Communication Skills Every FTO Should Teach

By Jon Rappa

Most officers graduate the academy with just enough training to survive a conversation — not enough to own it.

But in policing, communication isn’t a soft skill — it’s a tactical one.

Whether you’re on patrol, in investigations, or training the next generation of officers, here are five interviewing skills every cop needs to master — and why Field Training Officers (FTOs) should be teaching them from day one.

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1. Instant Rapport

First impressions shape cooperation. 

Teach this:

  • First-name introductions
  • Be approachable
  • A handshake or fist bump
  • Opening with empathy

“People tend to cooperate with those that they like.”

2. Non-Confrontational Interviewing

Aggression shuts people down. Effective interviews are based on calm, open-ended inquiry — not verbal wrestling matches.

Teach this:

  • Neutral tone and body language
  • Open-ended questions like: “Walk me through your day”
  • Avoiding accusations in favor of curiosity
  • Don’t cut them off-allow the full narrative

🔍 The goal of an interview isn’t confession. It’s the truth.

3. Connection

If you connect with someone, you can get them to move mountains. Engage in meaningful conversation.

Teach this:

  • Find intrinsic value (family, goals, fears)
  • Talk in terms of their interests
  • Find Commonality

🤝 Connection reduces resistance. Every minute you spend building rapport pays off in cooperation.

4. Empathetic Interviewing

Empathy isn’t weakness. It’s the strongest tool in your belt — especially when the stakes are highest.

Teach this:

  • Acknowledge emotion: “That must’ve been hard…”
  • Avoid judgment, even in serious crimes
  • Use personal stories to create commonality

💡 “You remind me of my brother…” can get you closer to the truth than a hundred accusations.

5. Avoiding False Confessions

The cost of a bad interview isn’t just losing a case — it’s ruining a life. Ethical, thoughtful tactics protect everyone.

Teach this:

  • No promises
  • No threats
  • Don’t lie about evidence

⚖️ A confession isn’t a win if it’s the wrong person.

Final Thought:

In today’s climate, officers need more than technical skill. They need emotional intelligence, psychological strategy, and communication mastery.

🎓 Extracting the Truth: Interview & Interrogation Training delivers real cases, real videos, and real results—trusted by patrol officers, investigators, and FTOs nationwide. 👉 https://extractingthetruth.com