First Day

 

Yesterday, I had a trainee It was his first day on the street. He was hired in September. Our first call was a double homicide.

 

 

Comments

[Pax]

Is it normal to still be a trainee after like eight months working there?

I mean, I know everyone is always learning, so no problem being the eternal trainee, but to have your first day after being hired for so long sounds strange to me.

[RD]

Pax,

You asked the right question. The officer was hired in September, but the State Academy had no spots. So while receiving starting officer pay, the the person was sent up to the Records Department and warehoused there until an academy slot opened. The state academy is 16 weeks long, so after graduating, he made the street for the first time last Wednesday.

Cheers,
RD

[DaveS]

Hey RD,

It's good to hear that people are still signing up to do a tough job. How long do they roll with their TO before they're set free to solo? It's a different deal for probies in the fire service - most everything they do is as part of their shift crew.
Train him well - it's a big job just to survive - let alone do it well.
Getting through the transition from "I know a bunch of stuff, cuz I just graduated from the Academy" to "I need to learn everything I can from everyone I work with because I know just about enough to stay alive as long as somebody is watching my back" is probably even more important for you folks.

Stay Alert, Stay Alive
DaveS

[RD]

@DaveS,

I am not a coach. We are so short, my sgt. asked my okay, and then, with my head nod, gave the trainee to me.

Probation is 18 months with 5 phases. Phase 1-3 are learning phases. Phase 4 is with your coach, but he is in plain clothes (but still armed and wearing a vest) and allows the new officer run their calls. Phase 5 is solo for the trainee with a monitoring coach.

I gave him a few rules.

Do what I tell you to do. Then, ask questions later.

If I get in a fight, I expect you to jump in.

He was a 37 year old former project manager for a construction company. It was a cake walk for me. He had common sense and the ability to do the same things instinctive.

Cheers,
RD

[Straight Pipe]

@Dave5, to add to what RD said, the new trainee who is "warehoused", their official 18 month probation period doesn't start until they start the Basic Academy. At least that was how it was in 2020 and before. RD can correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, out of that 18 month probation, if everything goes to schedule, the probationary officer should be solo (working on their own, still until the evaluation by his FTO) in the last two to three months of their probation.

Straight Pipe