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Many agencies still rely on legacy field training models that emphasize evaluation over education — often scoring recruits before they’ve had time to learn. Recognizing the limitations of this approach, law enforcement leaders are moving toward a more effective model grounded in adult learning science.
In this episode, Dan Greene, executive director of the National Association of Field Training Officers, and Sergeant Jason Devlin of the Scottsdale (Arizona) Police Department, discuss the development and implementation of NextGen Field Training. Designed to separate training from evaluation, this approach prioritizes coaching, accountability and cultural alignment. Devlin, who led the model’s creation and rollout, shares key insights on how agencies can strengthen recruit performance, improve retention and build a more resilient workforce.
About our guests
Sergeant Jason Devlin has been an officer with the Scottsdale Police Department in Arizona since 2003. He has served as a patrol officer, DUI officer and patrol sergeant, and currently serves as the training sergeant in the Professional Development Unit. In this role, he supervises the Field Training Program and Leadership Development Program and serves as the department’s lead developer for computer-based training. Jason holds a degree in education with an emphasis in mathematics from Arizona State University. He has been a keynote speaker and instructor at numerous law enforcement conferences, presenting on topics including instructor development, adaptive decision-making, and field training. He is the designer of the NextGen Field Training Model, which is gaining national recognition. Additional resources here:
- NextGen Field Training Website
- NextGen Field Training Website Blogs
- @tbl_leadership
- https://www.facebook.com/tblleadership
- http://tblleadership.com
Dan Greene has dedicated over 28 years to law enforcement in Arizona, beginning as an officer in 1996. In 1998, he was selected as a Field Training Officer (FTO), a role that shaped his passion for mentoring and training. Over his career, Dan has trained over 250 new officers and over 20 newly promoted supervisors. As a defensive tactics instructor, Dan has provided advanced use-of-force training to hundreds of agencies while teaching at the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy and the Chandler Police Department, where he currently serves as the lead Use of Force Instructor and Advanced Training Unit Supervisor.
Dan is an IADLEST National Certified Instructor and Subject Matter Expert in General Instruction, he holds multiple certifications to include ICAT, ethics, and CIT Currently the Executive Director of the National Association of Field Training Officers, Dan assists agencies nationwide in developing standardized FTO guidelines and advanced training curricula. Dan has collaborated with research organizations to pioneer studies, producing some of the first research dedicated to enhancing field training practices and officer development nationwide. He is the executive director of the National Association of Field Training Officers (N.A.F.T.O.), a non-profit educational and professional association concerned with apprenticeship training (commonly referred to as the Field Training Officer concept) for Emergency Service Units.
Tune in to discover:
- Why traditional FTO models fall short — and how the NextGen approach better prepares recruits for real-world policing
- How separating training from evaluation builds confidence, improves performance and reduces early attrition
- What Socratic debriefing looks like — and how it transforms FTOs from scorers into true coaches
- Why Gen Z recruits need different communication strategies — and how to train for real-life decision-making
- How to win buy-in from leadership — and make the case that reforming FTO programs reduces liability and turnover
Key takeaways from this episode
- Stop evaluating before training: NextGen shifts the timeline—trainees learn the job before they’re evaluated, which improves confidence and performance.
- FTOs become coaches, not scorekeepers: Separating scoring from training frees FTOs to focus on teaching and mentorship, rather than being perceived as disciplinarians.
- Debriefing uses Socratic questioning: Trainees reflect on performance using guided questions, fostering ownership of learning and encouraging critical thinking.
- Evaluation phases are robust and multi-tiered: Recruits must pass multiple evaluations — including from a new FTO and sergeant oversight — before being certified as solo capable.
- Retention and culture are improving: Scottsdale PD’s 87% pass rate and 80% retention of those who complete the program show measurable success. Agencies are also seeing cultural shifts through stronger field-level leadership.
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