NCJ Number
143245
Journal
Field Training Quarterly Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (1992) Pages: 19-28
Date Published
1992
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The Houston Police Department has instituted the use of laptop computers for completion of daily documentation required of all field training officers (FTOs). The documentation provides an evaluation of each trainee's performance and is critical to maintaining the credibility and viability of the program.
Abstract
In December 1990, the department's computer services supervisor and programmer began work on new software for the field training program. The software not only allowed FTOs to complete their paperwork more quickly, it also changed the way FTOs documented their training and evaluation. Rather than requiring documentation of each training opportunity by listing, in narrative chronological form, the training provided during the day, the computer program allowed FTOs to document each category of training individually, with little regard to the type of training given. Survey responses collected at the end of field testing led to development of a new, more user-friendly, version of the software. After two years of laptop study and testing, implementation in Houston's eight field training stations is nearly complete and most reports by officers and supervisors in the field training program have been positive.