Each day, officers of the Blue Springs Police Department patrol communities throughout the City with a focus on protecting people and property. Prior to patrol duty, officers partner with a Field Training Officer (FTO)—a police officer who prepares them for solo duty through hands-on training. For our officers, this includes an average of 12-18 weeks of training with three to four weeks with each FTO. The aim is to prepare trainees to act as support for other officers, including those outside of the Blue Springs police force. Field officer duties often range from responding to calls for help to investigating minor crimes but patrol is the officer’s main role during their shifts, giving them the opportunity to develop relationships with residents and business owners. “It takes a partnership,” says Blue Springs Police Officer Dannie Stewart, a member of the force since 2007. “We have to work together to make things better.”