Field Training Program

The officers then begin the field training program. This is a year long program that teaches the officer about the area and the department. For six weeks the new officer is assigned to a field training officer (FTO). The new officer rides along and learns about the job. The officer changes FTO’s. They also work in a different area and have a different shift. This is also for six weeks. For the next four weeks the new officer has a new FTO and also changes areas and shifts. Then for the next two weeks the officer has a shadow ride. The officer has a new FTO, but it may be the same officer that hey had the first six weeks. The new officer rides alone, but is followed and supervised but the FTO. The FTO is in an unmarked car. "During the program you do more and more while your FTO does less and less," says Officer John Kim. The officer is then on his or her own until a year after PTI. At the end of the time a final check ride is done. The check ride is like the shadow ride except the officer does not know when the other officer is going to be following him. There is then a board meeting and the FTO’s of the officer will either recommend keeping the officer or firing him or her. If the officer is kept he or she becomes a class A officer and receives a raise.

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