Do you always get a “training officer” wanting to train?
We just completed a Basic FTO Class and a Management Class at the North Delta Training Academy located in West Monroe, Louisiana. We were excited to have several Sheriff Deputies as well as some police agencies represented in this class. Attendees included Ouachita Parish, Union Parish, Richland Parish and the Ruston Police Department.
It was fun to have several Dispatchers in this class. To be expected, while this class is geared towards the patrol side of the house, the Dispatchers did struggle with some of the scenarios. With that said, after explaining the use of the SEGs and to only evaluate the performance of the student officer, their ratings were right on the mark. Excellent proof that if you observe the performance of your trainee, and match that to the SEGs, you are able to evaluate that performance fairly and objectively.
I was a bit surprised to learn that several Sheriff’s Offices “select” their FTOs by tenure rather than merit. After a determined amount service, you are promoted to a Corporal position. As a Corporal, one of your expected duties is that of a training officer. While I understand the reasoning for career development in preparing the Corporals for promotion to Sergeant, the question is: Do you always get a “training officer” wanting to train?
One of the areas we review in the management class is the selection process of the FTO. Some simple questions like;
- How will the agency benefit by having you as a training officer?
- How will you benefit by being an FTO?
- What are the most likely reasons for trainee failure?
These simple questions can give you an idea of the mindset of your candidates.
After exploring simple, yet impactful, questions, real-life scenarios, and the rest of the course material, some students wanted to share with you what they thought of the training provided by our team:
- “I had already taken an FTO course online, but it was not as in-depth as this class was. This class made me realize I was not doing the DORs right and I was not being an asset to my department as a trainer. Yes, I know how to train but this course refined my skills for me to be better. The online class was a certification; this class is more than that – it is a requirement in my opinion.” ~Officer Christopher Bishop – Ruston Police
- “Before I came to the class, I was told and led to believe it was going to be long and boring. But after completion, I really enjoyed it and definitely think it will help me in going forward in training.” ~Cpl. Larry Frazier-May OPSO
- “10 out of 10 would recommend.” ~Cpl. Isaac Warren OPSO
- “The class was great! I learned a lot I can use in the future to train new deputies. The instructor was great and took the time to relate with the students.” ~Cpl. J. Powell OPSO
- “I would like to see more scenarios and grade them. The class was very helpful. The instructor was very knowledgeable and spoke clearly.” ~Cpl. C. Trim OPSO
- “The class information was informative and accurate. Sgt Harris taught the information very well, because he explained the material and provided illustrations.”
- “I enjoyed the class! It was very informative. Sgt Harris was very funny and innovative! Sgt Harris made the class very fun and wanted to come back for more.” ~Officer Tyler Briggs – Ruston Police
We want to thank all of those above for their thoughts of the FTO course material and our team. If you want to read more testimonials, we are sure you will find that many students have found that we are informative, relatable, and engaging, and our course material is practical, memorable, and the right mixture of classic and innovative.
Our spots are filling up fast! Check out our upcoming classes and snag your team some spots, and/or host a class for 2027! Our calendar for the new year is almost booked up, so reach out now. You can see different courses you can host here. We are in the process of booking a Refresher Class and will post that as soon as we set a date. Stay tuned!
David Harris & Associates
