Each Probationary Police Officer that graduates from the Police Academy is required to pass a four hundred (400) hour Field Training and Evaluation program before they can become a full fledged Police Officer.

This training is done by Field Training Officers (F.T.O.).  To be an FTO, officers must be a New Britain Police Officer for three years or more, have an excellent record and be well versed in all aspects of police work.  Field Training Officers are hand picked by the Command Staff of the Department.  Field Training Officers must complete a forty hour training class in order to be certified as Field Training Officers.

Upon graduating the Police Academy, each officer is assigned a Field Training Officer.  The Probationary Police Officer rides along with the FTO and asnwer calls for service as a full Police Officer would.  After each shift, The Probationary Police Officer is graded based on a standardized scale.  Each day, the Probationary Police Officer is given more and more responsibility.

Each Probationary Police Officer is rotated through at least three different Field Training Officers.  After the completion of the 400 hour training and evaluation process, it is determined if they are able to perform the duties of a Police Officer.  Once the Probationary Police Officer successfully completes the program, they are considered a full Police Officer.

The New Britain Police Department currently has over fifty Field Training Officers.  Sgt. David Woodruff and Sgt. Robert Martin are the program coordinators.