Thread: Advice

I need advice from some seasoned officers. Last Friday night I got into a foot pursuit. Subject came back wanted, I told him to turn around cross his feet, put his hands behind his back. The second I reached for his hand to cuff him he took off like a rabbit. I took off right behind him, I knew he did not have any weapons because I had just thoroughly searched him and his vehicle. The thing is, I was on an interstate highway. He took off and I had my cuffs still in my left hand. I was going to throw them down but I said oh s&*%t I'm going to need these when I catch up with him. So I was trying to put them back in my case and run at a full sprint at the same time. Well I got to the bottom of the "bar" ditch and completely ate it!! I got up, kept in pursuit and finally caught the guy. Two things. Now my right knee is completely swollen and my left thumb is all jacked up also. I don't want to go on workers comp. because another guy did and everyone in my duty station gave this guy the hardest time. Second, during the foot pursuit I belted out a couple of MF's. My sergeant calls me a few minutes ago and tells me I am getting an official counseling session for cursing. But my FTO who was right behind me was sounding about twice as worse but did not have a hot mic. and is walking away clean. Thats a good thing, but it also makes me mad. My FTO broke the guys wrist when the guy would'nt initially go down. He hit him with his ASP and the guy tried to block with his arm, (OUCH!!). Anyway, I guess I am just venting again. I have been on my FTO program for 5 months and everything was going perfectly smooth until I got with this FTO. This is my second posting about the problems I have had with this FTO. However, I have 24 days and I will be on my own and off FTO.

You know you seem to get angry when you get into trouble and your FTO doesn't. YOU had a hot mic not your FTO so your traffic went across the radio. The Sgt heard this and either did not like it or is JUST DOING HIS JOB. I really do not see what your problem is with your FTO other than a personality conflict He is an experienced officer who the department has entrusted to finish your training. He broke the guys wrist after the subject refused to go down after a foot pursuit and the suspect raised his arm to block the blow. You need to learn what you can from your FTO and takes your lumps that you earned and stop blaming your FTO's.

I don' t see how you cursing into the mic has anything to do with how the FTO is training you. You made the mistake, you have to deal with the consequences. He didn't have his mic on when cursing!

K9

I did'nt expect to receive responses like that. I know I "earned" my lumps and I will take them just fine and don't have a problem with it. Yes, there is definitly a personality conflict between us. I guess I have not completely explained everything. I don't have the time and patience to sit here and type all the complaints this "experienced" FTO has received not only from violators but from other co-workers. My first FTO was trained by my current FTO and had many of the same problems. The reason he is an FTO is not from chioce but out of neccessity because of the remote location where our duty station is. The "hot" mic was the one on the in-car videotape and not the radio. I have had absolutely NO PROBLEMS with my other FTO's. I know I am a rookie but this is not my first rodeo. I have no problem that the guy is younger than me also. I spent 8 years in the Marine Corps and took orders from SSgt's, LT's, Cpt's that were much younger than I. YOU sound like you have gotten along with everyone you have ever known. Re-read my post. I did not blame my FTO for anything. I simply stated that he was cursing twice as much as I was. You will also notice that I said I am glad he is not getting a counseling session. What made me MAD was that for my weekly evaluation he dinged me for cursing when he was doing it himself. I am definitly a believer in leading by example. All I am saying is if I am being dinged for cursing, my FTO who is guilty of the same behavior, should receive the same medicine. After watching the video again today, my MIC picked up several of the MF's that he dropped that I am sure the Sgt. heard. Birky, mentions that I seem to get mad when I get into trouble and my FTO doesn't. I don't recall ever mentioning being in trouble ever before. There, now you are more informed and know more of the story. Sorry for being so vague earlier.NO PROBLEMS

Bro,
In one sentence you are saying that you are glad that your FTO didn't get in trouble for cursing and in the next you are saying that he should get the same medicine. Just a guess here, but since you stated that your Sgt. said something to you about you cursing, he probably told your FTO to document it too.

You have posted twice now about being upset about your FTO and how you need to vent, but you really haven't given any specifics on what he's said or done which is out of line.

As far as being an FTO, you have to teach how to do things by the book. Brings us back to do as I say and not as I do. Maybe you two will never click, but either you're letting little things bother you too much or you are not very articulate when you write.

You state that he is not an FTO by choice but by necessity. Is this your opinion or is this the opinion of the person who actually makes the assignments. There is always a choice and unless he is a one man team, he is the choice.