- FIELD TRAINING OFFICER -

The link between the police academy graduate and patrol is the Field Training Officer (FTO). 

FTOs are veteran officers within the department charged with the responsibility of grooming and molding recruits into capable police officers. 

The FTOs must complete specialized training prior to training recruits.  They guide recruits through the 14-week field training program after their completion of basic training.  FTOs teach recruits about traffic stops, interviews, officer survival, report writing, emergency response/pursuit driving, and geography of the city.  This list doesn’t give credit to the wide range of training FTOs cover with recruits.

Officers David Nelson, Chris Gates, Billy Bolin, Larry Patterson and Greg Martin are the current field training officers for the SPD.