Page 8 - Argyle Police Officer Field Training Tips

Common Recruit Mistakes

• Getting into a shift routine of bad habits, one can get really good at doing the wrong thing
• Being a know it all
• Failing to ask questions
• Being unprofessional or lacking respect
• Inability to move beyond mistakes
• Lack of command presence
• Lying
• Leaving the jail without your firearm, store it in the trunk of your vehicle instead
• Driving too fast or committing other traffic violations. The police insignia pretty much makes
police vehicles like moving billboards, everyone notices them.
• Rushing through vehicle searches
• Not looking around while on vehicle searches
• Not searching people thoroughly
• Locking oneself out of the patrol vehicle
• Putting stuff on the rear bumper or trunk of patrol vehicle and losing it the moment one drives
off. The hood or area between the hood and the windshield are acceptable temporarily placing
items so the items are visible the moment one gets in the driver’s seat to drive off. However,
remember that the best and most secure place to place items is inside of the vehicle.
• Forgetting to chamber a round before shift. Make sure to press check the duty pistol daily.
• Giving out one’s personal cell phone number instead of the police station’s number
• Not asking for help when it is needed
• Not paying attention to the radio
• Being too focused on the computer while completing a ticket or adding notes to a call for
service. Remember to look around often.
• Failing to admit mistakes (they all come out later anyway because everything we do is recorded
and documented)
• Making the same mistake over and over again
• Forgetting to get phone numbers for everyone at the scene. This is especially important later if a
recruit realizes they forgot to get a valuable piece of information.
• Thinking the FTO is a partner or friend. The FTO is there to train and supervise. It’s the FTO’s job
to catch the recruit’s mistakes, point them out, and help them get better. A FTO can be a
recruit’s friend after training.
• Complaining too much
• Spending too much time on one’s personal phone
• Not knowing one’s location
• Being lazy. Police need to be proactive.
• Looking sloppy. Dress sharp and be sharp.
• Making silly statements while being recorded
• Moving too quickly and escalating the situation, officers need to slow things down.
• Taking things personally. Remember, people dislike the uniform, not the person wearing it.
• Going to the wrong address

Pg. 7 POLICE FIELD TRAINING CONCEPTS