CA Law Enforcement Agencies

[FortLoddy]

Hey everyone...


Thanks for your time, I really appreciate it :D

[mdrdep]

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. Our boss is big on higher education and we got loads of opportunities be it by land, sea, or air...........

[Stugotz]

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. Our boss is big on higher education and we got loads of opportunities be it by land, sea, or air...........

I'll second that. I have a masters degree and I'm currently in the Deputy Sheriff process with LASD. Having the degree has helped. It's favorably acknowledged in the oral/backgrounds phases. And if nothing else, having a degree shows you're goal-oriented and motivated. LASD has gotten more selective in hiring this year (tighter budget/fewer spots). I'm still in the running and I'd bet it's in part due to that credential.

Hey everyone...

Just wanted to get some information. I'm 23, no Background issues, a B.S. in Criminal Justice and will have my Master's at the end of this year. I'm in Florida and would really like to relocate to California. I think it's a pretty diverse state with lots to offer!

My question is...what departments in those areas mentioned above are hiring and worth giving a shot??? I have no previous sworn law enforcement experience....but 5 years of civilian work with a small P.D. Where will having a post high school education help? :D

Check out the sheriff's department website to get an idea of the opportunities, do a ride-along, attend an informational seminar at the academy, and ask questions here! You can also call (800) A-DEPUTY for recruitment info. Also check out the monsterous "L.A.S.D hiring process" thread in the main LE employment forum here. :)

[CHP Medic]

If you go with CHP it might take a little while to get to Fresno, although Coalinga, Merced and Porterville are fairly close and have been taking cadets lately. Plus with the lower cost of living here you can make a pretty nice living on our salary.

[IMachU]

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. Our boss is big on higher education and we got loads of opportunities be it by land, sea, or air...........

^^^What he said^^^

[FortLoddy]

Also check out the monsterous "L.A.S.D hiring process" thread in the main LE employment forum here. :)


Thanks for that info. What's the average time one has to spend in the Jail before going out on the road?

[Kieth M.]

Sure, you can join the LASD and spend your first five-to-eight years of service in a jail facility, where you'll do more time than the inmates. The smell shouldn't bother you for too long. Eventually the receptors in your nostrils will convince you that just about evrything else in the world smells like inmate B.O.

Yes, there's the CHP, where if/when you promote you get little say as to where you want to work...hey, maybe the Bay area where you won't be able to afford the live in anything resembling a human dwelling, or there's lovely Dagget, Weed, Kramer Junction, Baker, or picturesque Zyzzx to ply your craft!

Or, dang it, you just might consider joining LAPD where you hit the streets the week after you graduate the academy, and by the time you have eight years on the job, you'll be an FTO, or other special assignment and ready to test for sergeant or detective. Yeah, a tough choice, indeed!

[LA DEP]

Sure, you can join the LASD and spend your first five-to-eight years of service in a jail facility, where you'll do more time than the inmates. The smell shouldn't bother you for too long. Eventually the receptors in your nostrils will convince you that just about evrything else in the world smells like inmate B.O.

Yes, there's the CHP, where if/when you promote you get little say as to where you want to work...hey, maybe the Bay area where you won't be able to afford the live in anything resembling a human dwelling, or there's lovely Dagget, Weed, Kramer Junction, Baker, or picturesque Zyzzx to ply your craft!

Or, dang it, you just might consider joining LAPD where you hit the streets the week after you graduate the academy, and by the time you have eight years on the job, you'll be an FTO, or other special assignment and ready to test for sergeant or detective. Yeah, a tough choice, indeed!

Average custody time is (at the moment) around 2-3 years....less for many stations......they are getting away from even ALLOWING you to extend more than one year.....

LAPD does have good places to move to.....plus, a Chief that is a pure political animal who has never served one day in a radio car, and will throw his troops under the bus at the slightest provocation......:D

But, I would choose LAPD anytime over CHP.....:D

[Kieth M.]

Average custody time is (at the moment) around 2-3 years....less for many stations......they are getting away from even ALLOWING you to extend more than one year.....

LAPD does have good places to move to.....plus, a Chief that is a pure political animal who has never served one day in a radio car, and will throw his troops under the bus at the slightest provocation......:D

No. 1 - I'm glad to hear the custody time is going down. That's great.

No. 2 - Every time someone in LAPD complains about Bratton, I have to ask point-blank, would they want Bernie Parks back? But hey, he's running for County supervisor, he should do well there in that posititon for increasing the morale of my LASD brothers and sisters!:rolleyes:

[FortLoddy]

Sure, you can join the LASD and spend your first five-to-eight years of service in a jail facility, where you'll do more time than the inmates. The smell shouldn't bother you for too long. Eventually the receptors in your nostrils will convince you that just about evrything else in the world smells like inmate B.O.

I hear ya!

Thanks again guys (and gals) :)

[Long Gun]

Sacramento SD is one you should consider. I know, it isn't LA and it isn't on the coast. But it is a large SD with many of the opportunities you find in LA. You are a quick drive from the coast, Bay Area, Reno and the Sierras. In LA, you are on the coast, but drive east and it is dry.;)

Sac has motors, air division, and many other things to do. Sac used to keep you in jail as long as LASD, but it has been cut down to an average of 2 or less years. They have their own academy like LAPD and LASD. Pay is great and life is cheaper in northern California. You can commute north for cheaper housing. Commuting to LA will not get you the same ratio of commute vs. cheap housing.

No, I don't work there, but I have friends who do. I work for a tiny SO.

[mdrdep]

No. 1 - I'm glad to hear the custody time is going down. That's great.

No. 2 - Every time someone in LAPD complains about Bratton, I have to ask point-blank, would they want Bernie Parks back? But hey, he's running for County supervisor, he should do well there in that posititon for increasing the morale of my LASD brothers and sisters!:rolleyes:


My current trainee did under 3 years and that's really low for this station traditionally.

As for Parks vs. Bratton, yes Bratton is an improvement. As for Parks being on the BOS, well that's the nice thing about being on the Sheriff's Dept. we're not a Police Dept. with a chief that his beholden to elected officials. Our boss is the Sheriff, an elected official, it's his Dept. The BOS just pays the bills, they have no say over how he actually runs the Dept. and they do like running to him for endorsements because of his political clout.

[Stugotz]

FortLoddy - In case you look into LASD in the future... Word is that nearly all Deps in a recent class were sent to Courts, not Jails. Not as exciting as patrol, but you get a regular work schedule and weekends/holidays off; also proves you don't necessarily go straight to Jails. We've also heard it's possible for Deps to get out of Custody sooner than 2 years...just depends what station you put in for. High Desert stations have a shorter list than, say, West Hollywood. Food for thought :)

[mahalom3]

You can also check Riverside Sheriff's. They are looking to hire a lot of people.

mahalo!!

[CalPolyGrad]

Or, dang it, you just might consider joining LAPD where you hit the streets the week after you graduate the academy, and by the time you have eight years on the job, you'll be an FTO, or other special assignment and ready to test for sergeant or detective. Yeah, a tough choice, indeed!

That's why i applied for LAPD.

[FortLoddy]

I've been checking out the web sites to major departments.

[Stugotz]

So I've been checking out the web sites to major departments in Southern CA and it seems a lot of them offer compressed testing for out-of-state applicants which is great.

My question...I've previously taken a POST written exam (February 2008) with the CHP and passed. Will that test/score be good for most deparments out there??

Thanks :)

I've seen a handful of PDs accept scores from previously passed POST exams (I think it's called a T-score; check CA POST). But a lot of agencies use their own test and in those cases a previous POST score won't help. The various City of L.A. police departments (LAPD, LAX, Port, General Services PD) use an essay based exam, for example.

[pkagel]

LOL, Zyzzx, what a wonderful area, LOL!!
http://www.emediawire.com/prfiles/2006/10/01/0000445253/dvdboxtilt.png

SoCal has a lot of great departments. Go do some ride alongs with various departments like Santa Ana, Anaheim, LASD, LAPD and figure out where you fit in. While your waiting have a look at my academy notes. The link is in my sig line.

or picturesque Zyzzx to ply your craft!!

[Garbage Man]

Theres almost too many options to choose from with that general information. What do you want to do? I think you shoudl generally avoid a smaller PD but dont just write off the mid size places. Fresno PD might be a good place, I have no idea. I hear Folsom is the highest paid in the area. Citrus Heights and Elk Grove just started PD's Ihear Elk Grove has growth potentil which is always nice since expansion gives you seniority fast.

In the LA area, I'd say Glendale, Torrance, (Though I hear they dont like their current chief) Santa Monica (Good PD political city) Whittier, Downey, Long Beach PD was messed up when I worked for the city 15 years ago but I am told its gotten way beter.

In OC Huntington Beach, Anaheim Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove are all OK. Irvi is huge on degres so is OC Sheriffs.

In SD, I love the city but the PD I hear is in bad shape, low pay and broken promises to rectify it. I would look at al the agencies in the same county first. Oceanside Ect.

With more specific requirments I could help you better.

High Crime/ Low Crime?

Large/ small?

wheather? Hot/ Cold

ethnic preferences? Language skills?

[FortLoddy]

Theres almost too many options to choose from with that general information. What do you want to do? I think you shoudl generally avoid a smaller PD but dont just write off the mid size places. Fresno PD might be a good place, I have no idea. I hear Folsom is the highest paid in the area. Citrus Heights and Elk Grove just started PD's Ihear Elk Grove has growth potentil which is always nice since expansion gives you seniority fast.

In the LA area, I'd say Glendale, Torrance, (Though I hear they dont like their current chief) Santa Monica (Good PD political city) Whittier, Downey, Long Beach PD was messed up when I worked for the city 15 years ago but I am told its gotten way beter.

In OC Huntington Beach, Anaheim Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove are all OK. Irvi is huge on degres so is OC Sheriffs.

In SD, I love the city but the PD I hear is in bad shape, low pay and broken promises to rectify it. I would look at al the agencies in the same county first. Oceanside Ect.

With more specific requirments I could help you better.

High Crime/ Low Crime?

Large/ small?

wheather? Hot/ Cold

ethnic preferences? Language skills?


Hey thanks for the info.

[LA DEP]

No. 1 - I'm glad to hear the custody time is going down. That's great.

No. 2 - Every time someone in LAPD complains about Bratton, I have to ask point-blank, would they want Bernie Parks back? But hey, he's running for County supervisor, he should do well there in that posititon for increasing the morale of my LASD brothers and sisters!:rolleyes:

I have heard more than a few line guys saying that Bratton is disliked AS MUCH AS Parks was......but, this was right after the May Day fiasco.....

As far as Parks going to the BOS, it will be a wash....we are only exchanging one knucklehead for a different one......:cool:

[Kieth M.]

What struck a chord with me is how Bratton (LAPD Chief) demoted a DEPUTY CHIEF after the May Day incident last year.

Can you imagine spending your entire career with the LAPD, making it to Deputy Chief, and then having some guy from Boston deal you a career-ending blow?

Did you read the report about last May 1st? You may wish to read the part about how a suspect pushes a motor cop off his motor, injuring him. After ID'ing the suspect, a lieutenant and a group of coppers go for the suspect. They grab him only to have the Dep Chief arrive on scene and say, "I just spoke to the motor officer, you don't have the right guy - let him go, now!" The LT does as he's told and returns to the downed motorcop, who says, "You had him, why'd you let him go?" The LT tells the motorcop about the DCP saying that the motorcop eliminated the suspect they had in-custody. The motorcop says the conversation never happened.

You know, that DCP treated me pretty well, and was a "nice guy", but IMO he was trying to keep the events from somehow "getting worse" if the police had the audacity to arrest suspects who assault the police. That's kissing the a-- of the protestors, if you want my .02. I humbly suggest you read the report. Last time I looked, it was available on both the LAPPL and the LAPDonline websites.

And I need to add...for years, we've watched sergeants, lieutenants, and a captain get demoted for screwing up. It was a fact of life for us and of course, we grumbled, and asked "Why doesn't the brass ever get demoted?" So far, an assistant and two DCP's have been demoted...normally, shouldn't the street coppers be a little happy about that? That justice is going up the chain of command?

The better part about Bernie Parks not being in charge of LAPD is that all of his mindless minions, sniffling sycophants, and brown nosing-clones followed him out the door. Trust me, in the years that followed, in the midst of a crisis, no one asked, "Gosh, what would Chiefs JID, MM, PY, DG, MB, et al, would have done?" about anything new we were confronted with.

[Kieth M.]

Okay, I'm calm. First, we're hijacking the OP's thread about CA agencies and I apologize for that. It was the "throwing a DCP under the bus" that brought me into this further.

Second, I'm failing to see where my (from memory) dramatization, adding dialogue, has said anything really all that radically different from the department's report. It still looks to me like the DCP let an AH go, on the grounds of political correctness/expediency.

And how do you stand on the question of BCP and/or all his minions remaining at the helm...you want all of them back?

[FortLoddy]

LAPD . . . .

:cool: