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Chapter 2
INSTRUCTOR MATERIALS
Introduction
This chapter represents the compilation of suggestions
and ideas developed by several working FTO's, FTO Course
instructors, FTO program coordinators, and other experts in related
areas.
How to Use The Instructor Materials
The 12 video scenarios have been broken into four sets: Set
A, Set B, Set C, and Set D. There is one
section dedicated to each scene. The scene sections may include:
- Information regarding the intention of the scene when it was
designed,
- Warnings about potential volatile issues,
- Suggestions for facilitating discussion(s), including suggested
questions,
- Suggestions for documentation exercises,
- Other ideas for the use of the footage,
- Information about what happened when filming a particular scene
(which may explain problems), and
- Space to include other ideas and notes.
The hope is that you, the instructor, will find some of the ideas
useful. You are encouraged to develop and document your own ideas
and to keep them with the appropriate scene sections. The last section
of this chapter has suggestions and ideas for setting up the final
exercise for all of Set D.
Other Use of Video Footage
The footage itself has been designed for easy editing. For example,
there are "black holes" (fading to black and staying black
with no sound for at least one second) throughout the program. The
reason for this is to make it easy for you, the instructor, to cut
and paste the footage based on your needs.
Time Code Log
The following portion is a complete time code ("clock code")
log. It lists each scene and can be useful in locating and determining
the length of each scene. Warning: The code numbers may vary by
a few seconds based on the equipment used.
| POST FTO Video Scenarios |
| |
| Clock Code |
Segment |
Subject/Content |
| 00:00 |
POST Open, Program Introduction |
Program Goal, Intro. Comments
by POST Executive Director Ken O'Brien (1:05) and San Francisco
Police Chief, Fred Lau (2:15) |
| 03:00 |
Film Design/Film Disclaimer |
Four Sets of Scenes, Three Contacts
Per FTO/Trainee Team, First POST FTO Film, Scenarios are Simple,
We Have Avoided Complicated Situations |
| 04:25 |
Use of Worksheets/Rating/ Scoring
System |
Worksheets Explained, Only Rate
Issues That Are Listed On the Worksheet, "San Jose System",
and Seven-Point Scale Explained, Unacceptable/Acceptable/Superior |
| 06:30 |
Set A, Scene 1 |
Shoplifting Call -
Moderator Walks Viewer Through Process |
| 09:30 |
Evaluation Set A, Scene 1 |
FTO Evaluation and Scoring (10:35),
Including Review Page (11:20) |
| 11:40 |
Set A, Scene 2 |
Domestic Violence Call |
| 16:20 |
Evaluation Set A, Scene 2 |
FTO Evaluation and Scoring (18:00),
Including Review Page (18:40) |
| 18:50 |
Set A, Scene 3 |
Traffic Stop/Traffic
Violation |
| 21:20 |
Evaluation Set A, Scene 3 |
FTO Evaluation and Scoring (22:30),
Including Review Page (23:00) |
| 23:10 |
Set B, Scene 1 |
Burglary Report (Note:
Scene Starts as FTO/Trainee Are Leaving Station) |
| 28:30 |
Evaluation Set B, Scene 1 |
FTO Evaluation and Scoring (29:15),
Including Review Page (29:45) |
| 30:00 |
Set B, Scene 2 |
Armed Robbery Call |
| 32:40 |
Evaluation Set B, Scene 2 |
FTO Evaluation and Scoring (34:20),
Including Review Page (34:50) |
| 35:00 |
Set B, Scene 3 |
Auto Burglary (In Progress) |
| 36:35 |
Evaluation Set B, Scene 3 |
FTO Evaluation and Scoring (37:55),
Including Review Page (38:40) |
| 38:50 |
Begin Set C, Scene 1 |
W. I. 5150 Call
(41:00), (Scene Starts with FTO Establishing Work Expectations) |
| 44:50 |
Evaluation Set C, Scene 1
FTO Evaluation and Scoring (45:40),
Including Review Page (46:10)
| 46:25 |
Set C, Scene 2 |
Hate Crime (In progress) |
| 48:10 |
Evaluation Set C, Scene 2 |
FTO Evaluation and Scoring (49:25),
Including Review Page (49:40) |
| 49:50 |
Set C, Scene 3 |
Missing Person Report |
| 53:20 |
Evaluation Set C, Scene 3 |
FTO Evaluation and Scoring (54:40),
Including Review Page (54:45) |
| 55:00 |
Begin Set D, Full Swing Shift |
Inspection/End of Briefing -
Comments by Patrol Lieutenant, Review Patrol Information |
| 56:00 |
Set D, Scene 1 |
Drunk in Public Call |
| 57:40 |
Evaluation Set D, Scene 1 |
FTO Evaluation and Scoring (59:00),
Including Review Page (59:30) |
| 59:40 |
Set D, Scene 2 |
Loud Music Call |
| 1:02:10 |
Evaluation Set D, Scene 2 |
FTO Evaluation and Scoring (1:03:40),
Including Review Page (1:04:20) |
| 1:04:30 |
Set D, Scene 3 |
Narcotics Violation (In
Progress) |
| 1:05:50 |
Evaluation Set D, Scene 3 |
FTO Evaluation and Scoring (1:06:45),
Including Review Page (1:07:40) |
| 1:07:50 |
Review Full Shift |
Video Review of Each Scene |
| 1:08:55 |
Begin DOR Exercise |
Instructions to Start Final Exercise |
| 1:09:00 |
Close Program |
Begin Credits |
SET A
Potential Discussion Issues and Exercise Considerations:
1. This first scene is carefully gone over by
the moderator. [Note: This is the only scene where the moderator
carefully walks the viewer through the process.] From this
point on, the moderator introduces each scene and runs through the
performance ratings only.
2. General Discussion - Search Techniques. This
would be a good time to encourage your students to try and not be
distracted by the way the officers are doing things.
Encourage your students to not be impacted by unseen tactical techniques,
poor acting, and anything else that would keep them from paying
attention to the scenario.
3. General Discussion - Getting Information. Do
your class members notice that the Trainee simply greets the security
person/RP, and the person/RP begins telling everything? When your
student rated the "interview skills", did the student notice that
the Trainee did not have to ask many questions?
Question to Students: "How would you decide
what rating to give a trainee who did very little to get the necessary
information or who ot lucky in getting necessary information?
4. General Discussion -Approaching the Business.
Did anyone in your class find problems with the way the Team approached
the business (location of vehicle, how they exited their vehicle,
how they approached the store, etc.)?
5. Idea. Complete your own version of a citation
and leave the "court date" box empty. Pause the film at
the point where the FTO is looking over the citation. Hand out your
incomplete cite. Have your class look at the citation and see if
they notice the missing court date.
6. General Discussion -Leaving out information on a citation.
Question to Students: "Which mistakes are
more critical if left off a citation?" "Would you give
a trainee a "1" if the court date was left off?"
Some jurisdictions might dismiss a case if the court date is missing,
thus justifying the "1" rating.
7. Idea. Have a general discussion about the style
of the FTO in the evaluation process. Brainstorm the positive and
negative aspects of the style used by the FTO in the film.
8. Exercise. Have the students that rated the
trainee with any score of one or two complete some sort of documentation
exercise explaining the "unacceptable rating." For example:
it would be relatively simple to document a low score in "Officer
Safety - Suspects/Prisoners" because the trainee forgot to
search the already handcuffed suspect.
Training Point: Even handcuffed suspects can
be deadly!
9. General Discussion-How did the first one go?
This would be a good opportunity to discuss and clarify any other
issues.
10.
11.
Potential Discussion Issues and Exercise Considerations:
1. General Discussion - Search Techniques. This
would be another opportunity to encourage your students to try and
not be distracted by the way the officers enter the room, make the
arrest, and any other things that cause distraction. Encourage your
students to not he impacted by unseen tactical techniques, poor
acting, and anything else that would keep them from paying attention
to the scenario.
2. General Discussion - Domestic Violence Calls. This
scene is not meant to represent ALL of the complicated issues that
are part of domestic violence.
Question to Students: "What are the kinds
of domestic violence issues that were not covered in the video
scenario?" "What are the kinds of domestic violence
issues that trainees have the most difficulty with?"
3. INTERVENTION: This was a scene where the FTO
had to intervene when the trainee was being yelled at and physically
approached by the suspect.
Question to Students: "What are some considerations
an FTO would make before intervening in a law enforcement contact?"
4. General Discussion - Verbal Testing. The FTO
runs the Trainee through verbal testing about the domestic violence
call while they are responding to the call.
Question to Students: "What kind of situations
come up where verbal testing trainees is useful and appropriate?"
5. General Discussion - Verbal Testing. In this
scene, the trainee does well with verbal testing. The trainee then
made mistakes by not doing some of the things he said he was planning
to do when he was verbally running through how to handle the call.
Questions to Students: "How would this
be addressed?" "How would this be documented?"
Possible Exercise: Have students document these
issues (i.e. student can verbalize what needs to he done, yet
begins to forget when under the pressure of the real-life situation).
6. General Discussion - Hand on the gun going into the
contact.
Question to Students: "Does anyone have
a problem with the trainee walking into the room with his hand
on the gun?" "The FTO enters with his hand on the gun,
then adjusts to a different 'ready position;' any thoughts and
comments?"
7. General Discussion - Terminology. This is the
first scene where the terms "take on" or "taking
on" are used by these officers. Apparently these terms are
common for San Francisco Police Department and refer to "making
contact with a suspect." The terms are also used in Scenes
B-3 and C-2.
Question to Students: "What terms do you
use that are specific to your agency or area?"
8. Exercise: Have the student complete some sort
of documentation exercise in this situation where the rating score
was one or two (explain the "unacceptable rating").
9. General Discussion - Scoring. Why, if a "3"
is an "unacceptable" rating, are categories 17, 21, 22,
and 23 all scored at "1" or "2", and not a "3"?
Do the course students agree?
10.
11.
Potential Discussion Issues and Exercise Considerations:
1. General Discussion -Traffic Stops For Traffic Violations.
This scene was designed to represent the traffic stop for a minor
traffic violation.
Question to Students: "How would you address
the 'myth' of the 'routine stop' with a new trainee?"
2. General Discussion - Failure to Yield. In this
scene, the driver who commits the violation takes an unusually long
time to stop.
Question to Students: "When does a traffic
stop turn into a 'failure to yield' situation?" "How would
it impact officer safety?" "How would you teach the concepts
to a new trainee?"
3. General Discussion - Peace Officer Positioning. Although
it is not clear, it is the intention of the FTO to stand to the
rear of the violator's vehicle during the Trainees conversation
and contact with the violator. This is unclear because of the poor
camera angle.
Training Point: Generally, the FTO should not
be sitting in the patrol car while the trainee is making contact
with a minor traffic violator.
4. General Discussion - Officers Seated in Patrol Vehicle.
There will no doubt be objections from students about the position
of the Team in the vehicle while the trainee is filling out the
citation. This could be an opportunity to ask the student what they
do, why they do what they do, and how they teach trainees about
positioning and officer safety during a traffic stops.
5. Idea: Complete your own version of a traffic
citation and this time complete all the information, including
the "court date box." Pause the film at the point
when the FTO is looking over the cite. Hand out your version of
a completed citation. Have your class look at the cite and review
and rate it. Remember, there should not be any mistakes or empty
boxes on the cite for this scene. See if they still find fault with
it.
6. General Discussion-Dispatch. Some agencies
are not able to get dispatched information as quickly as demonstrated
in this scene. Discuss ways to teach trainees to call for information
and make sure they have the time, while maintaining safety, to receive
the desired information.
7. Exercise: Have the student complete some sort
of documentation exercise in the situation where the rating score
was one or two (explain the "unacceptable
rating").
8.
9.
SET B
Potential Discussion Issues and Exercise Considerations:
1. General Discussion-Training Program for Lateral Transfer.
Question to Students: "What are some of
the issues that are common to the field training program for laterals?"
"List the positive and the negative issues."
2. Idea: Use the footage starting at 23
minutes and 15 seconds into the film and ending 25 seconds
later. This scene can be used as special purpose footage as a lead
into discuss lateral transfer "trainees" and the "lateral
attitude."
3. General Discussion -District Orientation Skills. Have
a class brainstorming session on ways to improve district orientation
skills.
4. General Discussion - Location of Patrol Vehicle When
Arriving at Call. Some law enforcement agencies are having
problems with ambush situations. These agencies have adjusted officer
safety tactical training and policies to include revised approach
tactics and vehicle parking positions.
Questions to Students: "Did anyone have
a problem with where the Team parked?" "Does the class
feel the Team parked in an un-safe location and was an officer
safety error?" "Why or why not?"
5. General Discussion - Develop a Plan. The Team
could have been developing a plan prior to the call. Instead, the
FTO let the trainee drive around and finally admit he was lost.
6. Idea: Conduct a classroom exercise showing
a completed burglary report. Have the students review the completed
report and rate all of the appropriate report writing performance
skills on the full DOR including numbers 12, 13, 14, and 15. ALSO,
you, the instructor, can pre-determine the amount of time it took
for the trainee to complete the report (positive or negative) and
include "completion time" as an additional issue (#15).
[Note: This program does not provide practical exercises for
these behavior categories. This would be one of the few opportunities
to facilitate a practical exercise in report writing.]
7. Idea: Ask the students how they would rate
the driving of the trainee since they saw so much of it while the
trainee was lost. Driving was not discussed during the evaluation
stage.
8. General Discussion - Documented Need for Training.
Ask the students how they would document the need for training (as
revealed in the Evaluation).
Question to Students: "What are some examples
of how you would help the trainee in their interviewing skill development?"
9. Exercise: Have the student complete some sort
of documentation exercise in the situation where the rating score
was one or two (explain the "unacceptable rating").
10.
11.
Potential Discussion Issues and Exercise Considerations:
1. General Discussion - Developing Information.
In this scene the trainee greets the injured RP/Victim and allows
the person to talk on and on. This is in sharp contrast to the Shoplifter-In-Custody
scene in the first set where the reporting party provided information
specific to the crime.
Question to Students: "How do you get trainees
to interrupt the 'talker' so that key information can be gained
quickly?"
2. INTERVENTION: The FTO had to intervene in this
scene. Discuss intervention in general. Discuss examples of other
situations where an intervention is necessary. Discuss how to document
interventions, include ways students have been able to effectively
turn situations around, and finish with the trainee learning a great
deal from the experience.
3. General Discussion - Touching. The FTO intervenes
by putting his left hand on the Trainee's shoulder to stop the "active
listening" session and to start the process of gaining information.
Question to Students: "How can the use
of the physical touch or physical contact impact a contact?"
"How do you develop each trainee's use of appropriate touching?"
4. General Discussion - FTO Attitude. Have a general
discussion about the correct profile or attitude displayed by the
FTO, especially when he/she has had to intervene.
Question to Students: "The FTO is VERY
POSITIVE during the evaluation portion of this scene
should
he have been?"
5. General Discussion -Documented Need For Training.
Ask the students how they would document the need for training (as
revealed in the Evaluation).
Question to Students: "What are some examples
of how you would develop the interview skills of a trainee?"
6. Exercise: Have the student complete some sort
of documentation exercise in the situation where the rating score
was one or two (explain the "unacceptable rating").
7.
8.
Potential Discussion Issues and Exercise Considerations:
1. General Discussion - Officer Safety! Initiate
a general discussion about officer safety including waiting for
cover units to arrive (not obvious in film), approaching a hunched-over
"fleeing" suspect and any other issues brought up by your
students. You can add brain-stormed issues to the list of behaviors
to evaluate.
2. Exercise: Ask the class how they would document
the improvement of this trainee on Performance
#11- Orientation/Response Time To Call. Remember, the trainee
got lost in the first scene, Scene B-l. In this scene, it's obvious
the trainee has been studying the area and preparing, to the point
where he knew the area where the auto burglaries were located, and
he demonstrated preparation for handling the call. Have the student
practice documenting this positive change.
3. General Discussion -Terms Used. This is the
second example where the FTO used the terms "Taking on a Subject,"
and, in fact, he said it over the radio. Again, in San Francisco,
many of the officers use these terms when approaching contacts.
Questions to Students: "What are some of
the terms you use out on the street?" "Do you have a problem
with terms used in this scene?" "Why or why not'?"
[Note: During filming, we asked the officers if they'd try
using other more contemporary terms. They said they were more comfortable
wit the terms they use on the street.]
4. Exercise: Have the student complete some sort
of documentation exercise in the situation where the rating score
was one or two (explain the "unacceptable
rating"). In this scene, the FTO might have given, in this
case, a number seven (!) "Self Initiated Activity." Have
the student complete some sort of documentation exercise explaining
the "unacceptable rating" and the "superior"
or "outstanding" rating.
5. General Discussion - Probable Cause For Arrest.
Initiate general discussion about the arrest.
Question to Students: "Does anyone disagree
that there was probable cause to arrest?" "What are some
of the differences between local district attorneys and the agencies
themselves?"
6. Exercise: Have the students list the things
they'd be looking for in the investigation of an auto burglary and
on the crime report to be filed.
7. Idea: Create and hand out a crime report that
was turned in by the trainee to the FTO. Have the students rate/score
the crime report and document the findings on a full DOR form.
8.
9.
SET C
Potential Discussion Issues and Exercise Considerations:
1. Exercise: Use this scene as a working example
of a "first time" orientation given by an FTO. The introduction
of the scene lasts several seconds and can be used as stand-alone
footage showing how one FTO might "set the tone" for the
working relationship between the FTO and the trainee.
Questions to Students: "What kinds of things
would you do in preparation for the first working shift with a
new trainee?" "What subjects would you include in the
initial orientation with the new trainee?"
2. Idea: Design your own "setting the tone"
exercise using a variety of trainee personality types. Split class
into groups of two. Have one student play the FTO; the other will
be the trainee. Have the "FTO" pick from a stack of cards
with "potential problem areas." You can develop several
potential trainee personality types (slow learner, immature but
with a great attitude, lateral attitude, etc.). Place the "types"
on cards. Have the "Trainee" pick from the personality
type list. The team will then be set to begin the role playing exercise.
You can include a documentation to the scene as well.
3. Exercise: Ask the students how they would rate
the driving of the trainee since he did so much
driving while the FTO was talking. Driving was not discussed during
the evaluation, but is included on a full DOR. You, the instructor,
could add driving skills to the list of issues to be evaluated.
4. General Discussion - Handling Subjects With Mental Illness.
The W&I 5150 subject acts strangely in the scene, but does not
appear to be a physical threat to the Team.
Questions to Students: "How do you think
the trainee did?" "Did he communicate well with the
subject?" What kind of training exercises might you use to
improve the trainee's ability to communicate with mentally ill
subjects while being able to remember basic tasks?"
5. General Discussion - Handling Minor Corrections.
The FTO "intervened" by telling the trainee to move the
patrol vehicle to protect the subject, to get the subject out of
the street after initial contact, and to have the assisting patrol
officer move the Team's patrol car once the Subject has been moved
to the sidewalk.
Question to Students: "How did the FTO
handle the minor 'interventions' during the contact?" "Was
she fair and appropriate?" "How did the trainee handle
the corrections?"
6. Exercise: Have the student that rated the Trainee
with any score of one or two, complete some sort of documentation
exercise explaining the "unacceptable rating,"
7.
8.
Potential Discussion Issues and Exercise Considerations:
1. General Discussion - Elements of Crime. This
Trainee has now demonstrated a basic "forgetfulness" when
it comes to recognizing and remembering the basic elements of a
certain crime.
Question for Students: "What kinds of training
exercises could be implemented that would to help this Trainee
overcome these kinds of problems?" Brainstorm ways to encourage
and support the struggling trainee.
2. General Discussion-Several Additional Subjects!
This is a quick scene. Be prepared to discuss officer safety issues
(foot pursuit, turning corner at full speed, "stopping"
a juvenile, etc.). Remember, this film was made with the intention
of staying away from the more complicated issues. Here's a good
example of us not showing how the juvenile suspect was apprehended.
3. General Discussion -Additional Issues. Possible
additional behaviors to discuss and score: 20 - Self-Initiated Activity
(although it was the FTO that "self initiated" the contact)
22 - Officer Safety: Suspicious Persons 24 - Control of Conflict:
Physical 25 - Problem Solving/Decision Making, 28 Radio: Articulation
of Transmissions.
4. General Discussion - Scoring Subject Area #5:
The Trainee was able to list two "bookable" crimes, yet
the suggested scoring is for a "1" or a "2".
The reason for the low scoring is the fact that in most jurisdictions,
a "Hate Crime" is a high visibility and high priority
criminal investigation, especially in the last few years. Hate Crime
violations are covered well in the academy and should he easily
recognized once trainees begin the field training program.
Question to Students: "How would you justify
a '1' score in category #5?" "How would you justify
a different score in this category?" "How would you
reconcile the fact that he did know the graffiti and resisting
arrest violations?"
5. Exercise: Have the student that rated the Trainee
with any score of one or two complete some sort of documentation
exercise explaining the "unacceptable rating."
6. Exercise: An assignment was given to the Trainee
during the evaluation of the scene. You can develop some type of
exercise using the assignment.
7.
8.
Potential Discussion Issues and Exercise Considerations:
1. General Discussion - FTO Encouragement. The
FTO is very specific in her positive comment to the Trainee.
Question to Students: "Do you think this
FTO is effectively encouraging the Trainee?" "What would
you do?" "What works for you!" "What doesn't
work for you?" "What have you seen others do that works?"
Have a brain storming session on effective ways to encourage trainees.
2. General Discussion - FTO Asked For Help. Discuss
the positive side of the fact that the Trainee asked the FTO if
he'd forgotten anything during the interview of the reporting party.
Questions to Students: "Does anyone have
a problem with the Trainee asking the FTO if he'd gotten all the
information needed to file the missing person report?" "Would
this be a positive or negative issues?"
3. General Discussion - Severity of Missed Information.
The fact is, the Trainee remembers to get most of the needed
information during the interview.
Question to Students: "What types of missed
information would cause you to score a trainee below a "4"
during an interview?"
4. General Discussion - "Testing". The
FTO follows up on previous assignment to learn and understand the
elements of a previous contact (W&I 5150).
Questions to Students: "What would you
expect a trainee to provide if given a specific assignment?"
"How would you set up testing of trainees on knowledge areas?"
"How would you document the testing if the trainee did not
know the elements or did not do his/her assigned task?"
5. Exercise: Develop some handwritten notes with
the information taken during the interview. Have the students look
over the notes and rate them. Set up one on one interviews with
one student playing the FTO and the other playing the Trainee and
act out an evaluation interview.
6. Exercise: Have the student that rated the Trainee
with any score of one or two complete some sort of documentation
exercise explaining the "unacceptable rating."
8.
9.
SET D
This final set of scenes is designed to represent a full working
swing or evening shift. The intention of this set is (1) to provide
additional scenes to rate (in the same way that was done with the
other scenes) and, (2) to facilitate the use of a full DOR form
and have the scenes represent calls that all happened during the
same shift. The final exercise would be facilitated by you, the
instructor, once the video is over.
Each scene in Set D is designed to be used with the same format
as the other scenes in Sets A, B, and C. The change occurs at the
conclusion of Scene D-3. The moderator reviews each of the three
contacts that represent the full shift.
[Note: It is suggested that the students keep and use their
scoring forms and documentation for use in the final exercise.]
Start of Set D
Set D begins as the shift lieutenant is concluding the inspection
portion of roll call. Before the first dispatched call is broadcasted,
the new Team is listening to the lieutenant and looking over pre-patrol
information.
Potential Discussion Issues and Exercise Considerations:
1. General Discussion: Pre-Shift Preparation.
Question to Students: "What are the kinds
of things you expect your trainees to do at the start of a working
shift?"
2. General Discussion - INTERVENTION! This first
scene is a classic life-and-death intervention situation. This was
an intervention where the FTO took the scene over and did not return
the responsibility back to the Trainee. Discuss the good and poor
aspects of the FTO taking over the scene.
Question to Students: "What would you have
done differently?"
3. General Discussion - Evaluation Process.
Questions to Students: "What did you think
about the FTO's style of evaluation?" "How is it different
than others (in previous Sets)?"
4. Exercise: Brainstorm other situations where
Trainee will likely have to be pulled out of a scene and the FTO
would have to complete the contact. Ask the students if they have
any real-life examples?
5. Exercise: Have the students that rated the
Trainee with any score of one or two complete some sort of documentation
exercise explaining the "unacceptable rating."
6. General Discussion - Trainee Attitude.
Questions to Students: "How would you document
the attitude of the Trainee when corrected?" "Was his
response encouraging and positive?" "Do trainees normally
respond like this after a serious intervention?" "Why
or why not?"
7.
8.
Potential Discussion Issues and Exercise Considerations:
1. General Discussion - INTERVENTION! This scene
starts out with the Trainee driving way too fast for the assigned
call.
Questions to Students: "What do you think
of the way the FTO corrected the Trainee?" "What was
appropriate about it and what wasn't appropriate about it?"
"What would you have done and/or said in a similar situation?"
2. Exercise: Set up in-class scenarios with students
taking the role of FTO in the situation where the Trainee is driving
too fast. This would allow the other students to see how their peers
might deal with this type of problem and to effectively communicate
necessary correction.
3. General Discussion - INTERVENTION! Once again,
the FTO has to step in and intervene in a scene. In this case, the
FTO has to initiate the separation and calming down of the subjects.
The FTO then assigns the responsibility to interview one of the
subjects right after the intervention.
Questions to Students: "Would you 'trust'
this trainee to handle the calming down interview after he's had
so much trouble so far?" "Why or why not?"
4. General Discussion -Terminology Used. Once
again, there is the use of the phrase "taking on" a suspect.
This phrase is common in San Francisco (where all of the officers
used it in this project work). Be prepared to discuss this and other
phrases (like "going on a run") that may or may not be
appropriate in other jurisdictions.
5. General Discussion - Rating Trainee on Interview Skills.
Our desire in developing this program included the successful interview
of the one subject by the Trainee after the FTO intervened and separated
the parties. Unfortunately, we did not run the interview for very
long and the film viewer may not feel he/she saw enough of the Trainee
successfully interviewing the subject. Please let your students
know that we intended to have additional "successful"
dialogue between the Trainee and the subject he was interviewing.
6. General Discussion -Evaluation. Again, the
trainee seems to demonstrate that he's thought about the mistakes
he has made.
Question to Students: "How would you document
and encourage the Trainee...and keep him from having a 'downward
spiral' type of shift?"
7. Exercise: Have the students that rated the
Trainee with any score of one or two complete some sort of documentation
exercise explaining the "unacceptable rating." In this
scene, his score should be a "1" and documentation is
mandatory.
8.
9.
Potential Discussion Issues and Exercise Considerations:
1. General Discussion - The Scene. This is a very
quick scene. It's goal is to show the Trainee finishing the shift
with a positive contact, especially since he had so much trouble
earlier (including poor driving, mistaking a diabetic condition for
being drunk, not controlling verbal disputants, and having the FTO intervene
twice).
2. General Discussion - The "Rock".
It's very difficult to see the crack user drop the "rock"
when the scene goes down, unless you're looking for it! If you
play the scene again, the motion is a lot easier to see.
3. General Discussion - Officer Safety. The scene
was edited to make sure the viewer first knew assistance was called
and was eventually in place on the other side of the building before
the approach took place. Be prepared to make this clear if the issue
comes up.
Questions to Students: "What are some of
the officer safety issues to consider when making this kind of
contact?" "How much assistance would be reasonable?"
"Would you consider it 'safe' to grab someone like the Team
did?"
4. Additional Written Exercise: Report Writing Exercise.
At the conclusion of the narcotics violation scene (D-3), the Trainee
is tasked with completing a full crime report on the incident. The
FTO is hypothetically working on the DOR or other paperwork. You,
the instructor, could prepare a completed crime report that represents
the one turned in by the Trainee. This will give you an opportunity
to include the things you want noticed or tested in regards to report
writing. It also gives your students the opportunity to rate DOR
Performance Categories 13, 14, and 15.
5. Exercise: Set up role-playing scenarios between
students (or bring in actors!) and have the students present the
full-shift DOR to the "Trainee." This could be done simply
by pairing up the students and have each person take turns playing
each part. This could also be done with two volunteers who are willing
to have the entire class observe and evaluate their interaction
as FTO and Trainee.
6.
7.
The final exercise can be set up in a variety of ways. Here are
some ideas for facilitating this final process.
Potential Discussion Issues and Exercise Considerations:
1. Exercise - Full-Shift D.O.R. Written Exercise.
First, reproduce the full blank DOR found at the beginning of the
instructor form package (make sure there are extras). Each student
in class should have all three pages of this form. Secondly, have
your students review their worksheets for Scenes D-l, D-2 and D-3.
Have your students use this information to develop a full DOR with
appropriate comments and documentation. It will be up to you, the
instructor, to review the completed DOR's.
2. General Discussion - Scoring the Set. There
are a few areas where the Trainee has been scored as "unacceptable".
Discuss how these unacceptable behavior ratings would be documented.
3. General Discussion - Conflicting Scoring Areas.
There are a few areas where the Trainee gets rated for the same
behavior in different contacts. There are a few (four) behaviors
that have multiple ratings, including #'s 5, 17, 19, 21, and 23.
Exercise: Have student give a "final"
score for each area and justify their score.
4. Additional Written Exercise: Have the students complete
page two of the complete DOR form. The key to this exercise is making
the decision to appropriately document the "most satisfactory"
and "most unsatisfactory" categories.
5. Exercise -- End of Shift D.O.R. Interview Exercise.
Split up the class into groups of twos. Have the pairs decide which
person they are to play (Trainee or FTO), and have the groups complete
mock "end of shift" interviews assimilating the information
and detail that has been gathered.
6.
7.
[Note: Include the information gathered in the crime report
exercise.]
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