Field Training Officer (FTO) Program
Demographics
Mesa is located 10 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona.
| Population |
462,165 |
| Size |
131+ square miles |
| Elevation |
1,241 feet |
| Median Home Cost |
$199,000 |
| Median Household
Income |
$48,106 |
Mesa Police Department
|
Sworn Officers: |
780 |
| Civilian Support
Employees: |
489 |
|
Patrol Officers: |
348 (does not include
supervisors, CAT Team, SROs or K-9 officers |
| Total Employees: |
1309 |
| |
|
|
Chief |
1 |
| Assistant Chiefs |
3 |
|
Commanders |
10 |
| Lieutenants |
32 |
|
Sergeants |
93 |
| Patrol Officers
per 1,000 population |
0.75 |
|
Total Sworn Officers per 1,000 population |
1.77 |
| Recruits Trained
per Year |
60 average |
Police Stations and Patrol Districts
Mesa has five police stations; each of the four patrol
districts has its own station.
Certifiication
Sworn members are certified by the Arizona Peace Officers
Standards and Training Board (AZPOST).
FTO Officers & FTO Unit
| Field Training Officer
Unit |
|
| Lieutenant |
1 |
| Sergeant |
1 |
| Administrative
Officers |
2 |
| |
|
| Field Training Officers |
|
| Patrol FTOs |
44 |
| Traffic FTOs |
3 |
Compensation
Mesa Police FTOs are classified as police officers in a
special assignment. As such, they receive an extra 5% pay while
they are training OITs in the FTO Program. Due to their extra
training and knowledge, all department members, not just
recruits, rely on FTOs to answer questions and offer guidance,
which justifies their extra pay. The FTO position is a patrol
function and not considered a promotion.
Training
Mesa Police FTOs are trained to National Association of Field
Training Officers (NAFTO) & Arizona Chapter of the National
Association of Field Training Officers (AZNAFTO) standards. The
FTO Unit's past administrative officers have taught at the
AZNAFTO Schools, as well as the National NAFTO Conferences and
the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
International Conference.