Police officers who train new police recruits in the field will now earn more money thanks to an increase approved by the City Council last week.
Superintendent Michael Harrison proposed the increase in pay for Field Training Officers (FTO) to the Civil Service Department in August. In a letter describing the need for the increase, Chief Harrison wrote, “In an effort to consistently offer superior training and guidance to newly graduating recruits being placed in the field, an increase in the special rate of pay is essential to attract the most qualified and skilled FTOs.”
Certified FTOs will now earn 10 percent more than their normal rate of pay when they’re training a new police recruit in the field. Previously, FTOs earned a flat rate of $1500 per year.
FTOs train police recruits in the field after they graduate from the Training Academy. Field training lasts a total of 16 weeks.