Inglewood PD?

[R1pilot]

Anyone? Anybody have anything good/bad to say? Aside from the low pay (which I'm not really concerned about) what is the skinny on this department?

[DOAcop38]

Anyone? Anybody have anything good/bad to say? Aside from the low pay (which I'm not really concerned about) what is the skinny on this department?

In all honesty -"I" PD, aka "the wood" has some damn good coppers!!! Pay is on the low end as they haven't had a DECENT raise in 10 yrs ( they used to pay MORE than my Dept and even LAPD).Lots of activity and the community and economy is coming around due to investments in newer housing and shopping areas and the destruction of the "bottoms"-worst gang infested neighborhood in L.A.county other than Watts and San pedro/wilmington area.Imagine a Compton,circa the late '60s- somewhat healthy economy,better educated minority community,lots of home owners,but a nagging crime problem due to the influx of poorer citizens and juvenile delinquency problems. current salary is $4100 /mo to $5200/mo ( recruits make $3,000/mo in the academy) but IPD mgm't will give them -supposedly- a 25% raise starting in 2008.Expect IPD to pay in the mid $50Ks to high $70s soon.This doesn't effect the longevity bonuses of 3% @ 7,14,21 yr intervals.Once in a while there are "rumors" that LASD will take over Inglewood- doubtful like it is for Neighboring Hawthorne and Gardena PDs- but If you are interested in joining them ,you'll find a fast paced organization ,with hard nosed street policing,plus the opportunity to work gangs, dets,motors,etc in a very short time ,if you are motivated.Alot of Airport cops have classmates from Inglewood PD,and our current public safety Director-James butts Jr, started his career climb there http://www.cityofinglewood.org

Don't pick IPD if you think its an "easy" Dept to get on- they're FTO program is hard and expects output.The citizens are very "locals only",and expect SERVICE-you'll be policing a population of 120,000(swells to 200,000 daily) within 11 sq miles ,and working a Dept that has 220 Officers with at least opening for (20)+ new officers( this is not counting the need to fill at least 10 -15 retirement and lateral/resignation positions per yer.currently there is a "sex" scandal going on over there as several special enforcement officers have been accused of inappropriate actions with prostitutes-Century Blvd is a large drag that runs thru Inglewood all the way to LAX and is notorious for high levels of prostitution(from crackheads and dragqueens to "imported" hookers from NYC,Las Vegas and the "higher" end sunset blvd "divine brown" and "superhead" types)good luck on your choice...

[R1pilot]

Thank you, Sir. Exactly the type of infomation I was looking for.

[R1pilot]

"Don't pick IPD if you think its an "easy" Dept to get on- they're FTO program is hard and expects output."


-I don't think there are ANY departments that are easy to get on. I haven't been at this for very long, but I have learned that you need to be moderately squared away to even get looked at as a potential hire. Nothing worth having comes easy, and if hard work in the academy and in the FTO program will make things better for me in the future, then by all means, bring it on.

[DOAcop38]

"Don't pick IPD if you think its an "easy" Dept to get on- they're FTO program is hard and expects output."


-I don't think there are ANY departments that are easy to get on. I haven't been at this for very long, but I have learned that you need to be moderately squared away to even get looked at as a potential hire. .

Good that you "SEE" this. I was at **** academy today and was sadly shocked( as well as alot of admin.personnel and senior **** officers) to see the "round",tired, flabby,bubble butted,and chunky creatures that the city is hiring as "Recruit" officers-and we're not even talking about the geriatric "Rocky XIV" group of recruits-"yo' ,adrianne,get my walker,I'ma' trainin' fo' duh police ".Is it me ,or is this a problem everywhere????? the sorry playstation,"my way/my space" generation is in full effect- saw everything from shirkers( people YOU KNOW could have put out harder on the runs) to down right jenny craig squad!!!( how the Hell did medical pass some of these people??).One of the Trng officers for the academy put it this way - " you are talking about a generation thats coming on the job that DOESN'T like to be told anything,think they have a RIGHT to everything,and don't care about traditions or institutions at all".Before you think that I'm cracking on a certain dept,I saw quite a few personnel there from my dept that the instructors knew "didn't have what it takes".A visitor (Sgt) from the #2 sized dept in the area heard us talking and came over and commented- "we're getting the same BATCH too"- pointing to a woman trying to run who was ,to put it politely, " seriously obese".That guy said that people should KNOW what they're getting into and be BETTER prepared.

Alot of us wax about how "tough" it was when we came on the job, and in reality ,it was- in a different way.Moral and social standards were different,and "physical policing" was thought necessary.But as i see it ,far too many are just looking at the steady "$57K to start" as another phys.instructor said.Before lunch though,I got to see the soon to be minted officers getting ready for a full uniformed street detail- this senoir class was neat ,trim and "Squared away" in their class "A" uniforms and created that air about them that said "I'm a new cop,and I'm ready".One of the instrcutors came by and pointed to them ,saying -"there aren't alot of them,but we've worked miracles with what we had and they gave back too".unfortunately,he said but from whats been coming down the pipeline,in terms of recruits, classes like the senoir are becoming harder to create, and ultimately the citizens of the community are going to suffer from the poor quality.

A bit of advice -no matter what dept you applicants may choose-

1) Know and understand the "culture"and history of that dept you want to hire onto ( do not think you are morally superior,or that they are "lucky toget you") you will be expected to uphold those traditions.

2) come prepared. Be in shape physically ! Do not think of the academy time as some sort of 6-7 month "fat camp" designed to only make a "slimmer you"- you take away from the tac staff and DIs time that could be used to develop a harder working ,but struggling recruit. Once you start applying ,you start exercising.The avg male btwn the ages of 21-28 SHOULD be able to run a mile in at least 7 min.( I watched supposedly in shape recruits running way in the back of the group with fatter ones,yet miraculously had the POWER to sprint more than 100meters toward the end of their 2 mile run-hmmmm-maybe those extra wrapped up knees, and heating pads on the backs have emergency super support"-doubt it)

3) leave the "drama"- Saw a recruit,2 months in that may have been mentally unstable-Staff was escorting to the academy office to have a Psych or someone talk to him.You are there to be broken down from your old "I'm an individual" self to part of a team.no one is "out to get you" ,or racist,or sexist,or any kind of "ist" that doesn't fit your politically correct opinion(especially when the pressures on)-you came for the job ,the job didn't come for you,so suck it up.Also- baby daddy/momma,wifey,girlfriend,beau,etc issues are left at the gates of the academy and DO NOT come in- be an adult,police officers have to sacrifice(sometimes with their lives.) This job- no matter what dept or area ,is NOT for everyone.

4) be respectful of the trng staff- they are NOT "bullies",they are there to transition you into a way of life that is harsh.If you can't take yelling to encourage you,you'll definitely be in tears when the "class of skid row" "TALKS" to you.

5) live it ,breathe it ,dream it- the first (5) yrs of your career should be focussed on all things JOB.Stop buying into those glossy ads that tell you that you can do 3 guzzilion different duties when you join,and show officers skiing or riding seadoos on weekends.the reality? you'll be in a smelly patrol car with bad brakes and 140K(if you're lucky) on the odometer driving around at 3 am in the mornining ,and peeking down dirty alleys for the next felon who will kick,spit on or try to stab you.Very little time the next day to have that ideal rest near the local lake or beach,especially when you have to be in court all morning and will get only 3 hrs sleep for the next patrol watch.


well enough of my "grousing" to you all-good luck to those who want the job, no matter what agency you apply for.


As for the orginal post-I'll try and contact someone I know at Inglewood PD to come up and post here.....

[Berlioz]

That was probably our class you saw running...Yes there are a lot of bubble-butts. But there is a good amount of squared away recruits in my class too. For what its worth, it was our 3rd day out there in the academy and our 1st PT session so give us a few weeks to before you pass judgement and a week or so to weed out the bad seeds.

[SomeRandomDude]

Wow...I've never been more frightened to apply. I'll be 23 next month and will be getting out of the Marine Corps in 6 months. I feel like this country is in the latter stages of its self-destruction, but after talking to my father who is getting ready to retire from his department, he tells me that people have been saying that sort of things when he thought about applying 30 years ago. I don't know, I try to shake the cynical attitude with regard to people my age. Especially after coming back from Iraq and seeing young people genuinely concerned with absolute BS and complaining about how this fascist government is out to get them, one DUI at a time. I just hope that I can still retire from a job that I love and have my family still dig me. My dad instilled that desire in me and I've been lucky to meet colleagues of the same mindset. Not everyone under 30 is a fat myspace addict.

[R1pilot]

LOL, don't let DOA scare you. He's old school and he's not one to mince words. He tells it like he sees it.

[DOAcop38]

And I'm definitely NOT trying to scare anyone.Just attended a UOF /tactical communications in service class with LASD-the survival "mindset" is the most important part of the job,coupled with being in shape and mentally foccused ALL the time,while on duty.You sound focussed R1,so pls post your status ,like "Berlioz" did in your processing for IPD(BTW ,latest news is that IPD is currently looking at filling 45 openings,due to retirements,promotions,tranfers and basic growth needs)

[DOAcop38]

....... I don't know, I try to shake the cynical attitude with regard to people my age. Especially after coming back from Iraq and seeing young people genuinely concerned with absolute BS and complaining about how this fascist government is out to get them..... Not everyone under 30 is a fat myspace addict.


I know that also,and thank GOD for alot of younger ( and even older) applicants like you .You'll do fine,just remember to apply for those agencies i listed in the PM to you...............

[Ranger Hoot]

I had a couple IPD guys go through academy with me; great guys too. If they are a good representation of the dept., then IMHO (no firsthand experience with the dept.), IPD as a whole is good to go. Tough breaks with the news of late, but I know they will continue to do great things.