Field training officer program survival tips

[@gemeltutu8865]

I admire the fact that you are always driving and giving insightful advices.

[@Darkjaws96]

Great video. Your video really connects to me. I was in FTO phase 1 and responded to a call on my first day. The call emotionally wrecked me and ended up going to therapy for it. I resigned due to the concern of when I responded to a similar call, I would put officer safety in jeopardy. I was so incredibly lucky to be in a department that understood and provided me the resources to try and help me. I was also so incredibly lucky to have an FTO like I did. This career isn’t for everyone, and it’s better to understand that before it’s too late.

[@AdjuMjc]

Thank you for the feedback and for sharing your story with other subscribers. Each one ☝️ help one. 😊

[@jiujitsu94]

Wait, you quit?

[@jkdickerson3043]

Yes please make more. Just graduated the academy and passed my state exam here in Florida. And being a US Army veteran I am a very motivated individual to try and learn as much as I can to be prepared for what is ahead. This video has really helped. Keep it coming brother. I made sure to subscribe. God bless and be safe out there.

[@AdjuMjc]

Thanks for the feedback and congratulations on completing the academy. I strongly hope that you have chosen to apply to at least 10 agencies at the same time in order to improve your chances at getting hired.

[@perlajannettemagana.1937]

I just watched your Police salary video and I loved that you mentioned OT. I've read cases where people have doubled and even tripled their base salary with OT... I'm in college and I'm happy I found your channel. (I'm on my gf's account.) Thank you for being an online motivational speaker.

[@AdjuMjc]

Hello Perla. Just saw your comment - Thanks for the feedback. How is your career search? Lots of open positions out there.

[@AdjuMjc]

Thanks 🙏 for the positive feedback and welcome to my channel 😊- send questions in comments - I’ll be sure to reply when notified

[@ultimatejoe71617]

I really appreciate the advice from your point of view!

[@AdjuMjc]

You are very welcome 🙏 and thanks for your positive feedback

[@heidibeale4624]

I failed with a recent agency. I was devastated. The pressure of being evaluated got the best of me. I also was put in new situations I had never been in and did not perform well.

[@AdjuMjc]

I'm sorry to hear you failed FTO. Keep in mind that there are lots of law enforcement agencies out there with different types of workloads. Stay strong and focused on your future career intentions.

[@stealthy1498]

My first FTO experience was a nightmare. I got dinged on every little thing in the beginning (which is to be expected), but the dinging never stopped. I knew I was improving just as any other new officer would, and I was being told so by other officers who were watching my law enforcement journey. They all expected me to be fine, but were seemed shocked in the end when I ultimately failed the program. To those of you who are just starting out and who have the unfortunate lot of being placed with bad FTOs, I have one thing to say to you. COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR ADMIN. Let your supervisors know if you believe you're being pushed out of the department, or if you begin to start plateauing with your current FTO. Don't stay silent like I did. Be aware that many departments offer end-of-the-year bonuses to officers who serve as FTOs. This of course lends to officers becoming FTOs who should NEVER be FTOs, or current FTOs who should step down from the position remaining simply because at the end of the year they get a boosted check. While there are plenty of stories of rookies failing FTO at one department, only to successfully pass at another department, the unfortunate truth is that if you fail FTO, you will most likely be blacklisted from law enforcement in your area and beyond for sometime. At the end of the day this is YOUR career that is on the line, and not your FTO's. Fight for it.

[@AdjuMjc]

👍👍👍🙏 for sharing ! 😃

[@heidibeale4624]

Yikes. Same thing happened to me. I was devastated. I know I can do the job but I suck when being evaluated.

[@jsacodes916]

Man, I’m going to assume that everything you said in this video still applies today. There’s a lot of food for thought in this video. A lot of stuff that I’ve never heard anyone mention.

[@AdjuMjc]

Thanks 🙏 for feedback. Always best to learn this information early and be prepared to successfully pass the FTO program. Be safe out there

[@seancunn4089]

My 1 year probation did not begin until I passed the FTO program. FTO was after I passed 6 month academy. BTW I knew a guy who got terminated his last day of probation (personality conflict with a supervisor) and could not fight it.

[@AdjuMjc]

Thanks 🙏 for sharing your experience Sean. Any advice for future recruits who want to pass FTO and probation?

[@seancunn4089]

My advice is listen and be respectful. Your reputation is being formed not only by supervisors but other police officers. I did not socialize outside of work until probation was over. @@AdjuMjc

[@FaaairlyDecent]

On the point of probation, I would say not to worry about that period if you pass FTO. They usually weed through the "bad fits" during that time. They also typically don't want to just fire people for no reason or for small reasons. If you make BIG mistakes then you're on the hook for it, usually. Also many departments do NOT include the academy in the probationary period. It usually starts on the official sworn in date. I'm sure it varies. But otherwise, great video.

[@AdjuMjc]

Thanks 🙏 for your input. What agencies have you worked or work for? The agencies I worked at were in California and by state labor law, hire date is prior to start of police academy date and time in academy counts towards required probationary period.

[@georgewashington7982]

Lol. You are a probationary employee while in academy. They can let you go based off your performance at academy. Thays why some departments do a year and a half of total probation. So once you graduate your 6 month academy, you start your 1 year probation as a police officer

[@AdjuMjc]

@@georgewashington7982 thanks 🙏 for sharing. Some departments in Northern California have reduced the probation period from 18 to 12 months as a way to get more applicants. We have over 400 agencies in CA and I recommend each applicant review all benefits as well as pros and cons for each agency. Do some homework 📚 on each department so you can make the best career choice😊.

[@georgewashington7982]

@@AdjuMjc yep! Agreed, everyone should research their department and ask all the right questions so there’s no surprises

[@FaaairlyDecent]

@@AdjuMjc I work in Northern California. The last department I worked for had a 12 month probationary period from the time you're sworn in. Since we were not sworn in the academy, that time didn't count toward the "on the job" probationary time. Obviously if your performance is subpar in the academy they CAN let you go in that setting because you're in a training program and they can fail you. My current department has a 12 month probationary period for laterals and 18 months for new hire academy grads which might count their academy time but I'm not sure.

[@chriscruz1106]

People who have failed FTO the first time. You have any words of encouragement if they have a chance to pass second time around or any best advice you can give? Thank you.

[@AdjuMjc]

If you failed FTO, you have to go over copies of your DOR s Daily Observation reports to see what area were noted that you never improved. Be honest and admit what areas you should have improved but didn’t. Once you have identified those, you have to work hard on those issues by attending various training courses that address those issues. Your POST academy certificate in CA is valid for only 3 years from date you can get ended employment so you need to get busy applying to as many agencies as possible - even as a reserve officer 👮 just to keep that cert alive. Sit down 🪑 with law enforcement experts to see if the reasons you failed FTO can be fixed. Study and improve your personality, - even 1% a day, in the 100 days you will be 100% better. What you don’t want to do is drown in your pity party and do nothing to improve yourself 😊

[@Rockcity829]

Sounds to me that some officers like to badge protect. I've listen to some many different videos and no of y'all say remotely the same thing. I say just do it and let the chips fall where they may

[@JasielArredondo]

What is the rate people fail? Like how many in 10 would you say?

[@AdjuMjc]

Well, as a former training officer 👮‍♀️ I can tell you that there is no exact percentage of who fails the FTO training program. Keep in mind that by the time you reach that step, you have passed the background investigation, medical screening, police academy, etc. - as such, you have the tools ⚒️ necessary to pass this training program. Sadly, some of the trainees I and others failed was due to lack of common sense, not learning Dept policies, not responding to constructive criticism, not being able to write ✍️ accurate reports, talking back to supervisors, laziness, not able to listen to the radio for calls or able to multi-task, etc. Trainees are rotated through 3 or 4 Field Training Officers 👮‍♀️ during the 4 month FTO training. Most of the trainees did well, others failed due to the problems mentioned previously. Ya gotta be prepared, alert, professional, adhere to dept policy and learn dept policies. Let me know if you have any other questions. 🙂

[@JasielArredondo]

@@AdjuMjc Thank you for the response. What would you consider being productive as a trainee, like what would really shine in your eyes as an FTO? I am making the transition from corrections to patrol with the Sheriff's agency I am currently working for. I've been working in corrections for 5 years, 2 years with state inmates, and these last 3 at a county level, have you trained people from corrections going to patrol?

[@FaaairlyDecent]

Biggest things that lead to FTO failure: 1. Bad Safety 2. Bad Reports 3. Bad attitude Most training officers look for progress, not perfection. As long as you learn from mistakes and take criticism well, people do well.