Questions for T.O.'s

[shane]

Going out on FTO soon.

What issues have you had w/ trainees?
Number one problem typically?
What do you look for in a Probationer?

I know it can vary, especially w/ depts.

Give me some pointers. Thanks.


---shane

[tomahawk134]

I though this was thread on Terrell Owens, carry on

[retdetsgt]

Going out on FTO soon.

What issues have you had w/ trainees?
Number one problem typically?
What do you look for in a Probationer?

I know it can vary, especially w/ depts.

Give me some pointers. Thanks.


---shane

Would you work with this person the rest of your career? Would you wish this person on your worst enemy? Remember if you pass them, you will have to be suffer any bad ones.

Does your dept give you evals to fill out? They pretty much give you what you need to be looking for.

[Darin]

Me too Tom :D


Shane, keep your ears open. Be a sponge. Don't think that you know the job. In time you'll learn your way of doing things but in the mean time listen to your FTO.

Don't get discouraged either. Once you start FTO you'll quickly learn that the academy only taught you the fundemental basics. In FTO you still have lots to learn. But don't let it get you down.

Good luck...you'll do fine.

[scott715us]

Going out on FTO soon.

What issues have you had w/ trainees?
Number one problem typically?
What do you look for in a Probationer?

I know it can vary, especially w/ depts.

Give me some pointers. Thanks.


---shane

Someone that's a good listener and a good learner. The problem that faces many FTO's is the administration that wants to squeeze someone through that doesn't cut the mustard. FTO's must remember that if the person you train is a cluster f*** and injures or kills someone because they're a moron, then it can fall back on them ten-fold.

I haven't had any serious issues with the recruits I've been assigned, but I've been fortunate. We just got rid of one that couldn't cut it. She asked to leave on two different occassions, but admin talked her back into staying. It took her to pull out in front of somebody during her remedial training and almost total a new squad car before admin realized she wanted to quit for a reason. :rolleyes:

[chris2001]

Also make sure you do not rationalize the things that happen. Admit to the things you do no matter how good or how bad it was at that moment. They expect you to make mistakes, but they also expect you to learn rapidly from those mistakes. Also you will learn that sometimes you FTO and other's will sorta push you aside. They have their reasons for doing that and most of the time is because they have dealt with that person or person's before and realize that they need to handle the situation. Stay close to them when they do this and learn learn learn.

[Johninaustin]

Two pet peeves. Show up on time in the proper uniform, and HANG UP THE FRIGGIN CELL PHONE! I don't care to hear you give a minute by minute account to your Girlfriend(s).

[mcsap]

Going out on FTO soon.

What issues have you had w/ trainees?
Number one problem typically?
What do you look for in a Probationer?

I know it can vary, especially w/ depts.

Give me some pointers. Thanks.


---shane

Every issue you can think of. Traainees are people and of course do dumb things like the rest of us ( just on a more frequent basis )

Report writing. You need to learn to write it down so a complete stranger ( like your Sgt) can pick it up and figure out exactly what happened.

I didn't look for anything , they were assigned. What would I like ? A person who is neat, doesn't smoke ( personal) , looks good, keeps their eyes and ears open , ASKS QUESTIONS when they aren't sure, learns quickly that this is a fun job interspersed with monents of horror and stress. Is ready ON TIME for duty, follows orders , and did I mention ASKS QUESTIONS ??!!

[michiganstud]

Going out on FTO soon.

What issues have you had w/ trainees?

Failure to show up on time. Failure to look sharp in uniform. Lack of interest. 1 showing up still intoxicated from the night before. The trainee telling me "i learned it this way, this is right"

Number one problem typically?

Not be able to take criticism. You will be getting a lot of it during your FTO.

What do you look for in a Probationer?

Someone on their toes. Someone I can teach something to. Someone that isn't distracted by lookin at the opposite sex rather than learn about the job. Someone that oversteps me on a call.





All around just be open minded and ready to learn the real way of doing things. Its not always the way it is in the book or their orientation.

[Stan Switek]

Every FTO will have a different way of working. Some FTO's will treat you well, some will not. Adapt to that FTO for the month. Do what you are told. When you screw up, no excuses. Just do better next time. When I was an FTO, the thing that pissed me off the most were recruits who made excuses & rationalized their mistakes. If your FTO gets in a use of force, you better jump in with both feet. It's not a spectator sport. Be on time, look sharp, leave the cell phone in your locker.