Posted: 8/20/2008 1:38:51 PM EDT
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In the past 5 years I've been passed over for some training that I requested in turn for becoming an instructor at my department in a field that was not an area of interest for me. I was the only one who even came close to having the requirements for this instructor position. I asked for some specific training in return for me doing this for the department and have been passed over twice when this training came up. Most recently I interviewed for a position and again didn't get it....I'm frustrated and wondering who I have pissed off. There are only 14 instructors in the whole state in the instructor position that I completed for the department. Am I being a whiney little______ or should I be pissed. I went and got this instructor position and have gotten nothing in return. I work regular patrol on top of teaching in 3 seperate areas.....none of which I requested. I do this to help the department and get nothing in return..... Any ideas/opinions? |
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Welcome to police work. I've been refused the last four classes I requested. Including Street Survival and two Carbine classes. The thing that bothers me the most is, I requested carbine class before they knew anything about them. I found the carbine classes and set up the classes thinking I would be in the list. I can't carry a carbine on duty.  My chief hates me so that's the reason for my lack of classes. I don't know who you have against you but you probably have someone I the brass. |
and asked if I was some kind of retarded fucktard or something.
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Squeaky wheel gets the grease. Unless it was promised to you, you'll just have to politely remind them every time the desired training comes up. Ask politely if there's a reason why... your supervisor should be able to get an answer??? Sometimes that's the way it is. They don't manage the dept. according to one person (you), and they may have reasons. Unless you have other reasons for leaving, it sounds like you need to wait it out. -josh |
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Guy on our Dept, is/was one of the most motivated younger guys. On ERT, FTO, etc etc. Asks to go to some sort of investigations school (I think, don't remember) they tell him no. He says fine, I'll take time off and pay for the school myself...you just need to sign the permission slip. Nope, they still wouldn't 
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You got it, my last Warden held a grudge against me for 20 years. I asked the training officer about an MOI in Defensive tactics, he laughed and said they will nevergive you anything. At the time I was an 8th Dan, since then they have let two rookies that had shodans, become instructors. One had his face handed to him by and inmate and was lucky that the Jail Dr also was a surgeon. The other just retired out after having an inmate destroy his leg. Me, I have politley handed a few lesson in being peaceful....one a murder that went to sleep.....no lawsuits, no charges were filed against me, oh and a few apoligies for being stupid to me. |
The training was promised to me 5 years ago...not in writing though, only verbal by a Sgt. that is no longer in that position.... |
Back in the day, it wasn't uncommon that most of our guys would get very little in-service training. I had one sgt who actually said he thought that in-service training was a waste of time. I've put myself through a lot of classes over the years on my own dime, including the Street Survival seminar 3 times, my first carbine school, etc. If you want something bad enough, you don't wait for your dept to hand you the class. You could be waiting a long time. |
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We've had the following schools of thought in place at our department since I started: 1) Until you finish your basics (Fire Academy, EMT, Paramedic) don't even think about it. (makes sense, as those are the minimums) 2) You're a FNG who's just going to take our training and experience and go somewhere else. (used to stop at 35, but now with pension portability anyone with less than 5 years on gets this one) 3) You don't need that training for anything here (IOW you'll be more qualified than the officers over you) |
That's why he will leave the dept. Some Management who are really leaders like to see their guys get training, opportunities, and promoted. Others feel threatened and would rather take care of who they know etc. |
| They sure use the hell out of me for 2 of the 3 things I teach.....I guess I should feel warm and fuzzy that I get to teach crap that other officers don't like but Have to have. Wow I get to get More over time for payment.....lol....some more money but less time with my wife and kids....people that I actually like to be around....lol |
Sounds like you are a victim of your own success..[://They probably don't want to lose you as an instructor in the areas you already teach.. We have plenty of firearms "instructors" But very few that can actually teach anything. A 40 hr class may certify you...but makes an instructor it does not... You need to find the right guy to knob...get out the knee pads and go to work 
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Facing that now. Recent interview, "You have a very extensive training record". Futher on, "You do realize your supervisors have less expiernce, training and time on the road than you?" Yep, no issues with me. |
| I get a feeling that the current Sgt. in charge of training feels bad about how things went and is trying to make things up to me. Telling me that I will be getting several opertunities to become an instructor in various areas in the near future. I also got the feeling that he didn't want to tell me....like he was being forced to do something he didn't want to do. |
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It's great you have a guy who has a heart. One of my biggest peeves at my Dept. is brass who deny, deny, deny, then "OK" training when YOU work out all the stupid things they cite as "problems" with paying for our own courses and attending on our own time. WTF do they think we are doing? Wanting goof-off time? -josh |
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tc556guy I agree with you but most of the classes have to be OK'd by chief. I'm looking into another carbine class I can pay for and not need the chief's blessing. Even if I do get the carbine class, he won't allow me to carry a carbine on duty. At least I'll have the training for myself. We only have three people that are allowed to carry a carbine. The stupid part is, the captain works days and doesn't do patrol or carry a radio most of the time. If the S.H.T.F. he won't know it.  The other two work days. We have three carbines on days and none on nights. How stupid can they get. |
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I'm glad I work for a department that supports folks wanting to get additional training. If I want a class and it falls on days I work, I can take time off or switch out with another deputy. I know, sucks some to have to burn time just to go, but with personnel issues I can't blame the department for not giving us ALL FREE TIME to go to classes. In the past few months, I have completed the General Intructors Techniques Course and Firearms Instructors Course. I am scheduled to go to Taser Instructors Course and Police Carbine/Rifle Instructors Course this month. I will only burn 36 hours of personal time do get this accomplished... well worth it in my book. |
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I have 18 years on. The one thing that I have learned is to never be dependant on your work bringing you joy!!! If it happens and you are at work great, but if not you have to not worry about it. Find joy in FAMILY, FRIENDS, TOYS, and HOBBIES..... and on the side girlfriends  J/K...really.........If the dept. doesn't give you the training that you want/need then find it elsewhere. Go on your days off and look to outside resources. The NRA Instructor schools are a great deal for the money. I was issued a revolver the first couple of years as a LEO. Everyone around us carried wondernines. We were even allowed to carry autos OFF-duty, but not on. It made no sense to me. I aired out my frustration to one of our senior Firearms Instructors. This wise old owl told me "If you can't carry the best equipment, then be the best with your current equipment". That advice stuck to me all of these years. I practiced with that revolver and carried extra speedloader and got really proficient....not to toot my own horn. So if your Chief won't send you to a high speed rifle course, then train and become great with your duty pistol and shotgun. Carry extra magazines and shotgun shells in a GO-BAG, in case you run up against a situation that needs a little extra something. As long as I am up on the soapbox. Always wear your vest, a back-up gun, and a knife. Ensure that you are proficient will all of the above. Look before you leap and stay safe, G |
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Sometimes departments are hesitant to spend time and money getting someone all trained up and then that person leaves to a better paid department because they now have training that makes them desireable to another agency. You should mention to higher at random times that you really like it there and plan to stay a long time (even if you are looking at another agency). We have an officer who all he does is talk about trying to get hired by another agency or another non-LE job. He's applied for many different jobs. We all know that he wants to leave (doesn't like LE work). As a result, he NEVER gets sent to training other than the state minimums. We have another officer who asks for EVERY training possible. Nothing wrong with that but he's new and barely knows the job of a patrolman. I'm all for getting him into training but he needs to take a breath and slow down a little. He basically wants to learn all there is to know about LE work in as short a time possible. Also nothing wrong with that but he has a LOT of bad habits and techniques from a past agency and we basically have to re-train him. We aren't going to send him to much training until we are confident that he can do things correctly. I'd love to put people through 2 months solid of a variety of training when they first get hired out of the academy but you have to be able to use that training. I would rather see people go to training for a week or two (max) and then come back and learn more about the job of LE and learn to apply what they learned rather than overwhelming them with training info and then they retain very little. I heard in a training course that without constant reinforcement, the average person forgets 98% of what they learned within 30 days of being taught the subject matter. The key there is "constant reinforcement". Since then, everytime I go to training, when I get home I keep my books and re-read the information a few times over then next month to ensure that I have learned and RETAINED it. Many people just go to lots of training, get lots of certificates, and then proceed to never use the info and it ends up getting forgotten. That's the danger in getting too much training too fast. I feel your pain though. I have been fortunate in that I have been able to go to most training that I want to. I also space my requests out so it doesn't look like I am asking for "too much". Some departments have understandable reasons why they are hesitant to send officers to training. Some departments are in the dark ages and don't care about having the latest and greatest info in the hands of their officers. If you work for an agency like that, then you need to seek out as much training as possible on your own time (take comp or vacation) and build your resume. Then find an agency that will encourage training and not discourage it. |
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police officers are specializing in particular areas of law enforcement more and more in todays age. there used to be plenty of jack of all trades, master of none type of cops that could do a standard dwi, narcotics arrest, and cit call to satisfaction but now agencies are training guys to specialize in dwi and putting them on dwi task forces, starting CIT groups, and utilizing narcotics units. SWAT was the first such example of this. If your agency put a lot of time and money into getting you trained for one specific task and now they dont want to let you do anything else it is definately selfish on their part but not unforseeable. We need more information on what your current area of specialization is and what you're trying to transition to. If you're a Drug Recognition Expert and you want to go into a sex crimes division or take training related to that then you shouldnt be surprised that you're getting railroaded. At the end of the day your agency can always pull that "for the needs of the department" BS and deny you. On the other hand if you offered to become the department's DRE whipping boy in exchange for also getting grant writing training or fto training and they denied that, then your agency legitimately sucks. |
I think you might have hit the nail on the head. I am 1 of 14 breath alcohol instrament instructors in this state, a hate crimes instructor, and 1st aid cpr instructor. I have only request training for firearms instructor for over 5 years...all of this other stuff the department came to me. I think I got pigeon holed into being the smart guy instructor and not the hands on one....lol....even though I have been to Gunsite for 3 different firearms courses: intermediate pistol, defensive shotgun, and tactical carbine. ANd I am an FTO too....I did put in for that. I was approached to become the breath alcohol instructor with an understanding that I would be sent to firearms instructor. |