NCJ Number
226697
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 36 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2009 Pages: 46,48,51
Date Published
March 2009
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article analyzes different field training programs and the software packages available to agencies.
Abstract
No department can afford to be without some kind of field training program. While a majority of departments use some type of program, not all of them agree on which training is the best fit for their particular agency’s needs. The Field Training Officer (FTO) model aims at helping post-academy recruits transition to singer-officer assignments in a patrol division. The Police Training Officer (PTO) model helps recruits learn skills in community-based policing and problem solving. Regardless of which field training is selected, all agencies agree that there is a need to automate how training records are documented, tracked, and updated. Typically, the training officers receive from the academy is too minimal to prepare them for real-life work in the field, which is why many agencies immediately enroll new recruits in FTO or PTO programs. Several software packages are now available to electronically manage this training. This article details the various aspects of the software packages available to help agencies sort out which program best fits their needs.