911:: Trainer Attitude 2

[Guest guest]

First, I want to thank all of you who sent good suggestions/ideas for me to

consider to deal with my problem. I will go into more detail on some

things, in hopes of shedding more light on what's happening and getting more

feedback/suggestions. Just a warning, it is lengthy.

A common suggestion was ask my first trainer, but as luck would have it (I

seem to have no luck with this entire training issue, explain in a moment),

my first trainer is on vacation for a few weeks. Additionally, he is on a

different shift so he doesn't know how I am doing now. I could go to him

for a personal character reference on my trainer, after he comes back, and

see what his opinions of him are. Another person I would love to talk to is

another trainee (I don't know if she has had this trainer yet), but she had

a car accident and is out for X amount of time, recouperating at home. So I

don't want to bother her. To add to the pot, my next trainer has just

announced a LOA starting next week, for an undetermined amount of time. We

have few trainers, so I may be stuck with this less-than-helpful trainer for

even longer than the double time I am already scheduled with him! Aggghhhh!

As far as asking others' opinions from the other side of the radio

(supervisor, patrol sgts, etc.) they don't hear half of what is truly going

on, the negatives happen before/after the button is released. My supervisor

is also in and out of the office frequently, and does not sit in with us. I

wonder if that would make my trainer straighten up for at least that period

of time? Again, I am very hesitant about approaching anyone on this because

I don't want to lose rapport or make a name of tattletale/complainer for

myself, I am not that type of person at all. I get along with almost

anyone, and this is rare for me to be so perplexed/bothered by this issue.

But I want to catch it before it drives me away from the department, which

it shouldn't, but I need coping mechanisms to save my sanity. I certainly

don't want to become one of Them types.

We do have DORs and daily written tests, I get 2-3s on DORs and get

85-100% on my tests. My last one was comprehensive, and I got a 94% without

extra credit and 99% with it. But that wasn't worthy of mention for my

trainer to say anything to me or even write that down on the DOR. I can

handle not being told " good job " because that will not happen often in this

profession, but to not document it as a positive with the dozens of

negatives he gives me on each DOR is pretty pathetic. The DORs have 2-3

pages of negatives, and conclude with a neutral then a weak positive. Ex/

" Trainee spent 30 minutes studying geography. Trainee gave back a tag

correctly. " Something

that happens everyday. He seems to lack creativity in finding areas

I have improved on or am doing well in. I have started to privately

document my side of the story on several incidents, there were 2 that

happened yesterday that were the trainer's fault, DOR'd off as mine, and

serious errors on his part. But most of the time it is not something that

is easy to document or explain to someone not there, tape recording would be

better! Hmmm, there's an idea!

I understand that everyone in this situation, including myself, wants to

see me excel. And I knew I would be pushed from day one. I am not looking

for an easy cop out. I am not by any means perfect, but this trainer is

overly negative. He doesn't yell as in raising his voice, but the tone and

belittling manner in which he speaks to me is what is so bad. He talks to

me like you would to a 4 year old with a degrading tone in his voice. And

is kind of sarcastic in a way, too. If I take even a second to think about

doing something before doing it, he immediately is criticizing me that I am

not fast enough, don't I know how to do it, I say yes, and he says well then

why aren't you. While this is happening I have lost my train of thought on

what I am supposed to be doing and screw it up. This job is not second

nature to me yet. I am still learning and I am slower than the pros. He

has no patience or acceptance for thinking before

acting, or mistakes. He told me he wants me to do things on my own, but

then won't shut up and let me do it on my own, at my beginner's pace. I am

now more scared of doing it wrong and his criticism for that than the

criticism I get for lack of self initiated action. If I ignore his

negativity and let it roll of my back, he says it is carelessness and I am

not responding to the " training " .

Well, hopefully this all helps describe the situation better. I

appreciate all your help, I don't know where else I can go to except those

who have been-there-done-that like most of you. If you have more questions,

please let me know. I am open to any kind of suggestions, ideas, solutions,

special powers, whatever!

Thanks again...

Jeannette Bonham-s

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