National Association of Field Training Officers

Indiana Chapter

The National Association of Field Training Officers

The concept of a national Field Training Officer association has been considered by many for several years. A survey conducted by the Field Training Quarterly magazine indicated a strong nationwide desire for an association. The dream has become reality thanks to the dedication of efforts of one of the Field Training Quarterly’s contributing writers. The founder is Mickey Bennett, a former Sergeant with the Long Beach (California) Police Department and a Field Training Officer for over 12 years. The concept of the National Association of Field Training Officers (NAFTO) was created by FTO managers during brainstorming workshops while attending a FTO management course. The course was instructed by Mickey Bennett and presented by California State University Long Beach. This idea become reality on February 21, 1991, as a California Non Profit Corporation. Application for non-profit status has been filed with the I.R.S.

NAFTO is an educational and professional association concerned with apprenticeship training, commonly called FTO, for law enforcement, and corrections educators and administrators from across the broad spectrum of the law enforcement community.

First Regional Meeting Held

The first regional meeting was sponsored by the Santa Ross (CA) Police Department on May 22, 1991. An overwhelming number of northern California FTOs and FTO Managers attended. Sgt. Tim Senkir, the founding chairperson of California Region II, was flooded with reservations- 56 people attended. This was twice the anticipated number, which demonstrates the need and interest in NAFTO. Additional regional meeting are planned in California through November.

Founding directors are currently focusing their efforts to establish 8 regions in California before expanding to the remaining states in the U.S.A. Expansion to other states started during the summer of 1991.

-- Mickey Bennett

Reprinted with permission form the Houston Police Department Academy, “Field Training Quarterly”, editor Frank M. Webb