there is a plain clothes FTO in the car who evaluates you daily. The car is treated as a 1 man car.

[acreature]

3 FTO's over 3 months, then a 2 week "plain clothes" evaluation. You work on your own but there is a plain clothes FTO in the car who evaluates you daily. The car is treated as a 1 man car.

We do the same in regards to the plain clothes. My favorite part of the FTO b/c I wear civvies. Only problem is I can't stay out of a good call. Especially when I know there is Dope and the rook isn't catching it.

[BikePatrol85]

Our rookies go through 24 weeks of FTO rotating every six weeks between the 3 shifts and changing FTOs. We have a 1 year probabtionary period also.

[vadep]

12 weeks w/ 2 FTOs

[mcsap]

12 weeks with a different FTO every 2 weeks , ( there ar eonly 4 and they rotate). The final 2 weeks, the FTO wears plainclothes so the trainee is the center of the attention and not the FTO.

[slim202cop]

The FTO program is suppose to be at least 12 weeks long, with the trainee working all three shifts(daywork, evenings and midnights). But there are cases where it took new officers a year to get certified. And it's the other way around.............


My FTO program lasted just under 8 weeks. I was the first one in my class(out of 35) to get certified. I had an "FTO by committee". I got trained by about ten different officers.

[Star]

90 days, then an eval to determine if they need more training. Usually, an FTO takes them out for four weeks and I observe them for 90 days. They are already certified, with training and degrees before they can work for our department.