In 2018, I was selected to be our FTO for the Weyauwega Police Department. I attended a week long FTO training course and obtained my FTO certificate. I then began training new officers as they were hired with the Weyauwega Police Department. I trained a total of seven part-time police officers while I was with Weyauwega PD.

Like I talk about on my “Instructor” tab, I have a deep heartfelt passion for training and instructing new officers. I have had multiple negative experiences with field training officers at past departments who should NOT have been training anyone. I promised myself that I would never allow a new officer to have those same experiences on my watch. I wanted them to learn, stay safe, and become confident officers - but I also want them to continue loving what they do!

When I got hired by the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office, I applied multiple times for a vacant FTO position. I finally was selected and began training new officers at the Sheriff’s Office.

Most people don’t know this, but when a new officer would be struggling while training with a different officer (who shouldn’t have been an FTO to begin with), they would frequently call or message me to ask questions and seek advice on certain things. The FTO would make them feel so low of themselves, they would reach out to me knowing that I would have their back and would work with them outside of the Sheriff’s Office to help them get through it and succeed! This is why I have such a love for teaching people - it’s not how you train someone, it’s how you treat them in the process - and sadly… you can’t train that in an FTO. Cops aren’t robots - they are people too.

The photos below are some of the officers I have been honored to train, many of whom have went on to become full-time police officers. It is such a proud moment for me!