Racist FTO

[RaychelR]

My FTO got sick so I was transfered to two different FTO's for the interim. My supervisor is going to evaluate it this week and then make a decision on whom I will go to full time.

One FTO is very cool. I feel totally comfortable with him and really feel I am learning a lot. The other is a real "a*s" to put it frankly. I simply cannot stand him. The feedback I receive from him is not constructive. I feel I have to initiate most of the training as he is not inclined to do so. He even sleeps on the job if yuo can believe it.

The biggest problem is the comments he makes about other cultures/people. He has already made his comments known about "fags" and "lezzies" and how they are basically scum. He has used the "n" word in referring to black people.

A couple days ago a new owner of a convenience store wanted to give us new emergency contact info. The new owner was very nice and polite but was Arab. This FTO started making comments later about how "they" were taking over the whole country. Usually I just ignore him but I finally said "No problem in that" and he started in about how they are buying up everything and there isn't enough room for us. So I said, "Well, they can't buy it if it isn't for sale." He shut up after that but I received some VERY negative comments on my evaluation sheet for that night that were unwarranted and were not explained. I think that the comments stemmed from the comments I made that disagreed with him.

Being new to the department, I don't want to give off the impression that I can't handle whatever is doled out. I have a sense of humour but I don't think making these kind of comments are necessary or funny in the least. My family is diversified and I have many friends including some that are gay, Indian, black etc..

Also, I don't like the training or rather, lack of training he is giving. It isn't very constructive at all.

So what would you veterans suggest? I already told my supervisor that I have a good rapport with the other FTO and feel I am learning more from him. I did not mention that racist comments.

Am I being too sensitive here?

[Don]

Rachel,

Yes and no. As far as his comments and bigotry goes, you may be being too sensitive. His opinion (even though he obviously is a jerk,) is his opinion and you won't change it. Also, since he is a jerk, he will continue to shoot off his mouth. Again, I doubt you will change that. If you can just "blow it off" and live with it fine.

However, you mentioned that he sleeps on the job. Yes, I can believe this, because I experienced the same thing with one FTO. He is putting himself and you in jeopardy when he does this. He is also not being fair to you in your training.

Now for the tough part, what to do about it. Wish I could give you a simple answer here, but if you really feel you are being short-changed on your training, you just might squeak by with trying to be assigned to another FTO. The problem is, if you do this you will probably

[Niteshift]

I'd lay low and wait him out. You're in a kind of tenuous situation right now and making an issue of it might get him fired, and you get a rep.

Yes, his conduct is unacceptable, a lot of it is, but you're not in the position to change it right now.

Part of the FTO process is moving you from one FTO to another because they want you to see different guys work and they will get different opinions of you written down. I tell trainees (and I start a new one tomorrow) that I don't want or expect them to be a carbon copy of me or any other officer. Use what you see during training and create your own style. You will like the way I do some things and not like the way I do others.

I think in this case, silence might be golden.

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Niteshift-
Perseverate In Pugna

[H8Criminals]

Something our department also does, that yours may or may not ... The rookie / trainee gets a chance to fill out an evaluation of us at the end ... It's a tough thing to deal with, and even as an FTO, I don't know what advice to give other than watch out for yourself. If he is sleeping, that IS a danger to both of you. Maybe you could leave a copy of chapter 4 from the book "...officer down, code three." by Pierce R. Brooks, and a copy of your department General Orders regarding sleeping on the job. The book is kind of old, but the examples still apply to today's work. But leave it anonymously. It worked for me (he thought it was from a supervisor.)

[RaychelR]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions everyone. They are all good advice.

I will find out today which FTO I will be going with. Hopefully it is the better FTO. I will be sure to let you know.

[Ghetto Cop]

If you find that one FTO a real jackass then I am sure everyone else already knew it. You did the best and only thing you can do by saying how much you liked and learned riding with the other FTO. You do not want to get a reputation as a "snitch" or another "winy female". Right or wrong those will be the perceptions.
Hopefully, the supervisor already knows that one FTO is a lot better than the other and will assign you to the better FTO. If not, toughing it out is about the best you can do. What you will have to do is try learning from other officers as you go along. Yes I know that sucks. Bottom line is that you will have to work with a lot different people throughout your career and *******s are included. Good luck.

[The Cynic]

Like the others said just ignore his racist comments. Making an issue of them will just hurt your chances of making it through FTO.

The same type thing happened to me. I had a mormon FTO explain to me how all races but white were inferior. He based this belief on the Bible using Cain and Abel as the explanation.

[Dukeboy01]

Ditto what just about everybody else said. Keep your mouth shut and your head down. You are being watched and scrutinized by every other veteran officer in your department. They will be going to this guy and asking, "What's up with the new kid?" You do not need them to think that you are a whiner or (worse) a snitch.

All three of my FTO's fell asleep while riding in the passenger seat at least once. I came out of the academy in the dead of winter and there was very little activity, especially when I was riding 3rd shift. One fun trick to pull on a sleepy FTO on 3rd shift is to:
1. Wait until 0430 when he has been snoring along for at least 10- 20 minutes.

2. Make sure there are absolutely no civilians or supervisors around.

3. Peel out lights and siren from a stop light, drive about a block and half like a bat out of hell, and slide the Crown Vic to a screaming stop in the middle of the street.

4. Throw the car into park, jump out, leave your door open, and run like hell down an alley. Keep running until your FTO, completely out of breath behind you, screams "WHATTHE%$#@AREWECHASING??!"

5. Look at him with a straight face and say "I don't know. You told me to go after him." Your FTO will be so confused that he will be unable to recall exactly what happened right before he fell asleep and will mutter something like, "Oh. Uh, good job." Try not to start giggling until you get back to the car.

Before doing this, make sure your FTO has a good sense of humor. Mine did, and he never fell asleep on me again.

[Niteshift]

LOL!!!!!!

I love that one. Glad I don't fall asleep. I have a new trainee that started today.

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Niteshift-
Perseverate In Pugna

[Don]

Ok Rachel are you going to tell us which FTO you got? Or does your silence mean it was bad news for you. http://www.officer.com/ubb/frown.gif

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Never make fun of another mans wife, religion or dog, (not necessarily in that order)
6P1 (retired)

[waltitia]

I don't think you are being too sensitive about anything. Apparently you have been paired with someone who has no business being a police officer. He seems to be an all around piece of s**t.

He feels comfortable enough to do all sorts of things and make all sorts of comments around you, of all people a Trainee, which is in poor taste and very unprofessional, to say the least.

Absolutely amazing! His opinions he can have but he should keep them to himself while at work.

It would take "moral courage" to stand up and do what is right. Keep a diary(at home) and document everything that piece of garbage said and where he said it. If he decides to give you a crappy final eval, take out your diary and shove his comments in his a** and up his throat. You could do that or just lateral to a professional agency when you get the chance.

[Rebecca]

Zaw... this is a Cops Only forum. Please don't post in any of the four last forums on the board again.

What is so hard for people to figure out about this? We have more problems with this than we do with trolls. http://www.officer.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

[This message has been edited by Rebecca (edited 10-31-2000).]

[tcsd1236]

Rebecca:
Since people don't seem to be getting that message, perhaps we should encourage LEO's to begin posting LEO-directed threads over in the restricted area. The big problem there has been getting the owner to distribute passwords in a timely manner.
The restricted area is there for US people; lets start using it if there are going to be on-going problems with unwanted posters in this area.

[Rebecca]

I completely agree, tcsd... except for one thing. There are a number of Officers who do not wish to send in their information even if the Webmaster was able to keep up... and there is NO reason why the non LEO members of this board cannot understand and respect this one little section as a place for just the Officers. It's getting tiresome and we don't want to have to keep coming in and interrupting these threads just to post something that is so obvious if members would simply read the board and it's titles.

As for Jim being so busy, tcsd... please accept an apology. I know he has the best of intentions for the restricted site, but he is only one man who's trying to make an awful lot of people happy. I just appreciate that he's been able to have Officer.com available like he has with all that he does.



[This message has been edited by Rebecca (edited 10-31-2000).]

[tcsd1236]

My comment ref: the admin was not meant to flame; simply an observation.
I think if I intend to post anything in this section I will instead post it over there with perhaps a quick note here to go there..damn confusing, but thats the only way to do it if we want to keep it in-house ,so to speak.

[Rebecca]

Zaw... you do realize the forums are divided into sections and there is a heading for each section, don't you? Go back to the main forum page and READ THE HEADINGS... then, you'll see that the Admin Guy did his job correctly... and it is your fault you posted here. http://www.officer.com/ubb/eek.gif We can forgive you, though... since you are not going to post in this section again. The rest of the forum is available to you. http://www.officer.com/ubb/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Rebecca (edited 11-01-2000).]

[Niteshift]

Since you will probably read this thread some more Zaw, I will save the email.

Before you ask, I deleted your posts. I will continue to do so. The rules have been explained to you. Whether or not you like them, think they are stupid or think this area should be password protected are not relevant. Get mad if you want, just don't post it in here. The criteria is simple. If you don't like it, feel free to contact the webmaster at: police@officer.com

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Niteshift-
Perseverate In Pugna

[This message has been edited by Niteshift (edited 11-01-2000).]

[RaychelR]

Ok, OK, I know I left you all in suspense. I have been paired with two good FTO's for the remainder of my training. What happened is this..

I was working with the FTO that I like and I was dicussing the negative comments that the racist FTO made in my review book. I had thought our conversation was private but unbeknownst to me, another officer overheard nme explaining the negative comment that was made. That officer went to the supervisor and told her that it was BS, that the FTO had no right to make that comment and that I was doing extremely well in my training. So that influenced my supervisor as they were already aware of past problems anyway with this FTO and I have permanently been assigned to two good FTO's.

Since then I have found out that every person that has been under this FTO has asked for a transfer. This is one guy who enjoys stirring up the pot and keeping it stirred. Hardly anyone likes him because he is supercritical and one of those Monday morning quarterbacks if you know what I mean.

So, in the end, good news for me! http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by RaychelR (edited 11-02-2000).]

[Don]

Raychel,

Glad to hear it!

I can't understand why a department would let someone continue to be a FTO with problems like this guy has. Sooner or later it is going to come back to them, as well as to him.

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"Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining". . . Judge Judy
6P1 (retired)

[Ghetto Cop]

Rachel, you said another officer overheard what you said and went to the administration. Good lesson here. Remember these are all forms of communication: telephone, telegraph, television, and tell a policeman.
I'm glad the FTO situation worked out for you. Stay safe.