Pasco Sheriff's Office Field Training Program PDF

PASCO SHERIFF’S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER TITLE: FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM GENERAL ORDER: 33.8 EFFECTIVE: MAY 30, 2024 SUPERSEDES: MAY 2, 2023 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS: CFA 10.07 PAGES: 8 CON...

PASCO SHERIFF’S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER TITLE: FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM GENERAL ORDER: 33.8 EFFECTIVE: MAY 30, 2024 SUPERSEDES: MAY 2, 2023 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS: CFA 10.07 PAGES: 8 CONTENTS: This order consists of the following numbered sections: I. GENERAL II. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES III. FTO QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION IV. RECRUIT STATUS V. FIELD TRAINING OFFICER PROGRAM STIPENDS VI. GLOSSARY PURPOSE: To establish guidelines for the law enforcement field training program. SCOPE: This order applies to all law enforcement deputies. DISCUSSION: The goal of the field-training program is to improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the agency by: 1. Facilitating on-the-job observations and performance assessments; 2. Providing a valid, job-related, post-basic training evaluation of recruits; 3. Providing an appraisal system to measure the effectiveness of the agency selection and train- ing processes through feedback to organizational components regarding a recruit deputy’s job knowledge, skills, and abilities; and 4. Providing an incentive for more experienced deputies to demonstrate and further develop their job skills and leadership qualities. 1  G.O. 33.8 POLICY: Prior to working independently in their respective discipline, all newly appointed deputies are required to: 1. Successfully complete a New Member Training Program. 2. Successfully complete a Field Training Program. 3. Comply with all requirements, directives, and provisions set forth in the Field Training Manual. PROCEDURE: I. GENERAL: All newly appointed deputies will receive training to include: A. A curriculum based on task of the most frequent assignment associated duties of members who complete recruit training; and B. Use of evaluation techniques designed to measure competency in the required skills, knowledge, and abilities. II. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: A. Field Operations Bureau Commander: The Field Operations Bureau Commander is re- sponsible for the administration of the law enforcement Field Training Program to include: [CFA 10.07C] 1. Managing the Field Training Program. 2. Recommending candidates for Field Training Sergeant status. 3. Managing the Field Training Selection Committee. B. Training and Support Lieutenant: 1. Coordinates the administrative function of the Field Training Program and makes recom- mendations to the Field Operations Bureau Commander for program improvements. 2. Coordinates FTO Quarterly Training. 3. Coordinates and oversees the Field Training Selection Committee. 4. Serves as the administrator of the SPEAR Program. 2. Supervises Field Training Sergeants and provides guidance as necessary. 3. Reviews End of Phase, Remedial Plans, and Remedial Follow-up evaluations for trainees. 2  G.O. 33.8 4. Generates a memorandum notifying the Bureau Commander and District Commander(s) of a deputy’s successful completion of the field training program. B. Field Training Sergeants: Sergeants designated as “field-training sergeants” are responsi- ble for: 1. Coordinating the daily operation of the Field Training Program in their respective district and applicable side of the schedule. 2. Rotating assignments to allow trainees to experience a variety of job related situations. 3. Recommending candidates for Field Training Officer assignments. 4. Serve on the Field Training Selection Committee. 5. Coordinating second and fourth phase interviews with the District Commander. C. New Member Training Coordinator/Training Corporal: Corporals designated as “New Member Training coordinator/training corporals” are responsible for coordination and imple- mentation of the new hire training process. D. Field Training Officers (FTO’s): FTO’s are responsible for the specific duties and respon- sibilities outlined in the FTO manual. General responsibilities include the following [CFA 10.07 D]: 1. Directing the activities of trainees. 2. Providing instructions on agency policies, procedures, and rules and regulations. 3. Documenting a trainee’s training. 4. Evaluating trainee job performance. 5. Instructing trainees on application of laws and ordinances. III. FTO QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION: [CFA 10.07A] A. Qualifications: Applicants for FTO assignment must meet minimum qualifications as of the expiration date of the advertised posting as follows: 1. Applicants must have completed a minimum of two (2) years of experience with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office as a Law Enforcement Deputy. This time is calculated from applicant’s most recent Field Training Program release date. If applicants do not have two (2) years of qualify- ing experience with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, they must have at least three (3) years of prior law enforcement experience with another law enforcement agency and have completed their probationary period at the Pasco Sheriff Office. 3  G.O. 33.8 2. The Field Training Selection Committee will review the applicant’s Professional Standards file. No applicant will have a sustained disciplinary action (suspension of one (1) day or more or demotion of one (1) or more rank(s), not including disciplinary action related to an agency vehicle crash, within one (1) year of the posted advertisement for the position of FTO. All applicants that meet the requirements will be permitted to participate in the process. 3. Applicants who were previously appointed as Field Operations Bureau Field Training Of- ficers and were transferred or reassigned to another position may submit a memo to the Field Operations Bureau Commander for reinstatement as a Field Training Officer. Applicants re- questing reinstatement must; a. Receive recommendation from their current supervisors. b. Meet the eligibility requirements regarding disciplinary history. B. Selection: 1. The Field Operations Bureau Commander will issue an announcement soliciting appli- cations for FTO assignment when vacancies occur. 2. All applicants meeting the experience requirements will be provided a detailed descrip- tion of the selection criteria and will be scheduled for each step in the process accordingly. 3. The Field Training Selection Committee will make selections based on the established criteria that includes, but is not limited to: a. Performance appraisals b. Professional Standards files c. Applicant’s memorandum d. Supervisor recommendations e. Report writing exercise f. Report editing exercise g. Oral board interview C. Training: [CFA 10.07B] 1. Deputies selected as Field Training Officers must successfully complete a CJSTC 40- hour Field Training Officer course and an agency developed training course designed and in- structed by Field Training Program leadership. Field Training Officers must attend at least the agency developed course prior to training a trainee and will attend the CJSTC 40-hour Field Training Officer course as soon as practical. 4  G.O. 33.8 2. All Field Training Officers will attend mandatory quarterly trainings, planned and coor- dinated by the Training and Support Lieutenant. These quarterly trainings will ensure members remain up-to-date concerning policy changes, new trends, current issues, and provide enhanced training to further develop a Field Training Officers’ skills and performance to become better trainers and to prepare them for future advancement within the organization. IV. RECRUIT STATUS: A. New Member Training Program: 1. Newly hired law enforcement deputies are required to attend and successfully complete a New Member Training program as provided by the Training Division that includes but is not limited to high liability topics, use of force, agency policy and procedures, emergency vehicle operations, computer operations, and report writing. As part of the New Member Training Program, newly hired law enforcement deputies will report to their respective districts for a two (2) week Field Observation Phase (FOP) where they can observe Field Training Officers complete the duties of a deputy sheriff and be exposed to certain elements of the job. 2. Upon successful completion of the New Member Training program, law enforcement deputies will enter Phase I of their field training program. B. Field Training: 1. Law Enforcement Deputies: Deputies will be assigned to a 16-week field training pro- gram consisting of four successive four-week phases. The first 3 phases (12 weeks) are based on training as outlined in SPEAR and the Field Training Officers Manual. The fourth phase is a four-week observation phase to prepare the recruit to be a solo deputy. During the final two (2) weeks of the fourth phase, deputies will participate in a Shadow Phase to further prepare the recruit for solo deputy status. 2. Accelerated Law Enforcement Training: a. The accelerated law enforcement training program is for deputies who join the agency with at least one year of previous certified experience in the law enforcement discipline and consists of deputies completing Phase One, Phase Two, and Phase Four of the field training program. Members approved to enter the accelerated program would skip Phase Three of training and would receive a total of twelve weeks of field training. b. Participation in an accelerated program is solely at the discretion of the Field Opera- tions Bureau Commander based on the member’s previous experience and current pro- gress. Deputies will not be accelerated based solely on prior experience. 3. The performance of each deputy in the field training program will be evaluated on a daily basis throughout the program. During phase one, deputies will be provided training and in- struction in each training category without being scored for his/her performance. During the remaining phases of training, deputies will be evaluated and given a score based on the dep- uty’s performance in each training category. Only those members who successfully complete the minimum requirements of each training phase will advance to the next phase of training. 5  G.O. 33.8 These daily training scores will be based on Standard Evaluation Guidelines (SEGs) for each training category. [CFA 10.07E] 4. Members who do not successfully complete any training phase will be extended in that respective phase for a two-week period of remedial training. Members who are not performing at a satisfactory level upon completion of the two-week extension period may be extended two additional weeks. 5. Members may be provided a maximum of three two-week remedial training extensions for a cumulative total of six weeks throughout the duration of the program. 6. Members who do not respond to remedial training efforts are subject to dismissal or re- assignment within the agency. 7. Deputies who have never completed a Law Enforcement Field Training Program may be required to complete the entire Field Training Program if they transfer to a position requiring such training. These members may be eligible for an accelerated Field Training Program at the discretion of the Field Operation Bureau Commander. 8. Non-probationary agency members returning from active military service will receive refresher training at the discretion of their Bureau Commander, not under the direction of the Field Training Program. 9. Probationary members returning from more than one year of active military service will be placed into the Field Training Program for training. 10. Upon completion of the Field Training Program, deputies will be scheduled for an exit interview with the respective District Commander and Training and Support Lieutenant. 11. Upon successful completion of the exit interview, the deputy will be assigned to a squad for their probationary period. The affected Bureau Commander will be notified via memoran- dum of the deputy’s impending release from the field training program. V. FIELD TRAINING OFFICER PROGRAM STIPENDS: A. Field Training Sergeants will be paid a stipend for each day they are supervising a trainee in their respective district and applicable side of the schedule. Field Training Corporals will be eligible for this stipend when they are supervising trainees in the Field Training Sergeants ab- sence. B. Field Training Officers will be paid a stipend for each working day they are assigned a trainee and complete a Daily Observation Report (DOR). C. Daily stipends will be verified by the respective District FTO Sergeant who will forward the appropriate paperwork to the Fiscal Section for inclusion in the next pay cycle. 6  G.O. 33.8 VI. GLOSSARY: FIELD TRAINING MANUAL - The Field Training Manual provides guidelines and procedures for the administration of the Field Training Program. The manual outlines the selection criteria, responsibilities, and training requirements of the Field Training Officer. The manual also provides the criteria for the evaluation of each recruit deputy. FIELD TRAINING OFFICER (FTO) - A specially trained deputy who is responsible for providing on-the-job training to newly appointed deputies. FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM - A sixteen-week program that provides on-the-job training and evaluation of newly appointed deputies. FIELD TRAINING SELECTION COMMITTEE – A committee impaneled to make FTO selec- tions and comprised of the Field Training Lieutenant and Field Training Sergeant(s) for the af- fected discipline. FIELD TRAINING SERGEANT - A sergeant assigned to supervise Field Training Officers and certified trainees in matters relating to the FTO program. NEW MEMBER TRAINING– An eight-week program for new members organized and instructed by the Training Division that includes state and agency required training, orientation to the agency, equipment issue, and other ancillary activities. NEW MEMBER TRAINING CORPORAL – A corporal assigned to Training who organizes and instructs the agency’s eight-week New Member Training Program. INDEXING: FIELD TRAINING MANUAL FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM FTO RECRUIT STATUS DRAFTED: RR / April 3, 2024 / Filed: 33.8 Field Training Program APPROVED: 6/10/24 ______________________________ ____________ CHRIS NOCCO, SHERIFF DATE PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA 7