Socialization of police violence: exploring the perceptions and attitudes of Field Training Officers (FTOs)

Thesis

This study examines the pivotal yet often underappreciated role of Field Training Officer (FTO) programs in shaping police culture and the development of new officers in the United States. Drawing on multi-method fieldwork across three U.S. police departments, it explores how FTOs function as key transmitters of organizational norms, values, and behaviors. While FTOs are formally tasked with mentoring recruits in accordance with departmental policies, this investigation finds that the cultural messages conveyed to those recruits in practice often diverge significantly from official policies and leaders’ goals. In many cases, FTO programs operate as informal but powerful mechanisms for perpetuating adversarial and militarized models of policing—despite institutional rhetoric emphasizing accountability, de-escalation, and community engagement.

The findings reveal a critical misalignment between leadership intent and field-level execution, exacerbated by the marginalization of FTOs in the cultural and professional hierarchy of departments in favor of more prestigious tactical units. This study argues that FTO programs are not inherently reformative or regressive. Rather, their impact depends entirely on how they are structured, supported, and prioritized by leadership. When neglected or poorly aligned with institutional values or reform priorities, these programs risk entrenching outdated and coercive policing norms. Conversely, when intentionally designed and resourced, FTO programs hold significant potential as instruments of cultural transformation. This research contributes to broader conversations about police legitimacy, professional identity, and the challenges of aligning practice with principle in law enforcement in a democratic republic. Ultimately, it calls for a reevaluation of FTO programs as central—not peripheral—to the project of meaningful police reform.

Authors: Rizer, A

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-9ow8jd1q7
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: police militarization; police violence; police professional development; police field training; police training; international police comparisons
• Subjects: Police brutality; police; Police administration