No Training Officers
- Chicago continues to struggle in attracting veteran police officers to become trainers for rookies, a top police official says.
The city's budget contains money for 265 field training officers. But when a new class of 30 trainers takes the street soon, the total will reach only 155, Deputy Supt. Charles Williams said.
What does that tell anyone about the Field Training Officer position? In the right hand tool bar, right below the SCC flag, we wrote about the FTO program back in September of last year. It hasn't improved at all. Does anyone have any realistic proposals to improve the FTO job? It's arguably the most important job in the entire Department, but no one wants it.
Labels: department issues
posted by SCC at 12:05 AM
86 Comments:
H.B. PUTS ANOTHER NOTCH ON HIS BELT. 1 DEAD GUY. HE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN PLAYING WITH KNIVES.
Check out the front page lead story ("What is a hate crime?") with photos in this morning's Sunday Tribune.
The free market takes hold!
yes it is most important job, but just like a teacher position/career its too much grief to little pay. As a Sgt I can see it. You need patience with the "young skulls full of mush". I also see that these little ones often turn on you in a year or two becoming know it alls. The status needs to boosted like to detective, but until then it will attract too many goofs not training the youngins well
Everyone remembers his/her FTO, maybe for good things, maybe bad. When I came on the police department there were detectives, SOG and tact. No gang teams, TRU, Saturation, Mission Teams, citywide gun team, PSN gun teams, DOC, Fusion Center, etc, etc. Every now and then openings came up for FTO's (before they called them Patrol Specialists) and the bosses would get together and figure out who was mature and patient enough to show some new guy the ropes.
They decided to give the FTO's a little extra change for taking on the responsibility of training the new guys. This meant splitting up partnerships, doing additional paperwork and working the mean streets with some new guy who you knew nothing about his abilities or whether he might just bug out if things got hairy. It wasn't all that much, just a little more than patrolmans salary but a reward for taking on extra work.
It never failed to amaze me why dispatchers got D2 pay. Hmmmm.....let's see: no freezing in the winter, no boiling in the summer, sitting my ass in the air conditioning at 1121 S State. Hell, when the original CC room opened, you could actually smoke (the old consoles came EQUIPPED with ashtrays, fer chrissakes) but it was good for the older guys who needed to get off the street (or the pooches who never wanted to be the police in the 1st place)
FTO's were changed to Patrol Specialists as a potential halfway grade between P.O. and Sgt. There were actually provisions to allow P/Ss "act up" as fill-ins for supervisors in a pinch. Alas, these provisions were never implemented. Fewer and fewer people were interested in the position and when they revamped the program and went back to the FTO title (as well as making them wear those silly chevrons) guys all wanted to be FTOs. Then they found out they had to work in shitty districts, couldn't work anything but the street (no unit, spot, saturation team, mission team, desk, etc) were bitched at if they did anything wrong ("you should know better....you're an FTO") and were always denied time-due ("what're we gonna do with your RECRUIT?")
Working a beat/sector car is now considered asshole duty for those with either no time on the job or no phone call. Being glued to the radio, answering endless calls, handling domestics, writing tickets etc is for those "other cops" that the hooked-up guys laugh about after work. 30 minute lunches, REAL 8-hour tours (don't even THINK of coming in before quarter after) no ducks, burned slips are the realities of the FTO world. It's great to be able to help a young guy or gal in the early days of their careers but in it's current configuration, it's a dead end job with absolutely nowhere to go. Can't take any details, nothing but mind-numbing District Law Enforcement.
When I read the posting in another thread by some stroke detective who bristled at the thought of having equivalent pay with the FTOs, I thought about the 2 hour lunches, spending a large portion of your day at the Starbucks on Rush St. and bullshit sessions in the Area about sports, pussy or your new (fill in the blank: boat, motorcycle, Dugans Dolly, etc.) If this guy ever had to find a uniform that could fit him so he could go back to filling out a traffic crash report, animal bite card or the daily "mission" report, he'd work the D-unit for HALF what he's getting now.
God Bless the guys who dedicate themselves to training the new generation of the CPD. Wanna bitch about the hair gel police? See which FTO turns out good, hard working, well trained recruits and which ones turn out the bumbling idiots or the 15-minutes-on-the-job dogasses with attitudes as big as Pontiacs. The future of the department starts with the FTOs. They really do the dirty job NO ONE ELSE WANTS. I say, give 'em D2A+ pay and be happy you've got them.
First off, it's smoke and mirrors.
They'll have meetings and focus groups, but nothing changes. Sure they listen, still, nothing changes. It's not the fault of the officers who run the program, they don't have much say either in how the program is run. It all comes from downtown. Years ago, well not really that long ago, when they didn't let officers return to their districts, that killed the program. They don't understand the importance of having a partner. They don't understand partners are chosen because officers feel at ease with someone who will get them home safe. Trust me, they'll have another focus group and meeting, they'll write notes, and again, nothing will change.
Regarding the training issue.
I have heard academy instructors say stuff to recruits that astounds me. If you've been off the street for 4 yrs. or more, you lose touch with how things are done. Unless you're IOD or light duty, the department should limit an inside assignment, whether it's at the academy,in the front office of a district or at HQ to 4 yrs. max.
Yes, some in the academy are very good at what they do. You have to be state certified to be there. However, some need to be replaced.
When it comes to change, the department does do somethings well. It will screw up a process, a unit, or equipment, still, it will never admit to a "change" as a failure. It will never happen. As with the FTO program and other programs, nothing is going to change.
We have a department that can't run a legitimate Lt.'s test
We have a department that has kept the connected inside in their coveted spots, for so long,that it's not only cheating the tax payer out of what they pay taxes for, they paid to have that gun and star on the street, and this makes the officer's job that much more dangerous, that is, not having the back up out there.
Back each other up and may God bless you and get you home safe.
Teach the kids better in the academy and then maybe some of the FTO's wouldn't be afraid of learnin' them.
To get this class of 30 FTO's, did everyone know they had to exhaust the entire list of 175 people who passed the test? That's right. The Academy called every single name on the list and almost 150 people turned it down rather than leave their district, their partner or their spot. So what politically connected company is going to get a million or two to develop a new teswt that no one will take for a job no one wants?
Anonymous said...
Teach the kids better in the academy and then maybe some of the FTO's wouldn't be afraid of learnin' them.
6/10/2007 07:19:00 AM
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That's what your FTO said about you when you graduated.
Some of these "kids" are utter and complete morons. They have no interest in doing police work. They came on the job for "other" reasons: money, benefits, job security.
Many, by the time they graduate, they cannot complete a simple GOCR.
So, after 5.5 or 6 months in the academy, having passed all written exams, what is the academy supposed to do with these people?
Fire them? Can't. They have completed the minimum requirements while in the academy.
When you stepped into a dist. for the first time after you graduated, I am sure that you knew it all.
The FTO program is supposed to take these young officers and mold them into better officers, given the BASICS that where learned while in the academy.
Don't be a hater, Be a Helper!
In time, the city will disarm the police. The Tazer will replace the sidearm.
Drop the FTO program and let the WC rotate the PPO'S with the best and the brightest on the watch. Worked pretty well in the past.
I remember (and I would like to forget) my FTO. He was the worst of the worst, that's right. I remenber when the female PPOs would get assigned to him and they would actually cry because it was so bad. What did the CPD do about it??? Oh well maybe he will retire soon and go away. Yeh sure, He stayed until mandatory retirement age. Sadly, no one wants that job....that's life in the CPD
Safety Note...If you decide to becoma a FTO one the substances you will be in direct contact with is "hair gel". Hair gel if used sparingly and properly can be an asset to holding a doo (spike hair, mohawk, slick sides, etc) but as we are seeing more and more on this job when it is abused, it is causing severe brain cramps. You have a need and urge to don leather gloves, the repeating (over and over) of 1 bag arrest stories, and of course the I can't walk past a mirror without looking in it. I've even witness these young lads looking for their relection in the Whit Hen deli case. Simply stated HAIR GEL is a danger to our department. Be afraid, be very afraid !
by far the best ever f.t.o. on the job was wayne campbell retired and formerly from the 009th district.he was very well rounded and if you were lucky enough to have him train you, your knowledge and expierence learned through him could never be compared to anyone else.when i came on the district had five training officers on afternoons which consisted of jimmy willimson,paul radtke, mark donahue(yeah fop president), marty radtke and campbell.they were all expierenced officers who were very good at what they did but wayne excelled above the rest.speaking for myself i can say that recuits learned alot about policing if you trained in 009 and encountered one of these great individuals. now unfortunately, the district has noone qualified to train anyone. i can see why very few people learn anything about the job when you end up being trained by hodap(give me a personal and cigar at 31 canal)retired al kruger who only write dui's and you never completed anything but a tow impound form and never drove the squad. its pretty sad that a two year wonder off of probation who know's nothing about the job takes on the responsibility of training someone new. or you get someone like a four year wonder (conroy) who works harder out of getting out of jobs and complains about those who actually work. unless you get some qualified people who are well rounded and do all forms of police work, the recruits will learn nothing.
Sergeants pay would get more volunteers!
Did the FTO training at the academy a few years ago. Went through the entire training and got sworn in by Chief of Patrol Maurer.Right after being sworn in, he read out our assignments.Four FTO's did not get assigned the district they wanted, he knew from day one that everyone in that class would resign the position if they didnt get the district they wanted, yet typical department bullshit they tried to pull that backdoor trick by sweraing us in first.Well all four immediately made them aware we wanted to resign and go back to our districts.They managed to convince a female to go to 010, but the remaining three said to the sgt. shove it we wanted out. The Chief of Patrol could not assign 3 FTO's to the district they wanted?? FTO is a important and needed position, but this department does not care, its all about the cb number without incident.
I just saw the Tribune story about the double standard in reporting crime involving whites and blacks.
Absolutely shocking what those two young All-American kids had to go through with those savage killers. Their pictures on the front page brought my wife to tears.
My partner told me that the they gang raped both of them for 4 nights, urinated on the girl and forced her to drink chemicals to kill the DNA they left in her mouth before they murdered her and cut her up.
Why didn't we hear about this in January when it happened? The media was too busy crucifying the Duke lacrosse team.
HB is the real deal on this job. He's retiring soon like so many other great coppers!
"Hey kid, how ya doing - I'm Officer Smith and I'll be your field training officer".
"Now let me tell you how it is".
Be careful using this car. It held together with duct tape and metal coat hangers. The siren doesnt work, we have one head light out and the shocks are shot.
Sorry, the pdt mount is broken. If we had a computer it probably would read out of range more than 1/2 the tour anyways so run you'll have to run all the names and plates over the air thats if you can get through or the idiot dog ass dispatcher acknowledges you.
I'd like to go out with you and do some on-view / bad guy hunting for guns and drugs but we probably wont get a chance to because our district is in a back log for the whole tour. Don't believe what the city tells the public about have 13,500 + troops on the street, it's more like 9,348.
Don't bother getting in a vehicle pursuit, even if it's for murder, kidnapping, car jacking or robbery. when you make eye contact with the bad guys just tell them "take care, you're free to go, good luck on your're next crime in Chicago" and just let him drive away. You'll learn real quick how ball-less our dept and city really is.
I'd love to show you how to make arrest using physical neccessary force but I won't because the city will say there is a pattern and you have to many cr # or trr's and they'll threaten to fire you.
I'd like to show you what hot pursuit into a home is but the dept frowns on that and once the case goes to court (cook aka cRook county) will find or make up a reason to throw it out or have a finding of not guilty. That goes for search warrants and narcotic surveillances. You can have the best case in the world but our county jails and prisons our so over crowded that the judges and asa's just put them back on the street to do more crime. That should explain to you why crime is so high and quality of life is so low anywhere in cook county.
Kid, I can go on and on but lets get out there and handle these 13 jobs stacked. And oh yeah, for now on eat lunch at home or bring a bag lunch, because our lunch will be denied everyday.
And also kid, if you're every asked to do a wolf pack mission or a seat belt safety mission, I'm really sorry. I know its useless, embarrassing and a waste of manpower that should be used other ways but just bite your lip and hang in there.
My FTO i mean Patrol Specialist said when we went staight watches that this was gonna kill the program.
I think he was absolutely correct. Being an FTO is like working Tactical in that I dont see any benefit.
if you don't like the job quit
the cpd will be better off without you
Off Topic,
3 people shot in the greens, I bet the commander did'nt see that coming sitting in his house watching officers on the POD's.
Nice job, did you make a mistake by taking vehicles from the officers working housing. My guess is after this one, you might be looking at a new method of patrol for housing.
But, you seem to know what your doing? Might not look too good for him right now, maybe we'll be calling him Lt. again.
I WAS AN ACTING FTO ONCE, FIRST RECRUIT WAS EX MARINE AND ENJOYED TEACHING HIM THE FINER ARTS OF POLICE WORK, HELPING THE GOOD AND LOCKING UP THE GANGER BANGERS AND THEN SEIZING THEIR CARS. WE BOTH WORKED HARD. THEN THE NEXT RECRUIT I GET IS A LIBERAL DO NOTHING FEMALE WHO DID NOT WANT TO WORK OR DO HIGH RISK TRAFFIC STOPS, WELL THE NEXT DAY GUESS WHAT I TOLD THEM TO TAKE THEIR FTO POSITION AND STICK IT, I AM WORKING COPPER AND I WILL WORK 10/99
I just read the Tribune article about the barbarian torture, rapes and murders of the young couple in Knoxville, Tennessee back in January.
Two things I'm certain of. The killers could not be motivated by anything less than extreme hatred.
Any national press that blacked out the coverage of this crime is guilty of journalistic malpractice.
God bless Chris and Channon and may those bloodthirsty animals die a long, slow and painful death on their way to hell.
Like the rest of you, I am not sure what it will take to solve the field training problem. Here is an interesting idea to ponder though.
There is never a shortage of people wanting to be sergeants.
Sergeants always start in the Patrol Division.
Make sergeants the new FTO's of the Department.
Create a policy that all new sergeants MUST serve as FTO's for a period of say... 18 months.
That means 18 months of serving as an FTO before moving into other areas of patrol, such as tactical, gangs or Community Policing.
That also means 18 months before moving on to other assignments, such as detective division, narcotics, SOS, TRU, etc.
No exceptions.... none. Everyone takes the stairs vs. the elevator in promotion and advancement. Everyone and I mean everyone does a tour as an FTO before moving up the ladder.
One of the most noted problems is that there has not been a serious and meaningful investment made by the Department in training its future members. Some talk the talk, but very little care enough to walk the walk. This policy would change that.
What are the benefits of doing this?
1. It ends a culture of indifference about FTO's. The new culture would have every new sergeant trained and functioning as FTO's. As time progresses, every supervisor in CPD will have had experiences working in a FTO capacity. I would like to believe that serious improvements would come in the field training program over time with such a commitment and investment made.
2. There would be more sergeants on the street. There has always been a shortage of first line field supervision on the streets. A lack of effective first line supervision is one of the most noted contributing factors to police corruption and abuse. This policy would add more supervision (and guidance) where it is needed most - in patrol.
3. Recruits would be trained by more seasoned police officers. This would end the problem of yesterday's recruit becoming tomorrow's acting FTO. Inexperienced police officers training recruits - this is another unacceptable practice that must end. As one person said, "The fuse has been lit - we are just waiting for the bomb to go off on this one."
4. Sergeants would be in a better position to deal with sub-par recruits and washing them out, if need be. The current FTO's that do take their job seriously complain that if they see a problem recruit, that are basically powerless to do anything about them. They are either pressured into passing the recruit or the recruit just goes to another FTO who will pass anyone. This must change.
There are only so many seats on the bus for members that have limited skills and abilities. We can not continue fill the ranks with incompetent people that come out of the academy. The current FTO program leaves a gaping hole in accountability for the lack of training or performance in a new recruit. Management would now take full responsibility for passing recruits though their probationary period.
5. Sergeants assigned as FTO's would not have the added burdens and responsibilities that other field Sergeant's would have. Although they would retain full control and authority as sergeant s of police, they would not carry a case load of C.R. numbers, court deviations, or infractions. They also would not serve as beat team leaders in CAPS. They would not be responsible for logging other cars. They would however, provide supervision and guidance to all police officers as sergeants when responding to jobs.
What about the existing FTO's?
1. Special considerations would be given to FTO’s for merit promotion to sergeant. Those that have been FTO's for 3 years or more should be given first considerations for merit appointment to the rank of sergeant. They would, like everyone else, have to take and pass part one of any promotional exam before being given any special considerations for merit appointment.
2. Special waiver of the college requirement for promotion to sergeant. For those who say those going back to school for a 2-year degree would not be a realistic option for them, now have another option for promotion. Become an FTO for three years.
Valid arguments have been made that there are outstanding police officers out there that would make good sergeants. Some of these outstanding police officers claim that they can not get promoted because of the existing college requirement. They argue that going back to school on their own time is not realistic, in light of family, financial or other responsibilities.
These outstanding police officers are exactly the people that we want as FTO's.
Now there is an opportunity for the rubber to meet the road. Have these outstanding police officers transfer some of their knowledge and expertise to the new generation of police officers. These non-college educated police officers could earn their bones to promotion by sharing their "PhD’s" in street smarts.
It seems fair that everyone should make a personal "investment" for future promotion. The Department has required 2 years of college as a requirement. Going to school is an investment. Now, there could be another way to make a "personal investment".
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I am sure there is more thought needed for an idea like this to really work. I may have overlooked some important considerations that others might catch.
Before you conclude that this idea sucks, just remember one thing. We have a task before us not only to solve a problem that has long range consequences (the future of our Department), but also to change a long standing (20+ years) culture of indifference that starts at the Superintendent and works all the way down to the lowly police officer on the beat car.
This idea is only a starting point for thinking outside of the box and getting serious on addressing this age old problem. Maybe someone will read this and come up with an even better idea?
Ok, heres a novel idea, how bout giving some weight to what they say? If 1,2,3 or even four FTO's say fire someone then FIRE THEM! By the time the second or even third is saying fire them, obviously there is a problem that will only cause larger problems down the road,but as always let's go for the easy fix. Instead order their passing! Thats right,if you fire them then maybe the dept would have to defend it training program in court and maybe even have to produce credentials for the acadamy staff and the courts might not be impressed with who you are related to or who you blew to get there.So instead lets just keep everybody on the job and wring our hands at the scandals, vidoetaped beatings, medical abuse etc, and like lemmings continue our march to the sea.
I was at an FTO Forum Meeting at the academy a while back. Myself and about 15 other FTOs.
We sat there and for a little more than an hour the SGT running the forum picked our brains wanting to know what would make the postiton more attractive.
There were alot of good ideas thrown out there. D2A pay being one of them and the peace of mind in knowing that you will get to come back to the district where you came from after training at the academy for the position.
They even are talking about giving you credit towards promotional exams if you were an fto.
I agree with the other poster that it might not go anywhere but I will tell you this. Never in the the years i have been here and been an FTO was it ever on the bargaining table to make FTO a D2A position and we all know that it should be!
There may be a little rainbow at the end of the tunnel due to the fact that we have a sgt at the academy pulling for us and he used to be an fto.
Its a tough job with alot of responsibility and not the compensation that should be there.
and wont it be nice to know the next jagoff detective who comes to your crime scene and acts like he or she is better than you, you can be happy to know that you are making the same amount of money that he or she is.
Until they raise the pay and bring back respectability to the fto position they will never be at their full compliment.
D2A Pay
D2A Pay
D2A Pay
Hey you idiots at HQ pay these poor bastards D2A Pay and you will get more help.
Wake the fu!@#$%^& up !!!
A Good idead would be an FTO Team. 2 Officers that have worked together pulling the 3 man car with staggered days off rather than a ppo consistently working with the usual cynical asshole FTO and being tainted by the second cycle. THE FACT IS THIS; 99% OF THE CURRENT FTO'S ARE THE IDIOTS OR ARROGANT JAGOFFS THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN TOLERATE FOR 8 HOURS. Start an incentive program more than just D-2 pay. Thats stupid. how about d-3, you are working under the same supervisory premise.
No patrolman has any respect for FTO's. The program as a whole is no more than a failure.
The FTO job sucks because the dept really doesnt value training. The position is not supervisory so really cant give orders and the dept makes extremely difficult to fail recruits. Add these facts to the reality that training someone in the ghetto can be extremely stressful and you understand why no sane person wants the job.
Teach the kids better in the academy and then maybe some of the FTO's wouldn't be afraid of learnin' them.
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Nice English, I bet you "look at TV" too. You could be in the academy for 1 year and learn more in 1 month working in a fast district than the BS they are teaching in that Kool Aid factory.
Howard,
As a 14 year veteran of the Chicago Police Dept. and being a witness of the aftermath in many homicide scenes around some of the most violent areas of the city, I commend you on your reporting on this sensitive issue. Granted in this large city we read mostly about "gang related" murders but every once in a while you get a murder or an aggravated battery that is out of the ordinary. From the perspective of the average citizen "race" issues can be debated. People say things like the poor African American community is "oppressed" or kept down. I would contest that but for fear of some sort of this retort "blowing up in my face".
I believe the underlying issue is the political aspect of this problem and on one end you have "the reverends" and on the other end you have the Ku Klux Klan. But in the middle you have a lot of problems starting with jealousy then ending with hate. Whites would not want blacks in their neighborhood but blacks wouldn't want whites in theirs.
Generally, the police "everywhere" and I don't care where or what town you are in, see the "reality" that is never reported or even touched on by the newspapers or media. The police basically think at least in this big City that the media "caters" to what sells and who is speaking out and what bits and pieces of the real truths they may gather even though the real story is never released by the police here while the crime is being investigated. With this being said the consensus at times is that the police feel slighted and misunderstood. The Police and Fire by their general orders are not allowed to comment on a case or any crime without department approval. Our Department does nothing to cover us at least that is the feeling due to fear of the Media. We always end up looking "real bad" on TV and the papers to the average joe. I get embarrassed to tell people I am the police out in my circuit due to bad press.
Getting back to the hate crimes or racial tensions that are issues, one needs not to go any further than any yuppie area of this city. What do the police see? Well how about the fact that a large percentage of police families would never want to live nor raise a family around let's say Wrigley Field area. That is a "soft" area to do police work in, considering our many "ghettos" so it should be nice, not necessarily.
The average yuppie just figures that the wandering black homeless and young black males that inter mingle with their everyday activity, is just like downtown or its City living, or it comes with the territory and one yuppie would say, "Wow I really live in Chicago now". Well the average police know different. We see yuppies as their own problems, they are nothing but naive victims and we laugh to ourselves as they spend numerous amounts of money to live amongst supposed ex-murderers, arsonists, rapists, burglars and thieves. Police statistics can be hidden and unreported to support the growing and evolving neighborhoods so these yuppies buy the town homes and condos. But most police on the job know different.
Example: How about that nice black female that everyone gave a dollar to daily at the corner or in the hallway of their "nice " apartment building or in the alley. Well she just burned the apartment down killing a couple of her donors in Wrigleyville. Is she nuts? Is she secretly happy about her vindictive deed? Who knows but I know where I live and who my neighbors are and if I saw someone like her in my area I would call the police for fear of her being suspicious to my neighborhood. A name check may be done as police encounter her or maybe a well being check to determine if she needed to go to a hospital for "mental reasons". When you live in a transient area nobody cares about anybody nor does anybody really consider anyone else.
This is an example of just one thing, but what about the "robberies and burglaries" from the wandering unknowns that prey on the "naive" and believe me ex-cons and street wise folks know who is "naive". Is there any racial thought put into their victimization? I would say yes to you but not get on the TV and debate it. Common sense here is an issue, ask most "ghetto police or even fire personnel". We get attacked as much as the average yuppie or out of towner or lost soul downtown. Yes there is "hatred" involved when we get involved as a victim to a battery of a peace officer or fireman. THEY HATE US in the ghetto! But we are the first ones they call. 911 and OPS are on their speed dials of their cell phones, THEY LOVE AND HATE US! Both police and fire.
That is not the issue in my neighborhood. Respect for the neighbors and their kids, that is the primary feeling in a nice neighborhood and then respect for police and fire and their jobs. Most of us listened in drivers education class to pull to right for the sirens and lights. Not true in some neighborhoods. Is this disrespectful or ignorance?
Racial issues: Are they angry? Do they hate? Are they victims? Do we create excessive programs for them that cost taxpayers? Do they work? Can they work? Will they work? Is drug dealing, stealing and doing nothing easier? Is it the white folks fault? Is it the police and fire's fault? Is it their fault?
I believe opportunity dictates the crime and the hatred comes from within whether its white on black or black on white. Will it ever rectify? Can it be corrected or healed? Do we get involved or just avoid it and ignore it? Will these issues get someone elected or demoted or fired? Will you get killed or live? Can you move away from it and get out?
Well the last question is an big issue for most City workers and especially for police and fire but not an answer as for racial tension as far as I know!
Anonymous
it is a vitally important job to the Job. Everyone wonders why we have so many malcontents on this job. Reason? Poor screening at the Personnel Div. level. Even POORER screening in the Academy
(rarely does anyone get pushed out the door there, and from what I've seen, it's a damn shame, but few people there want to call garbage for what it is). And lastly, many of the FTO's themselves don't want to downgrade people who really aren't up to the task. You've literally got to PRY it out of the FTOs. We don't do ourselves any favors by turning a blind eye to people who don't pass muster early in the game. I guess it's a lot like being a Sgt. Many of my supervisor brethren don't really manage the responsibilities that go along with wearing the white shirt & chevrons either. And so it goes...
Speedy Recovery Gene Get Well Soon. And Hats off To HB for being the Real Police.....AGAIN!!!
LET THE BOSSES EVALUATE PERFORMANCES AND SKILLS AND CHOOSE, WITH "REAL MERIT" WHOM WILL BE A TRAINING OFFICER.
Sergeants submit initial names.
Everyone involved in the FTO Program is required to do far too much paperwork that no one, including the supv. that sign off on it, read. The Unit at the Academy that runs its has no clue as to where its recruits are most of the time or who they are working with. There is no serious evaluation program for FTO's so you end up with a bunch of misfit P.O.'s as FTO's, the malicious one who think they know it all, the lazy ones who nobody wants to work with, the illiterate ones who can barely do the paperwork themselves much less teach someone else how to do it, and the inexperienced who just didn't happen to have a partner that day. The Captains don't take the program seriously, and ofttimes the FTO-Lt doesn't want to be bothered or he's detailed out and he has no authority to appoint FTO's or to get rid of bad ones. All in all it adds up to why bother. The couple of extra bucks isn't worth the hassle and nobody likes doing meaningless work. My suggestion is to go back to the day when each D/C or Watch Commander appointed his/her own FTO's, they are, afterall in the best position to know who their best officers are, get rid of the daily reports and perhaps, substitute tests every two weeks to show what the recruits have learned on the street. Put everything on computer like the arrest reports so that the Academy has a closer monitor on the recruits and give everyone some incentive to contribute to the well-being of the dept. Let the FTO-Lt make the assignments rather than the Watch Captains so that recruits can be better paired with FTO's.
Man, I'm a civilian and sometimes this blog just depresses the shit out of me. I've worked for a couple of companies, and I don't know much about business management, but I'm pretty sure that a corporation run like CPD would be circling the drain.
It just kills me that no one seems to recognize the value of training. I mean, I'm ignorant about police matters so correct me if I'm wrong, but what else is there to the police department except well-trained cops? A few buildings, some cars and radios and computers and guns, sure, but it's all crap in comparison to the value of having skilled officers.
In the business world, an organization like CPD is said to consist almost entirely of human capital, and the whole organization would built around training. FTO would be a key position, and a required stepping stone to SGT. FTO's would be evaluated based on the quality of the cops they train, and SGTs would be evaluated on the quality of their FTOs, and so on. Some of the most respected supervisors at all levels would be those with a history of bringing up good people below them.
Again, my grasp of the details is probably ignorant bullshit, but there are plenty of successful companies that succeed only because they take training seriously. And if you don't like the business comparison, consider that the U.S. military attributes much of its success to good training.
Some ideas, not that anyone who could make a difference is listening, why am I even bothering with this?
Ok, I have some time to kill so here goes,
KEEP PARTNERS TOGETHER
get rid of the refresher cycle for the millionth time
the FTO program should be located at HQ's in the Bureau of Patrol
Here's a crazy idea, have academy instructors and yes, even the supervisors,do "ride alongs" with the FTO and the recruit or shadow them. This way you can see if your training is working or what area the recruits need help in.
Stop using the recruits as fillers or putting them with the dogs. They aren't learning squat when they are used this way.
create an online training program, or streaming video that explains the DOR rating system. It's ridiculous that a real FTO will give realistic scores and then the kid gets an acting FTO,who doesn't care,(some acting FTO's are really good) and is given perfect scores with 3 days on the job. Then some wonder how these kids don't get launched.
listen to what people are telling you regarding suggestions from previous focus groups and implement them, even if it's done as a pilot program. Try it, it might work.
"As a Sgt I can see it. You need patience with the "young skulls full of mush"."
That goes for Mush minded Sgt's as well. Especially these house mouse cowards that get promoted with ZERO Street experience. I could almost guarantee that YOU Sarge fit that category.
Retired now for several years I had been a FTO in the 80s in a fast district. The concept is a great one but the system is totally flawed. I had some great recruits willing to learn and some real worthless ones. One I had was always late, couldn't write a simple recovered vehicle supp and never showed in court. I did everything we were advised to do as far as documentation. I got called down to the training division and told I was failing to train him. After all of your time in training you should have some comcept of how to fill in the boxes on the reports show up on time and come to court. On days in a high residental burlary area we get a call of a suspicious man ringing the doorbells. He drives rights by the address and codes it out. I say how about the van in front of the house with the engine running and he says how the fuck do I know I never did this job before. If I could remember his name I'd check to find out if he is a captain or other high ranking exempt.
Yes, some in the academy are very good at what they do. You have to be state certified to be there. However, some need to be replaced.
6/10/2007 06:49:00 AM
Hard to find quality replacements to work at academy. Not a true inside position. Instructors work 8 hours plus work at home with lesson plans. Yes, they need replacements fresh off the street but who is willing to teach recruits? SOS rejects, those running from 35th street and others who are afraid of the street? Quality instruction is hard work if you care and not too many officers willing to step up to the plate. Unfortunately, some instructors have lost touch with the street.
marty radtke in 004 and stan gas in 003 are true fto,s , i have 15 years on ,both class guys and great cops.
Anonymous said...
Teach the kids better in the academy and then maybe some of the FTO's wouldn't be afraid of learnin' them.
6/10/2007 07:19:00 AM
They receive basic training in academy. When they leave someone has to follow up with individual guidance. Remember when you hit the street the first day? Someone must provide a helping hand. Easy to pick on the new officers. WTF!
Back in the 80's some brainstem downtown decided only the fast districts would be training districts,and "EVERYONE" in the chosen districts would be an FTO.
I was in 010 at the time and was told either become an FTO or leave,so I bid out,and everyone that stayed became an FTO.Now there was and I'm sure there still are some damn good coppers in 010 ,but we also had our share of "DOGS" and they were all made FTO's.A year later after the program was found to be a complete
disaster (you just don't breakup people who have been partners for 10/15 years)I bid back to 010 and everything was back to normal.Just another idea gone bad like beatbooks,and those stupid caps bags they passed out then.
Was that Boner on Winnemac? All I can say is thank God he Patrols 016 and is safe. Good job and stay safe. Signed I/F 760
I was at the Academy last week and was impressed by the conduct of the recruits in there going thru training. They all seemed well mannered, clean, and upbeat. It's good to see the Academy looking clean and professional, and no southside street corner talk and related nonsense going on, like in the past. Good Luck Recruits, keep up the professionalism.
The best FTO was Mark Banks. God Rest His Soul! He was one heck of copper not to mention a great guy.
These PPO's are comming out of the academy scared of lawsuits and not wanting to put there hands on people. (NOT ALL) These FTO's see this. They dont want to put there own safety at risk. Tell these a-holes in the department (like fat fill) to start backing the police and build confidence and moral. So when the shit hits the fan, you wont be fired or sued or lose your house! As a 10 year veteran I see more and more PPO's not wanting to get there hands dirty. It puts all of us in danger. Just the other day, I see a group of PO's that all had less than 3 years on the job wait for a sgt. to show up on scene. The sgt. had to put cuffs on this idiot, while they stood around. What the f*%& is that!
Stan Gas
All I have to say is whoever calls himself "real patrolman" on this blog, must be the biggest douchebag on the planet.
does anybody out there know who donny barrett's FTO could on been?
"Hey kid, how ya doing - I'm Officer Smith and I'll be your field training officer".
"Now let me tell you how it is".
Hit the nail on the head, except about not getting lunch. Fuck that, I always make sure I get mine.
Being little more than a 2 year wonder (still just shy of 3 years), I still remember a few things pretty clearly, while being in the academy, we were warned that when we got out onto the streets most of us probably wouldn't get an FTO (which I never did for all 3 cycles) and that more to the point, the people training us would more likely than not be just off of probation themselves. I started off in 003, there were 5 FTO's between 3 watches, 2 on days, 1 on afternoons, and 2 on midnights. I got lucky on days, thanks Jack, he taught me the basic mechanics of field reporting, ticket writing and the importance of running everybody's name (victim and offender). You get 50 hours of training for report writing in the academy, but you still need someone to help you weed out the unneccessary bullshite from the narrative. Jack had 7 years on. The next guy, he had 4 years on and after finishing up with me, got an incident car with his partner. He was laid back, but he still taught me some important stuff. I realized a little later that he was keeping himself more in check to keep me good throughout the rest of probation, Thanks Nel. My third acting, had 8 years on and being on mids, wanted to cut a bunch of parkers and hit the hole. I drove once, constantly moving (there's no place in 003 I want to be caught dead sleeping!) and never drove again after that. Intermixed thoughout all 3 cycles, I had a few days with other PO's when my acting dropped a slip or added time to a weekend. I wouldn't call most of them dogs, knowing what I know of 003. Probation is a tenuous position at the best of times, probation somewhere like 003 even more so. I got through my first cycle without much incident, my second cycle, I wound up catching a gun day 1 and a little over a week later, fighting to retain mine at a domestic. My second and third cycle, I got a few PO's with maybe a year or two off of probation themselves, but still good at policing....we stayed alive, more or less out of trouble, got cb's and no crs. I made it through probation.
As a right of passage, the next day after probation, I was 99, and within a month or two later, despite having partners, I had a PPO or two. I understood everything more clearly then, it's one thing to worry about keeping yourself out of trouble, it's another to worry about someone on probation and not wanting to get them jammed up. I would occasionally get a PPO for a day, 2 days a week, whatever and all I could say was, "I'll keep you alive, out of the hospital, and hopefully on the job, I've got 2 minutes on the job, you have 2 seconds, if I don't know how to do it, I guess we'll have to learn it together." I'm not sure if I learned more from my actings, my partners or having to teach people what I barely knew myself. I only hope that I didn't fuck it up too much, but we did get some cool shit along the way......not that crappy nickelbag bullshit. I've moved on now to TRU (insert insult here), not so much because I think that I'm entitled, etc. (though I did bust my ass in 003), but because my partners got a good opportunity to move and I would again be training PPO's. The blind are leading the blind out there. I had questions as a PPO, I had questions as a partner, I had questions as an acting, I still have questions now. I still ask the older coppers who are left, either on scene, via pdt or cell phone, still from 003, or whereever. The guys that really know are leaving in droves, and those of us who are smart are picking their brains for as much as we can as often as we can before they go, but that still doesn't replace the losses. I can see no real incentive to being an FTO other than you really want to keep PPO's from getting fucked up on paper or on the street. The pay ain't that great from what I've seen. The Coppers that do it to teach, thanks, and my respect, I couldn't do it. To the guys who just want the pay, go be an ET or something where noone can get hurt. To the guys it was thrown at, thanks for not taking it out on PPO's, they didn't ask for it any more than you did. The FTO is vital, it's easier to pick up bad habits in the field than good habits. It's easier to get lazy and complacent, and it's easy to get jammed. I just hope they figure out something for you guys to balance the responsibility, you damn sure deserve it. Take it for what it's worth.
Former Grand Crossing Gunslinger
Anonymous said...
The best FTO was Mark Banks. God Rest His Soul! He was one heck of copper not to mention a great guy.
6/10/2007 11:04:00 PM
---------------------------------
great sgt too
OFF TOPIC:
SCC I'd like to kiss your ass a little bit, and blogging in general. Thanks to the truly democratic forum of blogging a serious blow was dealt to the deconstructionalist revisionist left wing self hating Anti American Anti Judeo-Christian values news media.
With a certain ammount of attention this and other blogs have paid to the horrific race-related murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom a major national newspaper like the Chicago Tribune was forced to finally cover this story. Hopefully, Blind Justice will prevail and hate crime laws around the nation will no longer be the means to merely put the screws a little deeper into white males. Blogging is truly the free market place of ideas where ones thoughts and beliefs can be tested to those of others and posters are truly free to express themselves. The anonymity of one's own PC frees posters from Political Correctness and the fear of being ostrasized for expressing how they truly feel about a topic. Perhaps the best thing about the internet is that the government may not ramrod things down our throats as easily as before, if you want to call bullshit about something, well, its just a click away. From the Christian/Newsom tragedy, to the amnesty for illegal aliens, the pros and cons of the Iraq war and even the Dubai Ports deal, blogging has provided the groundswell that leads to the ugly truths of these topics being brought to light. SCC in paritcular is home to breaking news, serious discussions, humor, some stupidity, anger and ALOT of venting. All of which have their place on this blog. Remember SCC has brought the Department the Seiser movement, the term Hair Gel Police and hopefully deservedly derailed the careers of some incompetant clout heavy boobs. Its the 21st. century proverbial bathroom wall,
although this time the wall talks back. Why do you think they banned it from our computers at work? Just something I wanted to get off my chest. Keep up the good work and keep the powers that be shaking in their shoes.
May God keep all our troops, police officers and firefighters safe. ###gc###
Nice English, I bet you "look at TV" too. You could be in the academy for 1 year and learn more in 1 month working in a fast district than the BS they are teaching in that Kool Aid factory.
6/10/2007 05:08:00 PM
-------------------------------------
I was joking around. But you pointed out exactly what I meant. You learn more in a fast district than a year at the academy. Also, Stop sending recruits too: 14, 17, and 21 -- those kids aren't learning a damn thing there.
M. SEISER was my FTO.....!
i was recently a retread at the academy and i was NOT IMPRESSED by the instructors and how they treated the recruits.... start treating them with respect and profesionalism. if your just going to mind fuck and yell at these kids for six months your going to get crap PPO's.....
why not make it D-3 all the politcal hack drivers make it for carrying the cleaning and driving the kings and queens of this city why not the deserving people like the FTO'S?
When I was an FTO I failed a recruit. He pulled the race card and got another FTO who passed him. A couple of years later he gets drunk at the old Chic Rick house on Michigan Ave. and ends up shooting and killing an unarmed man. Last I heard he was in prison. I hope the program has gotten better since then.
The blind leading the blind.
Retread: Please take this seriously:
Part of the process of training in any type of military or quasi-military enironment (ie the Chicago Police Department) is to break down people mentally and build them back up to the type of person you are seeking to put out on the street (or battlefield, as in the military). Remember in the Academy, during your Phys Ed, there was always one or two days where you were absolutely pushed to the limits of human endurance (ie Gus Tero and the 45 minute "Leaning Rest--up position for pushups held for the entire class")? That was break-down day. Some people made it, and others did not. This was done as much to prepare someone's mind as much as their body (ie win or die mentality----think about a domestic that turns on you and is fighting you for your gun). Unfortunately, people are passed far too often now from the Academy where they should not have been passed. Part of this is due to lawsuits won by various parties which greatly undermined what we could do as a department for training. We are not getting the opportunity to dump people who should not be on the job. Another factor is the previously mentioned FTO problems. Too many people are FTO's or acting FTO's who should not be doing that job. You must be willing to fail someone when they do not perform to standards, and tell them to their face why you are failing them. You cannot pass someone with a 7 (excellent) rating on every category, if they weren't all stars. If the evaluations are not filled out correctly each and every time, we will be stuck with people who don't belong on the job (a far too frequent occurrence).
The cursing of the recruits is part of the same process as physical training. If you cannot take cursing from someone who is training you for a job where you will get cursed out on a daily basis by the people you are supposed to be helping, how will you cope on the street? You will be a house mouse somewher in a short time, that's how. Don't take it personally.
If this is truly a problem, maybe you need another line of work. I don't mean this in an insulting manner. It sounds like you are not catching on to training, or have an authority problem. Maybe I'm missing something? If you want to stay on the job, prove yourself as being receptive during your re-tread time, and be quiet. When you stick out, you become a target. You don't want that.
Wow! first of all as a long time reader and submiter to this blog I am really impressed by the intelligent thought and recommendations put into this thread. This is what this site should be. As a Dect for 11 years now I can tell you there are great FTOs out there but there are really some horrible ones. 1 in 15 and 1 in 14 come to mind. We had a homicide in 15 and the paper never established that there was a crime just that the FTO/PPO arrived and the ambulance took the body. The PPO was real receptive to our advice but the FTO told him we were jagoffs. In 14 the FTO/PPO locked a guy up because his van(blue panel van with tools)fit the description of a CSA from a week before. The FTO told the PPO we were just trying to steal the pinch when we told them there was no probable cause. Also in 14 one FTO (who will soon be a SGT you know who you are) locked up a burglar at the Aldermans house with his PPO. Great Aggresive Job, good paper, both we and the alderman were impressed.
My FTO BT was a lazy coward who ended up teaching in the academy. His only interest was to have the job pay for his school. My Next FTO was Bobby Soto who taught me how to be THE POLICE. Bobby, the watch and the Sgt. made sure I didn't get in any trouble sometimes dragging me off a scene.
D2A, absolutely easily one of the most important jobs in the department. But like Hillary said (and I hate doing this) It takes a village. Maybe the Sgt. can review a little tighter when a PPO does paper.
2. Special waiver of the college requirement for promotion to sergeant. For those who say those going back to school for a 2-year degree would not be a realistic option for them, now have another option for promotion. Become an FTO for three years.
I have 3 kids and am finishing my Masters degree from a school that requires a 50 page thesis. WAAA WAA WAA..Not realistic = LAZY.
"Stop sending recruits too: 14, 17, and 21 -- those kids aren't learning a damn thing there."
But keep sending them to 001, 018,019,023?
All those Districts you mentioned PPOs can learn plenty. That dummy statement truly shows what a Clueless, Moronic ASS you are...
Former Grand Crossing Gunslinger
6/11/2007 12:54:00 AM
Thanks for the life story recruit..
M. haleem from 008 for acting fto of the year... you da man mo!!
FTO PROGRAM FIX
1. D2A PAY
- DICKS MAKE D2A BUT DO THEY EARN IT ?
2. FIRST SHOT AT MERIT PROMOTION
- CLOUT BABIES,SON/DAUGHTERS GET MADE ON A DIME, HOW ABOUT EARNING IT !
WHAT THE CITY GETS IN RE-TURN
- CHEAP SGTS
YEAH GAVE US THE TASER 'CAUSE SOME COWARD SGTS REFUSE TO TAKE THEM OUT !
-DISTRICT MAN-POWER
WERE ARE WE GONNA GO
NO(TRU,SOS,NARC/GANGS,TACT,35TH) SORRY WERE STUCK IN A DISTRICT !
-ACCOUNTABILITY
THATS A MOUTHFULL,BAD PPO FIRED , BAD FTO'S DUMPED ITS THAT EASY !
I'M STILL RIDIN WITH A PPO AND MAKIN A DIFFERENCE, EVEN IF IM A BAD TEST TAKER IE; TOO STUPID TO SCORE WELL ON A PROMOTION EXAM !
I was an acting FTO three times, "hey do me a favor" request from the watch commander. All three were great, fun to work with, I felt good about "the job" for a while. Then one day I see the goofy insignia for FTO on some real softballs, who happen to be connected. Oh, I get it, the clout puppies get the dough, the cloutless get the work. I've never trained another PPO.
To be a trainer of police one should first be the police.
6/10/2007 05:22:00 PM
Step away from the sharp objects in the kitchen and TAKE YOUR MEDS!!!!
Marty R. from 9 & 4 is a nice guy, probably a fair FTO but barely average as a P/O.
6/11/2007 01:31:00 PM said:
But keep sending them to 001, 018,019,023?
All those Districts you mentioned PPOs can learn plenty. That dummy statement truly shows what a Clueless, Moronic ASS you are...
-------------------------------------
They're sending PPOs to those districts now?! Damn. I got to admit, I might be a moron and clueless, but I do not think I am being an ASS. Thanks!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Everyone on the job should have to do AT LEAST a year in 015, 007 or 011. Nothing against anyone or disrespect, but vicious creatures live in these districts. If you don't want to be aggressive, you'll still come across some. It's a great lesson for any copper...especially now days.
No one wants this job anymore! it sucks! move the pay scale up to at least d-3 then maybe you will have some great fto's!
whoever is writing about and has the beef with the girl from 009 should have the balls to say something to her then. I know her and she actually goes out and works everyday. She's also a nice person and would do anything for you if you ask her. Just makes me so mad that people are allowed to come on here and write stuff about fellow p.o.'s that dont deserve to get shit on. Really, i can't believe that coming on here and posting shit about a nice girl makes you feel happy or proud. I really wish you had the balls to sign your name b/c we would run your chicken shit ass out of 009. Bye the way, you're prob the one that nobody likes, not her.
Get a life.
grand crossing gunslinger u are a total tool. great story they should make u meritorous fto. oh yeah way to add tru to your great story
12:34AM
Exactly.
It never ceases to amaze me how the so-called "annonymous" REAL POLICE in 009 continually attempt to trash their fellow officers in blue on SCC? Now, I see they are attacking Officer Conroy on her FTO skills. Well, if you "running and gunning" police in 009 can talk the talk, then surely you will walk the walk? Let Rick or Terry know you feel you should be an acting FTO in 009. Conroy has stepped up to the plate and has been teaching the recruits how to police. You may not agree with everything she is instructing them on, but at least respect the fact that she is taking on the role of acting FTO to make a difference in our district.
Conroy, I give you credit. Your loyalty and demeanor won't allow you to refuse to be an acting FTO. You have a tough job out there and we understand your commitment. Don't let the negativity phase you on here. The people criticizing you are afraid to undertake the responsibility anyway.
Take it from a guy who has been slandered on this blog by the annonymous REAL POLICE of 009. What is paramount is that you help the recruits and PPO's become qualified. Period. You are doing that, so the the argument against you is non-applicable. Just know that you have support by your peers and we are backing you up.
It's funny how just the other day an old timer on Days asked me why I didn't want to be an FTO? Honestly, I don't have any inclination to doing the task you have at hand. Even with my instructor experience in the US Army, I don't believe I could teach the recruits like you do. My hats off to you on your dedication! Keep up the great work and get well from your injury. Hang tough!
P.O Martin Tully-3rd Watch
is this goofball for real post 06/12 @ 10:16am??? you my freind are a complete asshat
Does anyone really believe that by paying FTOs more money will bring out better POs to be FTOs...I don't, it will bring more money hungry goofs. First shot at promotion for being an FTO, Fuck that bullshit. Take the test like everyone else. Hey you should do well since you are training PPOs. Why does there always have to be "something in it for me" to do a job. It's a thankless job but the individual officer should want to be an FTO, not because they get paid more. My Patrol Specialist got promoted in my 2nd week on the street. I then worked with whoever they put me with and still learned a great deal. The whole program is needed but is not the end all in training new PPOs. Former 007 Englewood Whoopdy whooo!!!
Thanks Marty. You are class act!
Anonymous said...
Does anyone really believe that by paying FTOs more money will bring out better POs to be FTOs...I don't, it will bring more money hungry goofs. First shot at promotion for being an FTO, Fuck that bullshit. Take the test like everyone else. Hey you should do well since you are training PPOs. Why does there always have to be "something in it for me" to do a job. It's a thankless job but the individual officer should want to be an FTO, not because they get paid more. My Patrol Specialist got promoted in my 2nd week on the street. I then worked with whoever they put me with and still learned a great deal. The whole program is needed but is not the end all in training new PPOs. Former 007 Englewood Whoopdy whooo!!!
6/13/2007 12:29:00 AM
Are you shitting me? Why would anyone do it for free? Why do detectives get more money? How about white shirts? Its about the money junior this is not a glee club or boy scouts it is about survival for myself and my family and if I can make more $$$ I will take all I can! I work special cha,cta,airports not for my health for extra $$$$ Why else do it?
MT, you always come through for people in 009. You bleed blue. Stay safe.
Is FTO JS still in 025?
FOP Mark DOnahue was a great FTO.
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