Policy Text
Policy
415San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/07/01, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentField Training Officer Program - 1Field Training Officer Program
415.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The Field Training Officer Program is intended to provide a standardized program to facilitate the
officer’s transition from the academic setting to the actual performance of general law enforcement
duties of the San Luis Obispo Police Department.
It is the policy of this department to assign all new police officers to a structured Field Training
Officer Program that is designed to prepare the new officer to perform in a patrol assignment, and
possessing all skills needed to operate in a safe, productive, and professional manner.
415.2 FIELD TRAINING OFFICER - SELECTION AND TRAINING
The Field Training Officer (FTO) is an experienced officer trained in the art of supervising, training,
and evaluating entry level and lateral police officers in the application of their previously acquired
knowledge and skills.
415.2.1 SELECTION PROCESS
Per Article 8.3.9 of the San Luis Obispo Police Officers Association Memorandum of Agreement,
FTO's will be selected based on the following criteria.
A.Once an Officer achieves the status of SPO (Senior Police Officer) s/he will be
assigned to attend the Field Training Officer class if they wish to be a field training
officer; or
B.At the discretion of the Chief of Police, s/he can select other officers to be a FTO if
there are not enough SPO's to mee t the department needs. The qualifications to be
selected by the Chief of Police will be;
1.Six Years of law enforcement experience.
2.Minimum three years working as a Police Officer with the San Luis Obispo Police
Department
C.The Chief of Police has the discretion to offer FTO to an officer with less seniority if
FTO sports are unable to be filled.
415.2.2 TRAINING
An officer selected as a Field Training Officer shall successfully complete a POST certified (40-
hour) Field Training Officer’s Course prior to being assigned as an FTO.
All FTOs must complete a 24-hour Field Training Officer update course every three years while
assigned to the position of FTO (11 CCR 1004).
All FTOs must meet any training mandate regarding crisis intervention behavioral health training
pursuant to Penal Code § 13515.28.
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Field Training Officer Program
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/07/01, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentField Training Officer Program - 2415.3 FIELD TRAINING OFFICER PROGRAM SUPERVISOR
The FTO Program supervisor should be selected from the rank of sergeant or above by the
Operations Division Chief or a designee and should possess, or be eligible to receive, a POST
Supervisory Certificate.
The responsibilities of the FTO Program supervisor include the following:
(a)Assignment of trainees to FTOs
(b)Conduct FTO meetings
(c)Maintain and ensure FTO/trainee performance evaluations are completed
(d)Maintain, update, and issue the Field Training Manual to each trainee
(e)Monitor individual FTO performance
(f)Monitor overall FTO Program
(g)Maintain liaison with FTO coordinators of other agencies
(h)Maintain liaison with academy staff on recruit performance during the academy
(i)Develop ongoing training for FTOs
The FTO Program supervisor will be required to successfully complete a POST-approved Field
Training Administrator’s Course within one year of appointment to this position (11 CCR 1004(c)).
415.3.1 COMPLETION OR DISMISSAL FROM FTO PROGRAM
The FTO Program Supervisor shall be responsible for recommending to the Chief of Police, via
their Chain of Command, whether or not a trainee should be either:
(a)Certified as having completed the FTO program and released to work as a solo patrol
officer.
(b)Extended in the FTO program beyond 14 weeks.
(c)Discontinued in the FTO program for failure to successfully perform required tasks
and skills.
A recommendation to discontinue training should be based on the trainee's performance as
indicated in daily evaluations, as well as discussions with the trainee's FTOs and patrol
supervisors.
415.4 TRAINEE DEFINED
Any entry level or lateral police officer newly appointed to the San Luis Obispo Police Department
who has successfully completed a POST approved Basic Academy.
415.5 REQUIRED TRAINING
Entry level officers shall be required to successfully complete a POST-approved Field Training
Program, consisting of a minimum of 10 weeks (Penal Code § 13515.295; 11 CCR 1004; 11 CCR
1005).
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Field Training Officer Program
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/07/01, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentField Training Officer Program - 3The training period for a lateral officer may be modified depending on the trainee's demonstrated
performance and level of experience. A lateral officer may be exempt from the Field Training
Program requirement if the officer qualifies for an exemption as provided in 11 CCR 1005(a)(B).
To the extent practicable, entry level and lateral officers should be assigned to a variety of Field
Training Officers