19th-quarterly-report.pdf

Nineteenth Quarterly Report of the Independent Monitor for the Oakland Police Department October 30, 2014 Page 68 Field Commander and FTO Supervisor Training OPD shall provide field commanders and supervisors with training on the FTO program, including the field-training curriculum, the role of the FTO, supervision of FTOs and probationary employees, the evaluation process and the individual duties and responsibilities within the FTO program. Focus Groups The Field Training Program Coordinator and Academy staff shall conduct focus groups with randomly selected trainee officers midway through the field-training cycle, upon completion of field training, and six (6) months after completion of the field training program, to determine the extent to which the Academy instructors and curriculum prepared the new officers for their duties. Consistency of Training The results of these focus group sessions shall be reviewed at a meeting to include the Training Division Commander, the FTO Program Coordinator, the BFO Deputy Chief, and the BOS Deputy Chief. If it is determined that there is a substantial discrepancy between what is taught in the Academy and what is taught in the FTO program, there shall be a determination as to which is correct, and either the training Academy or the FTO program shall make the necessary changes so that the desired training information is consistent. In the event that the discrepancies appear to be the result of one or more individual FTOs, rather than the FTO program as a whole, the review group shall determine whether the discrepancies are serious enough to warrant removal of that officer or officers from the FTO program. The results of the meeting of this review group shall be documented and this information shall be provided to the Monitor. (Negotiated Settlement Agreement VIII. A.-L.) Discussion: OPD published Departmental General Order B-8, Field Training Program, which incorporates the requirements of Task 42, on March 2, 2009. This order was revised, effective June 2, 2014, to incorporate the following changes in the program: 1. Heretofore, officers with a sustained Class I violation were ineligible to be nominated or participate in the FTO testing process for a minimum of two years. Per the revised policy, officers with a Class I violation are ineligible to serve as an FTO for 12 months; and such cases shall be considered important in evaluating eligibility for two years following the completion of the investigation. 2. The revised policy added the requirement that the BFO Deputy Chief’s review of Field Training Officer candidates include all sustained IAD findings in the previous two-year period; they are also required to make a written recommendation of eligibility to the Chief of Police. 3. Although the revised policy still requires that upon completion of the Basic Academy or Lateral Officer Transition course, trainee officers shall be assigned to the Patrol Division, the Chief has the authority to designate officers assigned to specific field-based units outside of Patrol or Foot Patrol to serve as FTOs and receive FTO incentive pay.