Disrespectful FTO?

[Blue_Chameleon]

This somewhat stems off of my "Warehouse Search" post because it happened on the same evening.

My FTO had a case to follow up because he wanted to look at a dog that was involved in the attack of another dog. My FTO wanted to look at the attacking dog to see if there were any scratch or bite marks on this dog as well.

We arrived at the house and contacted the owner to bring out the dog. The dog was excited to be outside as the owner tried to hold onto him. Seeing that the owner did not have control over her own dog, I walked up towards the dog and tried to calm it down (I love dogs and the fear of this dog biting me didn't cross my mind - I'm sure there was an officer safety issue there).

The dog gets excited because now there is ANOTHER person whom he can play with and begins to jump around. My FTO looks at me and yells out, "Just back off!!!!" as he points his finger at me and directs me to go away.

I was appalled. Not only did he treat me with a tone of voice that he uses towards criminals, but he did that in front of a citizen. I tried not to let that ruin my day, but I couldn't help but to think about it.

I can handle criticisms well. It only gives me the ability to make myself better. But to have something like this happen in front of a citizen?? That's just pure disrespectful and demeaning, especially when the most of the general public can't tell the difference between a Reserve and a fulltime officer.

Any thoughts?

[wonderwoman]

He was probably just terrified that you were going to get bitten!

Did he mention anything else about the incident after.... like explaining why he ordered you away?

[KenM]

Sounds to me like y'all have some conflicts between you. Sometimes it's like that. I can recall several rookies that I instantly disliked. I know I treated them differently even though I tried to stay neutral.

My advice is just to deal with it. It won't be long and you'll pass on to the next phase and have a different teacher. If you start complaining now you could get a rep that you don't want.

You'll learn something from every FTO you have. Take what you can use and make it conform to your style. Toss out what you can't. Even the slugs can teach you something.

[spurlock]

Experience is the best teacher! You see what you don't like about this FTO, so you'll know what not to do to someone when you're an FTO! Just take it in stride and go on to the next FTO. Some day soon, you'll be free of the dreaded FTO and will be on the street by yourself. I agree, learn what you can from this guy and all others. Every officer has different experiences and views on things. Some handle pressure, some don't! That's just the way it is. This guy was like this long before you got there and he'll be like that for a long line of trainees. Try not to take it personal, as it could effect the relationship you have with some of the other seasoned veterans at your dept. Usually, hiring processes run in cycles. If you'll take a look, this guy was probably hired with a few other officers and the same goes for you. This FTO has alot of buddies on the force and they all could make it rough for you if you start taking things personal and accidently say something to him or one of his buddies! Take it for what it's worth, do your job to the best of your abilities and take satisfaction in knowing that you're doing what you love and helping people. Job satisfaction is the key to being happy at whatever you're doing! I've worked jobs that I absolutely hate and I was miserable the whole time I was working them. It makes a world of difference when you're doing something that you really love. I work with a bunch of lazy ***** officers that are too sorry to draw breath! I know what it's like to think that you have all of the answers and feel like the upper management is picking on you because you like to work.

Think of yourself as a dragon with scales that criticism and BS bounce off of!
:cool:

[Sparky]

Blue, I mean this in a good way, so please take it as intended...

You need to grow a thicker skin. Who cares if he yelled at you n front of a citizen? What are they gonna do, call you at home and make fun of you?

To me this attitude is somewhat ypical of the new guys we see the academies turning out nowadays.

When I came up, a rookie was doing good if he ever was spoken to by his FTO in any way OTHER than what you describe.

When I was a young Sparky, my FTO told me rather gruffly: "Your job is to sit there and be quiet. You don't do anything or touch anything unless I specifically tell you to! So sit there, shut up, and keep your hands to yourself."

Guess what? I did exactly as I was told. I soaked it all in, and I learned ALOT!

We would spend entire shifts where he wouldn't even say anything to me except to bark an order. "Write down that tag number!", "Go et me an Offense Report from the car!", "Don't get out of the car!"

Slowly, but surely I learned and I earned his respect and the respect of other officers. The real test did not come until after a chase where my radio procedure was textbook perfect and we ended up fighting some guys and there was some gunplay. Evidently I handled my self well, and the next shift, the guys were saying, "Hey! Sparky can ride with me tonight."

You are brand spanking new. It is not your job to second guess this guy no matter how screwed up he is or you think he is.

Sit back. Absorb. You are a sponge. This shall be your mantra, "I am a sponge. I am a sponge. I am a sponge. I am a sponge."

[Blue_Chameleon]

Don't get me wrong...when they tell me to run the tag, I run it. When they tell me to run to the car to get a report cover sheet, I run to the car and get a report cover sheet.

I was merely upset by the fact that he yelled at me in front of a citizen. He didn't even explain why he did so once we got back in the car. I think the public already has a skewed perception of the police already and to see one officer yell at another only draws some type of negative attention.

I don't care if he yells at me during the entire shift and makes me run around like a dog chasing its tail. But what I do mind is being yelled at in front of a citizen because the police are supposed to have an image of confidence and operate like a well-oiled machine to these citizen. And this incident seems like it gave the lady the opportunity to run all over the police (in which she did some of the time, which was why he probably took it out on me, now that I think about it).

[Sig220Man]

While I'm one of those who thinks that LE has gotten too far away from the "old ways" (and that's from someone who graduated from the academy a mere 8 1/2 years ago), one thing I do take issue with is FTO's who take delight at embarrassing their trainees in front of the public.

Unless it's to correct an issue related to officer-safety, the ***** chewings belong in the car, or in the station, and not in front of the public.

I remember one night where my partner and I backed up an FTO and his new trainee; they had contacted a group of gangbangers who had congregated at a closed gas station, and were making enough noise for the neighbors to complain. The FTO was making the trainee fill out FI (Field Interview) cards on ALL 8 of these gangbangers.

Apparently, the trainee wasn't writing fast enough, so his FTO "rips him a new one", tells him he's F'd Up and otherwise proceeds to embarrass him in front of these gangbangers.

Now, if I was one of the gangsters, I would think that if this newbie doesn't have the respect of his fellow cops, then why should I respect him too? And that's exactly the thinking of a few of them, who decided to give the poor newbie a hard time as well. Prior to this, the entire group had been respectful.

This particular FTO had a reputation for treating ALL of his trainees badly. So it's no surprise that he's an even bigger jerk as a Sergeant :rolleyes:

[Crystal]

I say no the guy probably should not have yelled at you, but at the time he was trying to warn you etc... He also probably did not think of it as a degrading remark. Take everything in stride, I ride with 3 different FTO's and they all have their own way about them. I agree with the sponge thing--absorb what you can use and ring out the rest... ;)

[wonderwoman]

Sorry, edited out......

[ 08-20-2001: Message edited by: wonderwoman ]

[Niteshift]

I'm not sure this was so much being "yelled at".

If you haven't already, you'll develop your "command voice". That's the voice you will unconsciously use when it's time to make sure your messages comes across loud and clear the first time. It's that one that doesn't come from your mouth or your throat, but from deeper. The one you hear when sh#t is getting serious.

He felt something was getting serious.

I pretty much follow the "praise in public, critisize in private" school of though, but he didn't chastise you there. If he'd continued with "you idiot rookie, when your mama dressed you this morning, did she give you a heaping bowl of dumbazz flakes for breakfast" then he was chastising you.

If he just gave you the command/order, he was not.

Another thing, he's responsible for you, right down to your belly button. If you get hurt, his butt could be in a sling (and a lawsuit). Your hurt feelings will heal much faster than the investigation over why he had to shoot a dog that was chewing you up will close.

Roll with the punches.

[RCSO-7S05]

"you idiot rookie, when your mama dressed you this morning, did she give you a heaping bowl of dumbazz flakes for breakfast" then he was chastising you.


lol

[Niteshift]

Sorry, sometimes that military personality creeps back up :D

[ 08-21-2001: Message edited by: Niteshift ]

[Crystal]

Good One Niteshift!!!!!LOL :D :D :D

[Niteshift]

Blue, just to make sure you know, I wasn't directing my example of yelling at you, it was just an example :)

[Plaso]

Sounds to me like an officer safety issue. I for one would have been a little upset if you came back to the station to file your 4850 claim for the dog bite you received under the circumstances you described.

There is a time and place to bond with a dog, and it is probably not when you are going to investigate dog bites or a dog fight!

[ 08-24-2001: Message edited by: Plaso ]