Field Training Officer Program (FTO)

The Field Training Program facilitates a peace officer's transition from academic setting to performing general law enforcement duties. Although an officer graduating from the police academy has received thorough instruction on basic law enforcement subjects, he or she cannot be expected to immediately assume the full responsibilities of a police officer. New officers must receive additional training in the field where they can learn from officers who have already gained a great deal of practical patrol experience.

The Field Training Program introduces newly assigned officers to the personnel, procedures, policies, purposes, the initial formal and informal training, and the day-to-day duties of the employing law enforcement agency. California Police Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) requires agencies to provide a minimum ten-week Field Training Program. A POST approved Field Training Program is expected to achieve the following goals:

• Produce a competent peace officer capable of working a solo assignment in a safe, skillful, productive, and professional manner
• Provide standardized training to all newly assigned regular officers in the practical application of learned information
• Provide clear standards for rating and evaluation which give all trainees every reasonable opportunity to succeed
• Enhance the professionalism, job skills, and ethical standards of the law enforcement community

Although POST requires a minimum ten-week Field Training Program, the Los Angeles School Police Department's Field Training Program requires a minimum of twenty weeks. Under some circumstances a new police officer may be extended even longer. Los Angeles School Police Officers are required to meet the challenges of today's modern police environment as well as the equally challenging issues of policing in an educational setting.

The road to becoming a Field Training Officer (FTO) is demanding and the LASPD has extremely tough screening standards. Field Training Officers are tasked with the challenge of training, preparing, and assisting new officers in building the strong foundation needed to be successful in law enforcement. LASPD Field Training Officers "lead by example" every day and are truly the best of the best.

The Los Angeles School Police Department has made a commitment to ourselves and the public; provide the best prepared and best trained Police Officers in California.