(A) Police Officers who are assigned to this program will be called Field Training Officers (herein referred to as F.T.O.), however, the police officers shall retain the classification of Police Officer for all provisions of this agreement. All police officers who are selected to participate within this program will be assigned as an F.T.O. on an individual voluntary basis only.
(B) The entry criteria into the Field Training Program shall be:
1. The applicant must have a minimum of three (3) years of continuous seniority with the Department at the time of selection. Officers who do not meet this minimum requirement but have prior police experience or exceptional abilities may be considered.
2. The applicant must have been assigned to Field Operations for at least six (6) months prior to date of application.
3. Successful applicants must be available for regular patrol beat assignments for the duration of the process.
4. The applicant must have a commitment to the training and development of new officers.
5. The applicant must be willing to work overtime to accomplish training and evaluation duties when necessary.
(C) Field Training Officers shall be selected by a committee to be composed of five (5) representatives: two (2) from the current Field Training Officers to be appointed by the Association; one (1) Field Training Sergeant; the Field Training Commander; and the Personnel Captain.
The FTO Selection Committee will consider the following criteria:
1. Performance evaluation by current supervisor and Commander.
3. Attendance record.
4. Prior work product review (i.e. Incident reports, OH-1, and supplemental reports).
5. Prior performance as an FTO (where applicable).
6. Writing sample based upon a defined circumstance.
7. A personal interview before the selection committee to include a problem solving exercise.
(D) After interviewing all the candidates, the selection committee shall carefully consider all the factors presented and produce a list of FTO nominees. When everything is equal between two candidates, the officer most senior shall be the one nominated by the committee.
After the selection, all successful FTO candidates will undergo either basic, or refresher FTO training. Those successfully completing the training will be certified eligible for actual FTO service and benefits.
(E) Once an officer is a certified FTO, regardless if he/she is in actual training, he/she will receive a five (5%) percent adjusted gross wage annually, payable in the 26 regular pay periods. The adjusted gross wage will not be considered as a new base wage rate. The five (5%) percent payment is also independent of the consideration provided in Section 2129.32, "Career Enhancement Program."
(F) The officer will retain FTO certification except where there are general changes of assignment, the officer chooses to withdraw from the Field Training Program, or where there is just cause for removal.
(G) Cause for removal shall be directly related to one or more of those criterion used in the selection process as listed in 2129.03 (B) and (C). Removal of certification may be authorized only by the Chief of Police (or his designee) upon either the recommendation of the Selection Committee or as a result of the disciplinary process.