Mastering Law Enforcement Field Training (FTO)

Unit 1: The Framework of Field Training

Dive deep into diverse field training models, comparing and contrasting the most popular approaches. Understand their successes and challenges and, through group exercises and program design activities, learn how to adapt historical models to shape the future of your agency’s training.

Unit 2: Liability—Protecting Your Officers and Your Agency

Navigate the complex landscape of field training liability. Analyze real-world cases, understand the negative influences of poor training design, and, through case study analysis and strategy development activities, develop robust strategies to minimize exposure for individuals and your department. Learn from the lessons of major cases and recognize high-liability situations.

Unit 3: Generations—Bridging the Training Gap

Master the art of training across generations. Identify distinct generational characteristics, create tailored communication styles, and explore innovative learning strategies that resonate with every recruit. Through role-playing scenarios and peer collaboration, develop approaches to leverage existing resources and train diverse generational officers for maximum success.

Unit 1: Identifying Training Priorities

Learn to strategically prioritize training based on your agency’s unique needs. Through interactive data analysis and priority-setting exercises, create frequency and importance task lists for calls and situations, then develop targeted training strategies for your FTO program that align with real-world demands.

Unit 2: Training the Brain—Optimizing Performance Under Pressure

Uncover the neuroscience behind performance. Identify key brain functions and their relation to officer performance. Explore the nine brain principles and their importance in training. Understand the psychological and physiological effects of stress, and, through demonstrations and practical application, master stress-relief techniques to teach new recruits.

Unit 1: Training Hacks—Innovative Strategies for Engagement

Share and discover effective training techniques. Foster collaboration through brainstorming sessions and solution-oriented discussions, create interactive and engaging sessions, and identify methods to keep learners motivated. Develop solutions for common training challenges like time and budget constraints.

Unit 2: Training Transfer Officers—Maximizing Experienced Talent

Understand the nuances of training officers with prior experience. Compare the pros and cons of hiring transfers, identify the unique training needs of out-of-state officers, and, through scenario-based planning and group discussions, create effective training plans for all transfer hires, including those who may be problematic.

Unit 3: Errors, Slips, Lapses, and Mistakes—A Scientific Approach to Prevention

Define human performance principles and associate them with recruit training. Understand the distinctions between errors, slips, lapses, and mistakes. Through video analysis and scientific debriefing techniques, analyze common recruit errors, identify their underlying causes, and develop scientific training strategies to minimize them. Learn to link training errors to System 1 and System 2 thinking.

Unit 1: Performance Assessments—Driving Accountable Development

Outline the critical outcomes of training assessments and examine how bias impacts evaluations. Learn the key elements of written assessments, differentiate between formal and informal assessments, and understand the vital role of Standard Evaluation Guidelines (SEGs). Master the importance of documenting progress and, through practical assessment completion exercises, conducting detailed assessments.

Unit 2: Evaluations—Fair, Effective, and Legally Sound

Establish clear evaluation guidelines based on performance standards. Identify the essential components of performance evaluations, recognize the importance of thorough documentation, and learn to avoid common evaluation pitfalls. Through interactive evaluation development and peer review, create and apply comprehensive criteria for impactful evaluations.