The Egg Harbor Township Police Department, in keeping with community expectations for professional police service, has established the Field Training Officer Program. 

The mission of the Egg Harbor Township Police Department Field Training Officer Program:

To prepare Officers in Training (OIT's) to perform the essential duties of a police officer by emphasizing community engagement, professionalism, trust and providing customer service that exceeds expectation while seeking continuous opportunities to improve.

Program Structure

Our FTO Program stresses learning the essential aspects of police work during a four-phase, nineteen-week Training Program.  The FTO Program exposes the OIT to at least three Field Training Officers (FTO’s).  FTO’s are seasoned field trainers that have gone through a selection process and specialized school to assist them in training our new Officers.    

First phase of the FTO Program is a 4-week phase, the first week of which is a limbo week without any documentation.  The limbo week assists the OIT in acclimating to their new environment.  It also gives the FTO a chance to show the OIT our community and provide examples of how to best meet the communities expectations. 

The second and third phases are each 4 weeks long, with one to two limbo days at the start of each phase.  The first week of the fourth phase consists of the FTO's riding with the OIT as an observer and intervening only when needed.  The remaining 2-weeks of fourth phase consists of the OIT in a patrol car by himself/herself handling calls on his/her own.  The FTO rides in a separate patrol car and "shadows" the OIT on calls.  During this final phase the FTO confirms that the OIT is able to handle calls as a solo Officer before the OIT is assigned to a patrol squad.  The OIT will graduate from the FTO Program on their 1 year anniversary date if all objectives have been met.  Realizing that these new Officers may learn at different rates, the FTO Program is based on proficiency – stressing proficiency vs. a rigid timeline.  When the OIT completes each of the phase’s requirements and is proficient at those requirements, they move to the next phase.  

Current EHTPD Field Training Unit Members

Lt. Steven Slusarski

Sgt. Lawrence Graham

Sgt. Joseph Griffiths

Ofc. Matthew Hann

Ofc. Scott Nell

Ofc. Patrick Daly

Ofc. Edward Stearns

Ofc. Raymond Wilson

Ofc. William Burns

Ofc. Michael Keeping

Ofc. Louis Poletis

Ofc. Benjamin Kollman

Ofc. Steven McKenney