L.A.S.D. Lateral transfer process

[WhiteWolf]

Hello all,

Let me start off by saying thanks to all the people who have posted here, and specifically thanks to all the sworn peace officers of this country, without you, who knows where we'd be. You all have my respect and admiration. I've been combing the forums for a few months now and I have gotten some terrific insight from sworn and non-sworn individuals alike, however I finally have a need to post a question. So here goes...

I'm considering going through the process with the University of California Police Department and working as a university cop while I go to college. After I graduate college in about 5 years or so I honestly think I'll be moving on to a different field and away from doing law enforcement full time. I would really love to join the reserve corps and volunteer my time to work a beat a few shifts a month. Can anyone tell me what the transition is from full time to reserve status on a different department? Do they require another full background, or is it expedited since you are already POST training and certified by the state? Apparently UCPD doesn't always require a polygraph for it's candidates, will I have to take one in order to get on the LASD reserves from UCPD? If so, is it the same polygraph for laterals as it is for recruits? Anything else I should know about this process in general? I can't imagine I'd have to do any additional training aside from orientation and transition training (i.e. MDT, codes, radio procedures, and some field training), and I believe I'd go straight to being a level 1 or maybe level 2 reserve because UCPD sends it's recruits through the LASD academy.

Thanks a million in advance ladies and gentlemen, you're the best :)

[syphon157]

Hello all,

Let me start off by saying thanks to all the people who have posted here, and specifically thanks to all the sworn peace officers of this country, without you, who knows where we'd be. You all have my respect and admiration. I've been combing the forums for a few months now and I have gotten some terrific insight from sworn and non-sworn individuals alike, however I finally have a need to post a question. So here goes...

I'm considering going through the process with the University of California Police Department and working as a university cop while I go to college. After I graduate college in about 5 years or so I honestly think I'll be moving on to a different field and away from doing law enforcement full time. I would really love to join the reserve corps and volunteer my time to work a beat a few shifts a month. Can anyone tell me what the transition is from full time to reserve status on a different department? Do they require another full background, or is it expedited since you are already POST training and certified by the state? Apparently UCPD doesn't always require a polygraph for it's candidates, will I have to take one in order to get on the LASD reserves from UCPD? If so, is it the same polygraph for laterals as it is for recruits? Anything else I should know about this process in general? I can't imagine I'd have to do any additional training aside from orientation and transition training (i.e. MDT, codes, radio procedures, and some field training), and I believe I'd go straight to being a level 1 or maybe level 2 reserve because UCPD sends it's recruits through the LASD academy.

Thanks a million in advance ladies and gentlemen, you're the best :)

LASD reserves require the poly. Personally, I would either finish school then do LE, or do LE and school after you are on. Being an LEO is more of a full time job than you realize. You might have a 10 hour shift and get a hot call 20 mins prior to getting off and being stuck for 6 hours past that. Not to mention the report writing that occurs after and court. Just my take on it.

As for your lateral question, if you have a basic POST cert. you can lateral to any agency except CHP. Some agencies frown on hiring laterals but not many. However, if you feel that you would not want to be in Law Enforcement after a period of time, why apply in the first place for a full time position. Being a cop is a career, not a job. You can do reserves for most agencies without any prior experience.

[WhiteWolf]

I do know they require a poly from scratch, I just didn't know if they did for laterals from another agency. I know being an LEO is a full time job, I can just take a semester off of college for the academy if I get offered a job. UCPD luckily has 3/12 shifts, so 4 days off a week is plenty of time for school and studying, also as far as having to spend 6 hours past my shift time ending, I doubt I'd have to deal with that very often at a campus setting, not too many hot calls happen at university campuses, I've seen the crime stats. God forbid we have to deal with an active shooter. I know I could just go right to the reserves if I wanted to, but I have several reasons for wanting to join the UCPD, that's why I'm considering it. Thanks for the reply...

[MrBug708]

I'm not sure you'll be able to work as a UCPD officer as well as going to college at the same location...

[WhiteWolf]

Oh ya, no doubt I will. The school offers a 2/3 tuition discount for officers pursuing their undergrad at the school :). One of my many reasons for wanting to join.

[ask80]

lateral process for LASD reserve is quicker with a lot of steps cut out. i was one of them. all i did was background, med,psych. that's it. it might be different now. i know most reserves that had to do polygraphs and your background investigation is gonna be the same even if you're a lateral. HOWEVER, you might be sent back to the reserve academy to learn the Sheriffs way of doing things. I had to do use of force, defensive tactics, shooting, evoc, mdt training to get updated with the policies. so be prepared to take a lot of time off work. you will already be expected to know the radio codes, state codes, and more before you start training. LASD doesn't teach you that. you get a small book and you start memorizing on your own. field training for a level 1 will take about a year to year and half. you will go through a full field training process. as a level 1 you won't be granted a CCW until you finished your patrol training (minimum 400 hours+200 additional hours, even if you're a lateral). i'm pretty sure you're field training won't be shortened because you're a UC cop. no disrespect but you won't have much experience at a university, besides dealing with drunks and giving bicyclist tickets.

[WhiteWolf]

Thanks, that's a bit more of what I was looking for. The thing is, as a UC cop we go through the academy with the LASD recruits at either COC or at Stars, so we get the same training as LASD and we do learn their way. I know the experience as far as homicides, rapes, and certain other part 1 crimes won't be huge, but you'd be surprised at the number of robberies, burglaries, and grand thefts that happen on a campus of more then 70k people. I have a hard time believing that after going through the 18 week full time academy, that they'd want me to repeat the reserve academy though. Thanks again.

[Stugotz]

After I graduate college in about 5 years or so I honestly think I'll be moving on to a different field and away from doing law enforcement full time.

Just curious, why leave full-time police work after only 5 years? Why not make it your career if you plan to start full-time sworn?

There's no snottiness implied in my question, just curious... :)

[Socal-Cop]

I think doing the campus police is smart if you're young and haven't done your schooling yet .. You will probably find that after 5 years, you won't want to change your career

[WhiteWolf]

Stugotz, that's a good question no doubt, and thanks Socal. The reasons why I'm not doing career law enforcement is basically 1) politics 2) politics 3) politics. I grew up wanting to be an LAPD officer with all my heart. My choices for college, major, volunteer work, and becoming an MP all bared in mind the dream of becoming a police officer. I grew up fortunate enough to have known several Officers and Deputies, including a former Deputy Chief for LAPD, so needless to say, I have a great amount of first hand knowledge of the job, the good and the bad. As I got to around 20 years old, I started listening to all the officers that had told me that being on LAPD involved more BS then it was worth. i.e. Bernard Parks requiring a full investigation of an incident when any formal complaint was made against an officer. That was a big turn off. I mean, if an officer said the F word in front of someone, the next thing he knew, he or she was being put on a few days suspension pending investigation results. That really took me out of wanting to do full time police work, because I had my heart set on LAPD, and so I hadn't even considered joining any other department, and being young and everything, I just said forget it, and I had even dropped out of Long Beach State. So my dream was broken, and I spent a few years lost as to what I wanted to do. Then I wised up, and started community college full-time just last year. My ambitions changed, I want to go to UCLA, and then go right to get an MBA at an ivy league school. After I get it, I'll be able to get a great job just about anywhere I want. I always had this other dream of being an entrepreneur, being my own boss, owning my own places. At this point, I'm ready to follow that dream, but there's still a part of me that has a love of police work. So I figure, I might as well fulfill it while I can, and get the most benefit out of it while I can too. Then, when I'm done, wherever I'm living, I'll join the reserves. No fuss, no BS, just a few shifts a month of fun at the busiest station I can be at :), and that'll be that...

Sorry for the long winded response, it was just the only good explanation I could give that I knew you guys wouldn't give me a thousand reasons why I should want to be a cop for the next 30 years, hahahaha.

[DOAcop38]

lateral process for LASD reserve is quicker with a lot of steps cut out. i was one of them. all i did was background, med,psych. that's it. it might be different now. i know most reserves that had to do polygraphs and your background investigation is gonna be the same even if you're a lateral. HOWEVER, you might be sent back to the reserve academy to learn the Sheriffs way of doing things. I had to do use of force, defensive tactics, shooting, evoc, mdt training to get updated with the policies. so be prepared to take a lot of time off work. you will already be expected to know the radio codes, state codes, and more before you start training. LASD doesn't teach you that. you get a small book and you start memorizing on your own. field training for a level 1 will take about a year to year and half. you will go through a full field training process. as a level 1 you won't be granted a CCW until you finished your patrol training (minimum 400 hours+200 additional hours, even if you're a lateral). i'm pretty sure you're field training won't be shortened because you're a UC cop. no disrespect but you won't have much experience at a university, besides dealing with drunks and giving bicyclist tickets.

DEPENDS on "what " UC system school you refer to- UCLAPD handles 211s, Auto thefts ,rapes and ADWs in addition to those "routine" stolen bike and backpack theft invs.UC BerkeleyPD is smack dab ib the middle of Berkeley city itself and despite the "hippy culture" and yuppy image , Berkeley is a butthole city in terms of street thug crime and dope-now maybe UC san diego is "cruiseville"( had a younger officer from my Dept just transfer there for that REASON+ he likes the SD community and area) and UC Irvine PD literally sits around and counts fireflies at nite,but like alot of small city depts, the experience is varied .

I think that whitewolf is going about this all wrong- while its "nice" to get you education paid for - he's looking at it like "jobcorps". Honestly it would be easier to take out a student loan and just go straight to school,graduate,then find the CAREER he really wants. Reserves are hardworking people,but they donate their time as part of "giving something back " to the local community-otherwise they have LIVES and have to focus on that most of the time. Police officers that work the job full time- even "lowly" college and specialized PD coppers actually do "police work 101"- the 415s, the "prowler calls",ped stops,etc that their municipal/county counterparts do everyday also-something that requires FOCUS and dedication- it is simply a "waste" to go thru the avg of 18 to 30 mos it takes to process,train and barely be functional enough to be out and about on your own on patrol -all so that you can walk away from the full time gig in about 24 more mos !!! the UC system PDs pay an avg of $55K to $80K/yr,have 3%@50 PERs retirement,great medical benefits,and 830.2 PC status(state police officers).A former "boot" of mine works at UCLA and is himself an FTO/Sr lead officer-he clears $100K yr and ,despite the "Baby sitting " of drunk frat brats- he likes his job;in this fickle economy ,being so willing to toss away a solid paying job like a PD position doesn't make sense.

Whitewolf- if you want to "give back"- you can join the LASD reserves NOW then go to school -NO Chief is going to hire you just to pay for your education ,when he/she can get an officer who is dedicated to the job.

[ask80]

Thanks, that's a bit more of what I was looking for. The thing is, as a UC cop we go through the academy with the LASD recruits at either COC or at Stars, so we get the same training as LASD and we do learn their way. I know the experience as far as homicides, rapes, and certain other part 1 crimes won't be huge, but you'd be surprised at the number of robberies, burglaries, and grand thefts that happen on a campus of more then 70k people. I have a hard time believing that after going through the 18 week full time academy, that they'd want me to repeat the reserve academy though. Thanks again.

well i'm going by what you said previously not too many hot calls happen at university campuses, I've seen the crime stats.. a level 1 LASD reserve that wants to be a full time deputy would have to start the application process from scratch (written test,oral board, backgrounds, poly, etc) and have to go back to the 18 week academy even though they are POST certified. so you never know what they would want.

[WhiteWolf]

Well the only reason I'd toss away the job, is for the reasons I mentioned in the #10 post. I am dedicated to this job, just not full time for the rest of my life, and I don't want the politics involved because in truth, I'd really only like being at an LAPD size agency, where I could use my education to move up very quickly with frequent openings, and have an assortment of assignments to choose from with a lot of variety. I would toss away the job after graduating because I plan on attending Stanford, or Berkeley for a Masters in Business, and I could get myself a better paying job at 29 years old with that, then I ever could at 29 in the PD. Don't mistake me, I don't want to leave the PD just for the money, as my #10 post also says, my other dream is to be an entrepreneur, so the way I see it I'm just following my dreams and making the most of my life. In all honesty, I didn't post this question to get judged for what I want to do with my life. What I do, and my reasons for doing them is my business. I just want an honest answer about what I originally asked from somebody who knows the process either by experience, or because they are a member of a department and specifically dealing with what I asked.

And DOA, I can't join the reserves now, because unfortunately it would take too much time away from my working, and I have a lot of bills to pay at this moment, I'm 26k in debt from credit card and helicopter flight school loans. I need a job now, and UCPD offers something I want and need at this point. Otherwise, I'm hoping to get onto LASD as a law enforcement technician and then hopefully going to reserve status after I graduate. Either way, I need a full time, good paying job while I go to school. Right now I make 8-900 bucks a month working security 25 - 30 hours a week. I served 3 and a half years as an MP in the Army Reserve and I make 10.50 an hour because that's all I can find that allows me to continue attending school, but it's not nearly enough to get by. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Thanks...

[nobodyjr]

You are better off checking out non sworn support jobs for universities. They have the same tuition reimbursement, but dont require a 6 month academy and FTO-- which will set you a year back from school.


Or if you want to become a cop and then go to school- find an agency with 100% UC or CSU tuition reimbursement--- they are out there... it's a better deal then going to work for UC even.

Being a cop just because it pays good is not a great idea. It doesn't pay great, and it's a crummy stepping stone into other work.

I worked my way through college for two PD's, some as a dispatcher, some as a cop. It took 8 years. 2 and a half were taken on leave of absences because I was in training. I was able to go part time for two years. I probably had about a quarter of the cost reimbursed. But I made 20k more each year than I would have if I took a job at the CSU school I went too.

[DOAcop38]

..and "alonzo" thats whats killing this job now- people are looking into it MORE for a paycheck or a cushy desk job they can't find in private industry. Far too many are here for the weakest reasons and their performance shows in their outlook in the job.working in a "specialized"/distirct PD ,I see this "attitude" far too often- people join becuase they think its easier or less demanding than just going to a muni or county LE agency,that the benefits will get them to where they want to go,and typically they get all bummed out when they find out they have to meet the SAME demands and deal with the SAME politics- they often make the job HARDER for other officers who are INVESTING MORE into it ( worked with a guy who was more concerned about how soon he could use his dbl Bachelors to get into an admin job as he thought "uniforms" were where the dummies stayed- he left his partner hanging in a foot pursuit of a parolee with a gun near the 405 fwy/inglewood city border; that same "officer" later WALKED AWAY from the job after the city wouldn't give him 2nd 6 mo. leave of absence in less than 2 yrs !!).



Going to work for a UCPD is a priviledge just like working any other LE agency. IF a person knows thats NOT their ultimate goal-like I said earlier- why waste 2-4 yrs of gearing up for the job just to walk away? it will take up alot of time that could be BETTER used to go after that goal of an MBA- I know personally as the job to precedent over my continued education when I was 22.In the mean time my cousin completed his B.A. at CSULB ,then his MBA at USC ( thanks to a few $$$ from me!!!) He now works for a major power /energy company and makes easily TWICE what I do a yr,but then again I didn't get into this career to get rich. alot of people DO change their minds about an LE career,but I can say that in both my reserve academy classmates and my LAPD academy classmates,nearly 80% of the folks I trained with are still in LE in So.Calif- it is most assuredly NOT like the Military where most join with the intent to ONLY do their enlistment contract. Whitewolf would better be served charging full steam ahead into what he really wants- he can always get "settled" then join the reserves with LASD...

[WhiteWolf]

Thanks Alonzo! Nice to see someone understanding where I'm coming from and able to see another perspective aside from the "career, hard up cop" perspective. I really appreciate that, thanks for the encouragement.

As for the rest of these replies, for God sake I still haven't gotten anything even resembling an answer except from ask80. The only thing I've gotten here so far is judgment. Am I being judged for my choices to decide whether or not I'm worthy of help? Or do you just believe that I really would benefit from your judgme... echem wisdom?

[DOAcop38]

not bashing the proverbial "pony" to death,but -from my perspective- its seems you DON'T think that being a UCPD officer is worthwhile,except for the fact that they can pay for your education! Sorry, but its not jobcorps or Americorps ~ frankly its insulting to alot of officers I know who really invest themselves into the job.Almost every L.E. agency I know has some form of tuition reimbursement or educational incentive program,INCLUDING the legendary and hard charging LASD !! Putting in 5 yrs is barely enough time on the job,and as I said- you can ALWAYS join the "reserve program" in the future. "judgement" ??? In L.E. you will be judged daily,hourly ,and some of the judgement will seem down right unfair and harsh,so forgive me for digging into "why" you are making the decisions on a short term L.E. career-do what you want ,but it seems like a procrastination in terms of getting what you "truly" want,and -at worst- a condescending way to be in L.E. since I don't think you really consider being a UCPD officer as being at or near the level of other police officers,such as LAPD or LASD.........

[WhiteWolf]

DOA, it's not that I think of UCPD as being less than any other department. It's for personal reasons, as well as the benefit of having a 3/12 schedule, going immediately to patrol, good salary, good overtime opportunities, and the fact that I plan on going to the same school system that I plan on being a Police Officer. I think you misinterpreted my love of LAPD to mean that I really think less of UCPD. Do I think I could be UCPD for the rest of my life? Hell no, it'd be too boring for me. In an ideal world, I would be LAPD simply because of the size, diversity, advancement opportunities, and special assignments available to me there, but I've thoroughly explained why I don't want it to be my entire life anymore. Sorry my plans insult you and your career, it's not like I wrote this post to get to you, although, I expected it might upset or "insult" some. I just hoped that I could be respected as an adult to make my own choices and not judged based on some simple posts, without you or anyone else actually knowing a thing about me. You live in the same city as me DOA, maybe you and I should get together for coffee and you can see that I actually am a mature adult with my head screwed on straight, and that I do actually know a thing or too about where I'm going in life and why.

[CalPolyGrad]

That really took me out of wanting to do full time police work, because I had my heart set on LAPD, and so I hadn't even considered joining any other department, and being young and everything, I just said forget it, and I had even dropped out of Long Beach State.

Why didn't you just change your major to business? Maybe you could have already been at a top MBA school?

[WhiteWolf]

Because I was young, dumb, and full o' cum that's why ... I've learned a lot in the last 5 years.

[ask80]

hmm never heard that phrasing before . lol
young, dumb, and full o' cum

[IMachU]

Whoa....um.....well, whoa.

[ask80]

dude change the font size of your sig. it's annoying

[ownerop]

Anytime you lateral from one department to another you MUST go through the background process again, that is a post requirement, also when you go from Reserve status to full time status you MUST go through a background process again; this is also a POST requirement. The process is usually fast tracked and is not as long as the initial hiring process. You will not have to attend another academy since you will already have your basic post, you automatically go to level I status after completion of your field training.

[DOAcop38]

DOA, it's not that I think of UCPD as being less than any other department. It's for personal reasons, as well as the benefit of having a 3/12 schedule, going immediately to patrol, good salary, good overtime opportunities, and the fact that I plan on going to the same school system that I plan on being a Police Officer. I think you misinterpreted my love of LAPD to mean that I really think less of UCPD. Do I think I could be UCPD for the rest of my life? Hell no, it'd be too boring for me. In an ideal world, I would be LAPD simply because of the size, diversity, advancement opportunities, and special assignments available to me there, but I've thoroughly explained why I don't want it to be my entire life anymore. Sorry my plans insult you and your career, it's not like I wrote this post to get to you, although, I expected it might upset or "insult" some. I just hoped that I could be respected as an adult to make my own choices and not judged based on some simple posts, without you or anyone else actually knowing a thing about me. You live in the same city as me DOA, maybe you and I should get together for coffee and you can see that I actually am a mature adult with my head screwed on straight, and that I do actually know a thing or too about where I'm going in life and why.

Not insulted at all- I just think that you might be getting distracted from what you truly want!remember-5 yrs is alot of time when considering what yuo can do with it ,especialy when you can gain a Masters degree in an avg of 2-3 yrs !the time you put into the LE career will exhaust alot of your personal life in the first 3-5 yrs . PM me if you have any ideas or need to brain pick on some issues,,,,,,