RSO: got my assignment

[davjon14]

I am headed to the courts down town riverside! Not my first nor second choice. The tac staff have been instilling this since the academy started that those that did very in the prospective areas; ld tests: #14 out of 83, scenarios: 95% average, shooting: 8th highest. Why would they send me here when it was my 3rd choice and send out some recruits that are a lot lower on the list?
Within the dept. how is working in the courts perceived, what are the pros versus the cons? Any insight would be helpful.

[Berlioz]

I am headed to the courts down town riverside! Not my first nor second choice. The tac staff have been instilling this since the academy started that those that did very in the prospective areas; ld tests: #14 out of 83, scenarios: 95% average, shooting: 8th highest. Why would they send me here when it was my 3rd choice and send out some recruits that are a lot lower on the list?
Within the dept. how is working in the courts perceived, what are the pros versus the cons? Any insight would be helpful.

Well, dont know much, but should get nights, weekends, & holidays off, which is nice.:)

[Retired96]

You can learn alot working in the courts that will help you later in your career. You will learn alot about the court system, officers testifying, questioning by the attorneys.

Take advantage of the time you spend there and enjoy your weekends and holidays off, for when you go to patrol they will be few and far between.

[1tyme]

I understand that you want to be a Patrol Dawg but think long term, you have twenty plus years to prove your worth...You can take these next three years to spend quality time with your loved ones, establish a high level of physical fitness, see first-hand how different criminal cases are handled, see first-hand how officers and detectives testify to the elements and opinions of crimes. When you hit the streets all of these aforementioned items will be seriously challenged. Good luck!

[1oldsarge]

I spent 5 years in courts. You'll have a great advantage with report writing, paperwork, etc. as you'll see the officers get chewed up on the stand when they don't get things right. I hear you'll be there less than a year before hitting the road, try to get some ride-alongs in a couple of months before your patrol date just to get your feet wet.
Week-ends and holidays, enjoy them. It will be many, many years before you see 'em again.

[Stugotz]

Congrats on your first assignment!!!

Great thread because I now know some long-term benefits of working LASD Court Services. I get mixed feedback when I ask LASD deps about working the Courts. Many say stick with jails because: 1) you learn more about crooks in the jails and 2) you'll have a better rep going from jails to patrol. Others say just do Courts/Transport Bureau, enjoy the schedule and environment, and get out to patrol ASAP!

[ask80]

yep with LASD, courts is not looked highly upon if you goto a busy station for patrol training. certain jails are looked more highly upon too...

[davjon14]

Thanks for the feedback and I want to prefic the next things I am going to say I completely have the utmost respect for every sworn person, however, I personally feel that I am not doing "real" cop stuff after spending 6 months in the academy learning patrol, etc.. Prior military cop as well. But I have a better attitude today than I did yesterday when I found out. I will be working downt town riverside. Once again appreciate all the insight.

[L.A Sheriff]

Hey bro, you have to look at it as paying your dues. You work for a Sheriff's Department (other then RSO, no one works patrol straight out of the academy). You have to due your time just like everyone else before you. Like what was said earlier, you can learn a lot from courts, and jails (all have the same learning advantages) that will make you a better Deputy in the long run.

Maybe this can be a good thing for you because you can recieve your POST without going through the streets (FTO Program) that you may or may not cut it straight out of the academy and end up as a correctional officer for what ever reason.

Some of your classmates that will go to the streets, might realize that the streets is to much and they need more time to adjust and feel like if they would have went to courts or jails, they would have been better off. Just a thought since I hear RSO only gives you one shot at the FTO Program.