NCJ Number
63855
Date Published
1979
Length
176 pages
Annotation
THE FRESNO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM (CALIFORNIA) IS EVALUATED AFTER 3 YEARS OF OPERATION.
Abstract
BEGUN IN 1976, THE FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM USES EXPERIENCED FIELD TRAINING OFFICERS TO TRAIN NEW OFFICERS IN THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF BEAT PATROL OVER A 12-WEEK PERIOD, DURING WHICH THE TRAINEES ARE EVALUATED ON THEIR PERFORMANCE. THE EVALUATION CONSISTED OF THE ADMINISTERING OF A 4-SERIES QUESTIONNAIRE TO 52 TRAINEES AND FORMER TRAINEES, 25 FIELD TRAINING OFFICERS AND FORMER FIELD TRAINING OFFICERS, 14 FIELD TRAINING SERGEANTS AND FORMER FIELD TRAINING SERGEANTS, AND 1 FIELD TRAINING LIEUTENANT. FINDINGS SHOWED THAT WHILE TRAINEES GENERALLY APPRECIATED THE CONCEPT OF GUIDANCE AND INSTRUCTION IN FIELD EXPERIENCE, THE TRAINING WAS UNNECESSARILY STRESSFUL BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF THEM, THE SEEMINGLY ARBITRARY EVALUATIONS OF FIELD TRAINING OFFICERS WITH WHOM THEY HAD LIMITED CONTACT, AND THEIR EXCLUSION FROM PARTICIPATION IN EVALUATIONS OF THEIR PERFORMANCE. FIELD TRAINING OFFICERS TENDED TO BE FRUSTRATED BY THEIR LACK OF TRAINING TO BE FIELD OFFICERS, LITTLE RECOGNITION FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND MEAGER COMPENSATION. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE (1) A PRECISE DEFINITION OF THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM, (2) DETERMINATION OF WHO WILL HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE TRAINING PROGRAM, (3) DEVELOPMENT OF A FLOWCHART OF THE SEQUENCE OF TRAINING EVENTS THAT WILL GIVE TRAINEES A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROGRESS OF THEIR TRAINING, (4) CREATION OF A 1-WEEK CLASSROOM ORIENTATION COURSE PRIOR TO FIELD TRAINING, (5) REGULAR EVALUATIONS OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM, AND (6) THE ELEVATION OF THE FIELD TRAINING OFFICER TO THE STATUS OF SPECIALIST WITH A CONSEQUENT INCREASE IN COMPENSATION. ALSO RECOMMENDED WERE THE PROVISION OF TRAINING FOR FIELD TRAINING OFFICERS TO SUPPLEMENT THE EXPERTISE THEY HAVE ACQUIRED FROM EXPERIENCE, (2) THAT DEFICIENCIES IN TRAINEE PERFORMANCE REMAINING AT THE END OF THE 12-WEEK PERIOD SHOULD NOT BE GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION, AND (3) SERIOUS DEFICIENCIES IN TRAINEE PERFORMANCE SHOULD BE MET BY CONCENTRATED TRAINING IN THESE AREAS AFTER THE 12-WEEK PERIOD AND PRIOR TO RELEASE FOR SOLO PATROL. THE APPENDIXES PROVIDE SURVEY POPULATION INFORMATION, FIELD TRAINING SERGEANT EVALUATIONS, FIELD TRAINING OFFICER EVALUATIONS, AND TRAINEE EVALUATIONS. (RCB)