PoliceLink

I've been an FTO for the last nine years and have trained over 40 rookies in that time. But I've never experienced the kind of attitude we're seeing today from the "newest generation" of rookies. Many of them don't seem to have a sincere interest in the job. Others come to the FTO program with a sense of entitlement, as if we OWE them the opportunity to be patrolmen.  If you try to be firm with them, they whine like little kids. And it seems impossible to impress upon them the seriousness of this job. I'm curious if this phenomenon is unique to my agency, or if it's becoming a more widespread affliction. Please share your thoughts.

what it takes is for them to get their first wake up call and get knocked on their ass*s.  they think its all fun and games and soon need to realize that this is real life and not tv. 

I hate to say it but it is not only in law enforcement that the attitude is there it is prevalent in all jobs I believe. It is really bad to think this generation believes that way.

I am retired presently, but I was an FTO while in service. I have seen many newbies since my retirement and to be honest they have a very poor attitude. They are making big bucks and really could care less about the job. I can't tell you how many times I pass a RMP and there they are talking on a cellphone and ignoring the streets. I hate to say this but some of the Leo's today could not even be a pimple on the a## of the veterans serving today, or the group of retired members on this site; of course this is MHO.

I hear each and everyone of you.  I think personally over the past couple of years is you get these young punks right out of College that are still on the immature stages of life.  I have trained a couple like that and the sad thing is they are smart and know some things its their attitude that makes them terrible.

EVERY generation in EVERY profession has said these exact words: "This gereration is nowhere near as good as ours."  Times change.  Social concerns are not the same as they were.  Is it too much to consider that the generation isn't the one that changed but maybe it's us.  We were all punk rookies at some time and our FTO's shook thier heads at us just as we are now shaking our heads at the new batch.  I agree that I find the new breed to be arrogant and and immature, but maybe, just maybe, we were the same way too.  We just matured with age

brother that is what it said in other word your's was better my generation can be pretty sorry at time but when put to the test we will rise to the challege so need to be pushed harder then others.

Look at what some agancies are hiring now a days.  Not knocking the good ones who come along, but geez.  You should see what Detroit PD has been hiring the last few years.  I'm glad I don't work for them.

Oh I agree with everyone.. Now I am somewhat of an old timer, but not by much.. I remember when I came on that I was told not to speak until I was spoken to and that I was to address senior officers as ma'am or sir.. And till this day, I still do address them as such.. Today's recruits lack respect and integrity.. It starts with who we are hiring, and why they are hired.. It would seem to me that people are being hired because of how good they appear on paper not how qualified an individual is when apply.. Once hired, they are mostly put through academies that cater to them and failed to teach and instilled discipline and the integrity of the job.. Out of the academy because the recruits lack the basic discipline and intergrity, we get what we get.. And lastly,  the leadership that fails to hold these recruits accountable for their actions are the ultimate ones to blame because of their weakness in their leadership abilities.. Hell, how can we hold and expect the recruits to be accountable and respectable when our leaders are not setting good examples..

And yes, jmoberly, every generation says that they had it tougher in the academy because they did to be honest.. But I can tell you this when I came out of the academy, I never acted like a know it all and did what I was told by my Sgt and never complained when I had to handle a complaint.  I remember coming in at the end of the day handling at least 7 domestics, 5 or 6 burglaries, several alarms or accidents, etc and my senior officers only having 2 or 3 complaints..

Icelady11 says ...

mpd_943 says ...

I am seeing this while teaching at the academy. I don't know what the heck is up with that. I saw one of the rookies from the last class get thrown out of his FTO's car one afternoon b/c of his attitude. It was funny, the FTO pulled up to the precinct, tossed the rookie and his crap out of the car and drove off.

...............priceless............

..............there must be a triclke down windfall pattern occuring.  I couldn't beleive my eyes when I read the thread, "New to discusions but not to PL" . It 's  obvious there is a need for an attitude adjustment here (dispatcher), but the writer, for the life of her, can't even grasp any inappropriateness.

What I see coming are officers who are immature, whose private lives are often a mess which spills into work at times.  When I was first hired in 93 the guys hired around that time had a passion for the job and once they were on board never dreamed of doing anything else.  THose being hired (not all but many) over the last few years are a bi-product of our society's selfish, all about me attitude.

We, as FTO'S and senior officers have "fallen down" on the job by not being vocal to admin about which recruits just aren't making it.  It is also our responsibility to model behavior, both off and on duty that we would want our recruits to follow.  We also need to remember that even when those "rookies" are not with us any longer we still have a responsibility as trainers and supervisors to "NEVER STOP TRAINING" them.

Just my two cents.

I am a Rookie. Some of my fellow rookie-typ-momo's are embarrasing in their performance, demeanor, and presentation. Lookin' like 20 pounds of chewed up ass, too damn lax going through their day, and demanding of whats entitled to them.

ROOKIE: SHUT UP, LISTEN, ASK QUESTIONS, AND SUCK IT UP LIKE A SPONGE. YOUR LIFE, YOUR PARTNERS LIFE, AND THE PUBLICS LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!