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418 Field Training Program (Revised 01-25-2021)FRIDLEY POLICE GENERAL ORDER DATE OF ISSUE NUMBER: May 15, 2008 418 SUBJECT: Field Training Program REVISION DATE SECTION: January 25, 2021 Green I. PURPOSE The purpose of this order is to establish the Fridley Police Department’s policy governing the Field Training Program. The order establishes the duties of the Field Training Coordinator and the Field Training Officer, the procedure for selection, training and certification of the Field Training Officers, the procedure for the distribution and use of the Field Training Manual, and the procedures for the assignment of probationary officer. II. POLICY It is the policy of the Fridley Police Department (department) to maintain a Field Training Program intended to achieve the following goals: A. To produce a competent police officer capable of working a uniformed, solo patrol assignment in a safe, skillful, productive, and professional manner. B. To provide standardized training to all newly assigned police officers in the practical application of learned information. C. To provide clear standards for rating and evaluation which give all trainees every reasonable opportunity to succeed. D. To provide probationary officers with mentorship and resources giving the trainees the best opportunity to become a successful member of the department. III. DEFINITIONS Probationary Officer A licensed police officer with less than one year of employment as a police officer with the department. The probationary period of an officer may be extended beyond one year at the discretion of the Public Safety Director. Trainee Officer A licensed police officer that is undergoing training overseen by the Field Training Coordinator and is not yet certified for solo patrol by the Patrol Division Commander. IV. PROCEDURE A. Field Training Coordinator 1. The Field Training Coordinator shall be a supervisory officer designated by the Public Safety Director. 2. The Field Training Coordinator shall be responsible for the general control and evaluation of the Field Training Program and shall assume the staff monitoring of all new officers for the duration of their training period. a. The Field Training Coordinator shall monitor and evaluate the overall development of probationary officers during their probationary period for purposes of ascertaining any deficiencies and resolving them through training or retraining. b. The Field Training Coordinator shall be responsible for planning, directing, controlling, and evaluating a pre- determined field training assignment, including the designation of original assignments, any changes in such assignments or variations in the length of the assignments. c. The Field Training Coordinator shall work closely with the supervisors of probationary officers during and after the completion of the Field Training assignment to determine and correct any training deficiencies and may recommend a recycling of a probationary officer for retraining. d. The Field Training Coordinator shall conduct a periodic evaluation of each trainee in field training and shall prepare a statement of the officer’s development to date and submit it to the Patrol Division Commander with a recommendation concerning whether the officer meets or does not meet expectations. All other department supervisors will be offered the opportunity to provide input to assist in this final evaluation. B. Field Training Officer (FTO) 1. Field Training Officers shall be responsible for the training and evaluation of the probationary officers when assigned to them, as directed by the Field Training Coordinator. 2. Qualifications of a Field Training Officer a. Be a sworn officer with considerable experience. Although not specifically required, emphasis will be placed upon selecting officers with more than two years’ experience as an officer with the department. b. Possess the technical knowledge necessary for the successful performance of the police officer’s job. The FTO shall be particularly adept at preliminary investigation and report writing, familiar with the law, aware of his/her policing responsibilities, able to investigate proficiently, and have demonstrated a knowledge of traffic law enforcement. c. Be skilled in inter-personal relations. The FTO must have the ability to work with people under a wide variety of circumstances and be able to recognize, and handle successfully, potentially violent situations. d. Possess the verbal and teaching skills required of an FTO. The FTO must have the ability to perform in a coach-pupil environment and have the ability to evaluate others objectively. 3. Selection of Field Training Officers a. The selection process shall be initiated by the Field Training Coordinator as the need for FTOs is determined. 4. Certification of Field Training Officers a. Officers who are eligible to become FTOs will attend an accredited Police Field Training Officer Course before they are certified as FTOs. b. Officers completing the Police Field Training Officer Course shall be placed on a roster of approved FTOs. Officers who are approved to serve as FTOs shall maintain their status only as long as they perform their responsibilities satisfactorily. c. The Field Training Coordinator shall recommend to the Patrol Division Commander the discontinuance of an FTO’s participation in the Field Training Program if such action is deemed appropriate. 5. Conduct of Field Training Officers a. FTOs shall be uniform in their training of department policies and procedures. b. FTOs shall work closely with the supervisors on duty during scheduled hours of work. C. Field Training Manual 1. The Field Training Coordinator shall be responsible for preparing, revising, and evaluating of the Field Training Manual. 2. Utilization of the Field Training Manual a. The Field Training Manual shall be utilized by FTOs in the training and evaluation of all trainee officers placed on field training assignments. b. Each FTO shall receive a Field Training Manual for each trainee officer assigned to them. The Field Training Coordinator shall forward the manual to the primary FTO before the trainee officer is assigned to the Patrol Division. c. Each trainee officer shall have the manual explained to him/her and shall retain it during the period of time that he/she is on field training, submitting it as required to the FTO for updating. The manual will be utilized to record the progress of the trainee officer. The manual will be used in conformance with the directions contained therein. d. Periodically, the FTO will review the training progress of the trainee officer as annotated in the manual, making any necessary entries. 1) The FTO shall refer to the manual before preparing the service ratings on the trainee officer as required. e. At the conclusion of the pre-determined field training assignment, the FTO shall leave the Field Training Manual in the FTO cabinet for the coordinator to review & evaluate. 1) The Field Training Manual will be made available for review by supervisors if desired at any future time. D. Assignment of Probationary Personnel 1. Newly hired police officers shall be assigned to the Patrol Division unless otherwise ordered by the Public Safety Director. 2. Each probationary officer who is assigned to the Patrol Division shall be placed on a field training assignment under the supervision of an FTO as defined in this order. a. The field training assignments for trainee officers shall be made by the Field Training Coordinator, with the approval of the Patrol Division Commander. b. The length of field training assignments shall be pre- determined (usually twelve weeks) and will be varied only when a trainee officer needs retraining or when he/she exhibits exceptional progress. 1) The Field Training Coordinator may continue the field training assignment for a trainee officer beyond the pre-determined time should the need for further training be apparent with the approval of the Patrol Division Commander. 3. Probationary members assigned to organizational units other than the Patrol Division need not be assigned to designated Field Training Officers. 4. Assignments Following Field Training Period a. The Field Training Coordinator shall maintain liaison with the supervisors of an officer who has completed his field training assignment but who is still on probation to ensure that the officer's training needs are fulfilled. 1) Should the need exist, the Field Training Coordinator may recommend the recycling of any probationer for retraining purposes. The decision to recycle a probationer shall be made by the Patrol Division Commander upon the recommendations of the Field Training Coordinator and the probationer's immediate supervisor. E. Mentorship Program 1. After successfully completing the scheduled 12-week field training program, the probationary officer will participate in the Mentorship Program. 2. The Mentorship Program will consist of the probationary officer working one patrol shift per month with one of Mentorship Officers. The Mentorship Program will last the duration of the probationary period. a. The Mentorship Officer will not complete a daily observation report as part of the mentorship shift. The purpose of the shift is for the Mentorship Officer to create a safe environment for the probationary officer to ask questions freely and without fear of judgement in order to foster ongoing learning and growth during the probationary period. b. The Mentorship Officer will have the opportunity to ensure that the probationary officer is abiding by department policies and procedures and be able to provide constructive feedback as appropriate. 1) If the Mentorship Officer observes the probationary officer performing their duties in an unsafe manor or in violation of department policies and procedures, they shall correct the behavior immediately. The Mentorship Officer may report these concerns to the Field Training Coordinator so additional training can be provided to the probationary officer. The Mentorship Officer will discuss any concerns with the probationary officer at the time of the shift so that the probationary officer is able to make immediate adjustments for better development. c. The scheduling of the monthly Mentorship Program shifts will be the Field Training Coordinator’s responsibility. Any officer the Field Training Coordinator selects may be eligible to participate as a Mentorship Officer. d. Mentorship Officers that participate in the Mentorship Program will not be eligible for training compensation, as this shift is not a training shift.