Calibre Press » FTO

By Lt. Kelly DeVoll (ret.), Senior Calibre Press Instructor Well-known risk manager, Gordon Graham, has famously said, “If it’s predictable it’s preventable.” It would seem predictable th...

https://calibrepress.com/2022/06/create-a-culture-of-competence-not-just-confidence/

The mass shooting at the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, CO in 2012 stands as one of the most murderous events in recent memory. 12 people were killed and 70 were injured after tactically cla...

https://calibrepress.com/2021/11/active-shooter-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-advice-from-the-front-line/

A few weeks ago, we celebrated my youngest son’s 16th birthday. He was a late riser that morning – not much of a surprise for a Sunday. My wife and I had just finished our breakfast of bacon ...

https://calibrepress.com/2019/12/no-bacon-on-your-birthday-the-struggles-of-adversity/

The law enforcement profession is fluid and constantly changing. As officers train and adjust their tactics in an effort to keep their communities safe, so do the criminal element. Law enforcemen...

https://calibrepress.com/2019/05/answering-the-why-motivate-the-team/

It’s 0300 on a Tuesday. It’s been a relatively slow shift which is set to end at 0600. You’re serving as a Field Training Officer (FTO). It’s Day 17 of the FTO period. You and the new off...

https://calibrepress.com/2019/04/fto-lead-from-where-you-are/

How well an organization performs greatly depends on the collective effort. With us cops individualism is not as important as plural talents. If I’m going to crush the ball out of the park, the...

https://calibrepress.com/2019/04/you-me-the-whole-crew/

Last week Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke was found guilty of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery for the fatal shooting of knife wielding Laquan McDonald. The 16 count...

https://calibrepress.com/2018/10/why-did-he-shoot/

Law enforcement takes a lot of hits when it comes to, well, almost everything we do and every decision we make. Most of what the politicians, pundits, and media pushes about the collective of law...

https://calibrepress.com/2017/10/great-training-program/

This is our final installment of a three-part series on the 21st Century Field Training Officer. (For the other parts, click here and here.) In March of 2016, the National Association of Field Tr...

https://calibrepress.com/2016/05/field-training-in-the-21st-century-part-iii/

Welcome to the second installment of our series on the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing and its impact on the field training unit. One aspect of NAFTO training, philosophy and mi...

https://calibrepress.com/2016/04/field-training-21st-century-part-ii/

Compartmentalization. Geez, that’s a long word! It’s a real tongue-twister even when typing it. I’ve looked up some synonyms and can hopefully avoid writing that word repeatedly for the res...

https://calibrepress.com/2015/10/ftos-compartmentalization/

Year in and year out field training sergeants and coordinators conduct hundreds, if not thousands, of interviews with hopeful and eager officers testing to become their department’s next field ...

https://calibrepress.com/2015/08/fto-as-mentor/

With the availability of social media and information outlets like Facebook, Twitter, and so many others that this Gen X cop can’t remember or pronounce, the idea of what is “trending” has ...

https://calibrepress.com/2015/05/trending/

There are a lot of articles out there that talk about emotional, mental and physical survival in law enforcement. These articles typically suggest maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine ...

https://calibrepress.com/2015/05/career-longevity-through-novelty/

The role of field training officer is one of the most important assignments there is at any agency. FTOs, on behalf of the department, share their knowledge and skills with the incoming generatio...

https://calibrepress.com/2015/03/feeling-burn/

Leadership speaker Scott Williams frequently characterizes his mentor and the influence he had on him early in his career with the acronym BECC: Believe, encourage, challenge and correct. His me...

https://calibrepress.com/2015/02/believe-encourage-challenge-correct/

When a new recruit graduates from the academy, they’re full of knowledge. They can usually recite policy and procedure verbatim and can demonstrate a handcuffing technique by the numbers. They�...

https://calibrepress.com/2015/01/break-em/