The Importance of Mentorship: My Roles as a Field Training Officer

One of the most rewarding experiences of my career with the Baltimore County Police Department was as a Field Training Officer.

It was important to me to teach officers right out of the academy how to do things correctly. Everything from handling minor calls for service and traffic stops to more serious incidents. I also stressed the importance of backing fellow officers, stepping in to assist where needed, and recognizing when it was necessary for a primary officer to step back from a situation if they needed to de-escalate themselves. Additionally, when responding to calls, I stressed the importance of remaining calm, assessing the situation, and de-escalating for a safe resolution.  

Along the way, I would encourage these officers to find their niche. Riding around in the patrol car gave plenty of time to talk with young officers and find out what their interests were or what their goals were for their career. I would tell them about special units in the department that might suit them or what trainings might be worth their time to attend. I always encouraged them to take promotional exams. Watching them find an aspect of law enforcement that they could excel in was extremely rewarding.

If elected as the Sheriff for Carroll County, I look forward to continuing as a mentor. Watching officers grow into the role and find the passion for the job is a reward all its own. It is my hope that at the end of my term, I will have left a legacy of officers committed to the community and ready to step into leadership roles.