National Scan of Police Field Training Practices

NPI, through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)’s VALOR Officer Safety and Wellness Program, is partnering with the National Association of Field Training Officers (NAFTO) to conduct an examination of field training practices across the United States.

Project Overview

Policing has evolved substantially in the past three decades, but the overall model of field training has remained relatively unchanged. Field training and field training officers (FTOs) play a critical role in mentoring newly hired officers, fostering resilience, instilling agency values, teaching practical skills, modeling behaviors, and setting ethical and professional standards. Despite its importance, field training remains an under-researched area, with limited knowledge about program structures, FTO selection criteria, or the long-term impact of these programs on officers’ careers. To address this knowledge gap, NPI is conducting a comprehensive scan of field training practices nationwide. This project will explore the current practices across the country, how field training programs differ in structure, evaluation, and philosophy, challenges agencies face in preparing both trainees and FTOs, and perceived impacts of field training.

Methodology

This nationwide scan of field training practices will proceed in three phases. Phase 1 focuses on foundational research to gain a baseline understanding of current field training practices. This includes a review of existing literature on field training and virtual and in-person focus groups with current and former FTOs to understand current practices and challenges agencies face related to field training. Phase 2 involves the delivery of a national survey to examine field training practices across the country related to program models, training, philosophy, and evaluation. Finally, Phase 3 involves the development of a presentation and report highlighting primary findings and recommendations from the scan of the field training programs. By identifying best practices and addressing gaps, this work will help ensure that law enforcement agencies are equipped to train and support their officers effectively, fostering a culture of excellence, resilience, and professionalism.