Considering a Career in Law Enforcement

[MBurrows]

Hello, just got on the forums and validate so hey everyone,

anyways this looks like a good place to inquire about careers in law enforcement, i currently live around San Gabriel (LA County, SoCal) and at the moment i am going to independent studies so that i can work as much as i can and in June i will be taking the CHSPE, i am 16. Following this i plan to go to a local community college and get my associates degree. i should be just over 18 by the time i get my degree and i just have a couple questions about before and after that:

1. Are there any jobs currently that i could currently get that would improve my chances of getting in a law enforcement agency? E.g at the local police station or otherwise (i currently plan on joining CHP), something that would be on my resume and would make a law enforcement agency say something like "Hey, this guy here worked for the local police station when he was 16, he probably has more experience then average joe over there"

2. I should be 18 when i get my associates, now either i would look for a law enforcement to join at 18 or continue with school and try to get a bachelors, are there any agencies that hire at 18? CHP says 20, is this just what they prefer or is it required to be 20 and i have zero chance at 18?

3. What do you believe would be the best agency to try and join? I would prefer to join a agency that is decently funded and not having officers with "hand-me-down" type gear

4. What would you recommend i get my associates in, like what kinda classes, i know there are many classes that relate to law enforcement, are there some that are better then others?

5. any other advice you can give in regards to getting a successful career in law enforcement would be greatly appreciated, thanks

[LA DEP]

Check to see if your local agency has an Explorer program (Temple Station from LASD does as far as I know)....there are not any paid jobs out there in LE for a 16 year old, but the Explorer program would be a good start.

There is not an agency in CA that will hire you at 18 (as a sworn LEO...there are non-sworn jobs you can do at 18)....most require you to be at least 20-21 before you can even apply.

Check around with different agencies,,,look into what 'kind' of law enforcement you want to do....CHP handles mostly traffic related stuff.....they do have some specialty spots, but they are few, and I would imagine difficult to get

[SoKalCopKid]

ill second that Explorer program is awesome.

[MBurrows]

i tried searching around the web about the explorer's program but cant get much, what is it all about, exactly? (e.g what does it cover/teach, do you have to pay to be in it, etc.)

[ask80]

http://lasdreserve.org/explorer/index.html

other police agencies have explorers too. it's an excellent foot in the door. you'll have to go through a LASD explorer academy, where you'll learn a lot of police related stuff, report writing, radio codes, etc. you don't have to pay. you were a explorer uniform, do community service, go on ride alongs, meet lots of deputies, sgts, etc. i'd highly recommend it. also look for paid cadet, CSO, intern jobs. any of those jobs will look good esp if it's for the agency your interested in being a deputy/officer at. i'd recommend getting your bachelors in business, computers, language, etc and apply after your graduate at 22. i'd also recommend a large agency to apply with like LASD or LAPD. lots more opportunities and they won't be as selective as smaller agencies that higher only 3 or 4 officers per year.

most importantly stay out of trouble, say no to drugs, stay fit, etc.

[MBurrows]

alright, the explorer's program has definitely grabbed my interest, now, would the explorer's program still allow me to get a part time job (maybe full time)?


edit: is there anyone that comes to this forum work at Temple station by any chance?

[LA DEP]

The explorer program is a volunteer gig.....I THINK it is sponsered in part by the BSA......

Go down to Temple station and ask to talk with the explorer coordinator....the station is west of Rosemead, on Las Tunas....

[avalon42]

Here's a link for the station...good luck!

http://www.lasd.org/stations/for1/temple/index.html

[MBurrows]

The explorer program is a volunteer gig.....I THINK it is sponsered in part by the BSA......

Go down to Temple station and ask to talk with the explorer coordinator....the station is west of Rosemead, on Las Tunas....

yeah, i might walk down there tomorrow, it is pretty much right down the street from me

[WhiteWolf]

I used to be an LASD explorer about 6 years ago. You actually have to go through a para-academy that lasts about 6 months. You will go every Saturday from about 6am until about 4 or 5pm and will learn much of what the real Deputies learn in the real academy. You'll have one Senior Drill Instructor who is a deputy, and your other D.I.s will be experienced explorers. Once you graduate, you will be able to go on ride alongs, work at the station, and sign up for as many events as you want. It's an outstanding program, and you'll undoubtedly have some great references when you apply for a department, and probably some letters of recommendation if you play your cards right. LAPD has an explorers program, and I believe the CHP does too if you're interested in them! Many departments do come to think of it, just take your pick and give them a call and see if they have a program.

As far as what to do between 18 and 20... You could join the military reserves as a Military Police Officer which is what I did although I wouldn't really recommend it at this point in time unless you don't mind getting deployed because you almost certainly will go to Iraq, you could become a Law Enforcement Technician for the LASD which includes dispatching, and many other support functions for the department, you could consider becoming a Park Ranger for the city or the county, you could become a Lifeguard, being an EMT would be very helpful. I think those are some good things to consider. Good Luck buddy.

[WhiteWolf]

Oh ya, and I definitely recommend getting your bachelors before you join the department, and think about taking some Spanish classes at school. It would behoove you to get fluent in it in the next 5 years. Both for extra pay, and the benefit of being able to communicate with 99% of the people you'll be dealing with.

[MBurrows]

the explorer's program does certainly grab my interest, the only problem with it would be that every other saturday i have Airsoft, im currently doing a thing called Airsoft Academy that one of the airsoft teams is hosting where they teach you all about the sport, good sportsmanship, respect, honor, tactics to use, etc. but ill still look into the thing

[LA DEP]

Oh ya, and I definitely recommend getting your bachelors before you join the department, and think about taking some Spanish classes at school. It would behoove you to get fluent in it in the next 5 years. Both for extra pay, and the benefit of being able to communicate with 99% of the people you'll be dealing with.

Dont learn it for the pay........just because you can speak/read/write the language, doenst mean we are going to pay you bilingual pay....it depends on alot of factors, including if that particular station NEEDS that language or not......

I'll reserve comment on the other point.....:cool:

[rangesgt]

Explorer positions are mostly for kids in the jr high to high school age group. I'd recommend a cadet position. At my dept (and all others nearby me that I know of) this is a part time paid position that is considered a step up from explorers. You are assigned to different sections in the department (evidence, DB, records, whatever) and learn hands-on by doing.

At my place (but not all) the job is designed for college students and cadets must turn in transcripts to prove their enrollment. Not all departments have cadet programs, you'll have to call around.

When we hire, we will look to cadets as possibilities but not explorers. Explorers are kids, cadets are young adults who are actively schooling and bettering themselves for the job.

[Enroute540]

The CHP has a great explorer program. But just a warning, being an explorer will give you little to no advantage when applying. It might even do more harm than good.

[MBurrows]

i have recently also looked into the pasadena police department, what do you guys think of the PPD, they all seem pretty cool, whenever im at the rose parade line they are always nice and such, and on top of that whenever i work at my grandma's little child care center on new years eve (her school serves cofee and soup and such at night, pancake breakfast in the morning, all free to law enforcement) i have some nice chats with them (LASD too)

so i would probably be applying for either PPD or LASD when i can and would also like to look into job opportunities with one of the departments before i become a sworn officer

any help with info on comparison of PPD and LASD (benefits, fellow officers attitudes and such, anything in general that you could compare) and pre-sworn job opportunities would be great

regards, and thanks

[Enroute540]

PPD has a cadet program. LASD will let you become a custody assistant at 17 1/2 years of age.

[barkalot]

+1 for getting a BA...I would suggest Business Administration or Public Administration since they are probably the preeminent degrees in police management.

[nobodyjr]

The CHP has a great explorer program. But just a warning, being an explorer will give you little to no advantage when applying. It might even do more harm than good.

It gave me a huge advantage with the CHP. The oral board didn't care much for my degree, but they actually seemed impressed with being an explorer for three years. I got a 95 (highest score). Even though I didn't go with the CHP in the end, it was a very competitive process when I applied, and I think the CHP explorer experience was what got my the academy packet in the end.

[Enroute540]

It gave me a huge advantage with the CHP. The oral board didn't care much for my degree, but they actually seemed impressed with being an explorer for three years. I got a 95 (highest score). Even though I didn't go with the CHP in the end, it was a very competitive process when I applied, and I think the CHP explorer experience was what got my the academy packet in the end.

one of my advisors talked crap about me to my LAPD BI (luckily it didnt stick because the officer that was talking was the same one that promoted me to sgt), three more explorers that were there for 6years and had rank all got DQd at or before the psych. Yea, personally i learned a ton from it and putting down that i was an explorer on any job application pretty much got me any job i wanted,but when it came down to it i think it hurt me more when it really counted.