Mesa uses a four-phase, nineteen-week FTO Program that exposes the OIT to at least three FTOs.  The OIT returns to the first phase FTO during the fourth phase.  An OIT rotates through at least two of the four districts of the city during the FTO Program.  When the OIT completes the FTO Program, the OIT is assigned to one of the districts.  

In years past, the Mesa FTO Program was rigidly structured to last 19 weeks.  The first phase was a 6-week phase, the first week being a limbo week without any documentation.  The limbo week assisted the OIT in acclimating to his new environment.  It also gave the FTO a chance to show the OIT his beat and the way that the FTO performed the job.  The second and third phases were each 5 weeks long with one limbo day at the start of each phase.  The first two weeks of the three-week fourth phase consisted of the FTO's riding with the OIT as an observer and intervening only if the OIT was about to violate the law/policy or was about to cause injuries or damage.  The last week of the fourth phase consisted of the OIT in a beat car by himself handling calls on his own.  The FTO rode in a separate patrol car, and he would "shadow" the OIT on calls.  From a distance, the FTO would confirm that the OIT was able to handle calls on a solo status in a proficient manner. 

Realizing that all people learn at different rates, the Mesa FTO Unit has modified their program to stress requirements and proficiency vs. a rigid timeline.  When an OIT completes the phase requirements and is proficient at those requirements, he moves to the next phase.  What were Phase Change Meetings at six, eleven, and sixteen weeks are now FTO Change Meetings.  Even if the OIT completes a phase early, the OIT will stay with the same FTO until the next FTO Change Meeting.  If an OIT completes the fourth phase and is ready to go solo, the OIT is assigned to a patrol car to work a beat, but the sergeant still completes the Sergeant's Weekly Evaluation on the OIT through week sixteen of the FTO Program.  In this way, the Department has an Officer on the street for staffing purposes, but the FTO Unit still has jurisdiction over the OIT if training issues arise. 

The following diagram graphically depicts that OITs were able to function as solo officers and fill manpower needs prior to the standard 19 week FTO Program.  The green on the graph indicates that 6 of 7 OITs in the Superstition District went solo ahead of schedule.  The one OIT that did not finish early did finish on schedule.

Proficiency Program - OIT Advancement
Superstition Patrol District

Notes on Phase IV:

The two man car relieves Dispatch of assigning back up units, thereby saving manpower. 

The Shadow Car Phase allows OITs to perform as a beat unit on their own; the FTO "shadows" the OIT in another car and is on no call status.  The FTO is allowed to act as a backup unit, take on view cases, and volunteer for calls, thereby increasing manpower. 

OITs in Solo Status act as a beat car without an FTO, thereby releasing the FTO to also cover a beat, increasing manpower.

Even though an OIT may be released to solo status, completed the FTO Program, and counts in minimum staffing figures, technically he remains in the program through week 19 and graduates with the rest of his class.  The OIT's patrol sergeant still completes SWRs on the OIT through week 16.  This is done to ensure that the OIT is ready to be released on solo status.  If issues come up with an OIT, he can again be placed with an FTO to address those issues.  Once an OIT is out of the FTO Program, it is difficult to bring him back into the program.  By having the OITs that achieve solo status early remain in the program, the FTO Unit can easily address any issues that arise.