From Police Academy to solo officer: congratulations to Beaverton’s newest officers

From Police Academy to solo officer: congratulations to Beaverton’s newest officers

#BeavertonPolice

On December 9, 2022, Officer Sam Johnson, Officer Rochelle Cochrane, Officer Charissa McCracken and Officer Elvis Alegria graduated the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Academy, otherwise known as the “Police Academy.”

The 16-week training program in Salem, Oregon provides valuable training on everything from court room procedures to behavioral health to how to do a traffic stop.

During their time there, most officers live on-site, away from family and friends. Their focus is on learning to become a police officer. They take a deep dive into everything a police officer must know and do to keep the public, and themselves safe.

They are trained and tested time and time again. After they complete and pass the academy, they are officially certified as a police officer in the State of Oregon.

Once graduated, new officers return to their home agencies for another round of rigorous training. In the case of the four new BPD officers, they will return as recruit patrol officers and be assigned a training officer. They will spend the next 4-6 months under the direct supervision of BPD training staff. This process is called the Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP).

It is only when the have graduated FTEP that they will be allowed to operate “solo.” Once in solo status, officers are allowed to patrol without a training officer’s supervision. They are assigned to one of four patrol shifts and operate with other officers on general patrol, responding to 911 calls and enforcing traffic and criminal law.

Congrats to Beaverton’s newest officers on being one step closer to serving our community as solo police officers.

For more BPD information, visit: https://www.beavertonpolice.org/