How can FTOs effectively evaluate a recruit's interpersonal skills?

Evaluating a recruit's interpersonal skills is crucial for their development in law enforcement, as these skills significantly impact their ability to communicate, build rapport, and handle various situations effectively. Observing interactions during scenarios allows Field Training Officers (FTOs) to assess how recruits engage with others, including colleagues, superiors, victims, and suspects.

This method gives FTOs insight into the recruit's verbal and non-verbal communication, conflict resolution skills, and overall ability to relate to different individuals in real-world situations. Through practical observations, FTOs can note the nuances of the recruit's behavior, such as empathy, assertiveness, and active listening, which are key components of strong interpersonal skills.

Other methods, such as conducting written tests, may not accurately reflect a recruit's on-the-job capabilities since they cannot capture the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of interpersonal interactions in law enforcement settings. Reviewing past performance reviews might provide some historical context but does not necessarily evaluate current interpersonal skills in practice. Focusing solely on physical confrontations is similarly limited, as it overlooks the importance of communication and relational skills essential for effective policing. Thus, observing interactions during scenarios serves as the most comprehensive way to evaluate these critical skills.