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CAREER COUNSELOR
Police officer
Question: Recently, a neighbor called the police over a domestic abuse incident in my neighborhood, and I was very impressed by how the officers handled the situation on both a physical and a psychological level. I am a recent high school graduate, and I think I would like to become a police officer. How often is LAPD police academy training offered? Is there a lengthy recruitment process?
— Bryan
Response: As a recent graduate of high school, you are not old enough to be a police officer yet. The minimum age to work as a LAPD police officer is 21. Other city jurisdictions, such as the City of Long Beach, have similar minimum age requirements.
Since you have a few years before you would qualify for police academy training, you could consider enrolling in an associate's degree program in criminal justice or a related field. This would qualify you for more pay as a police officer and provide opportunities for career advancement once you join the force.
Associate of Arts Degree Programs in Criminal Justice
The following is an example of an associate's degree program in criminal justice:
Students must also complete a set of elective courses including Report Writing for Law Enforcement and Recruitment Selection Process. This course provides in-depth coverage of employment in a law enforcement agency. Course topics include written and physical ability exams and academy training.
The program is a minimum of 60 units depending on your choice of electives and your area of focus. The cost is $26 per unit.
LAPD Police Recruitment and Training
The LAPD's selection process takes approximately eight months. It begins with a preliminary background application on which you provide your employment history and driving record. There is also a job preview questionnaire.
You are then required to take and pass a multiple-choice examination. This is used to assess your reading comprehension and grammar skills. In addition, you must complete a personal qualifications essay. The essay will be scored on criteria such as writing ability and decision-making skills.
You are also required to take and pass a two-part physical abilities test.
A background check is conducted based on the information you provided on your preliminary background application. Your overall qualifications are reviewed. You are given a polygraph examination and then a field investigation is conducted to further confirm your background information.
If you make it this far, you are given an oral interview that assesses your personal history, communication skills, and others factors that gauge your aptitude for a police officer position. There is also a medical examination, and a psychological examination and interview.
To be considered for recruitment into the police academy, you must successfully pass every step of the recruitment process. The department then reviews the list of candidates to make selections for the academy.
The police academy training program is offered on a year-round basis. A new class of recruits enters every month. The program lasts for eight months. Approximately 60 police officers are recruited into the LAPD department in each training period.
The training program involves high-level physical endurance drills and exercises. Recruits also attend classroom lectures. By the end of the program, trainees will have completed fieldwork assignments alongside experienced police officers. After completing the training program, police officers are assigned to a specific geographic area of Los Angeles.
The LAPD offers a five-week Academy Trainee program to qualified police officer candidates before they begin their eight months of academy training. The program curriculum includes extensive physical and psychological preparatory training and practical instruction in drill and equipment care and usage. According to a representative, this program has been successful in providing adequate preparation for the police academy program.
For further information contact:
Police officers are responsible for maintaining peace and order in a community. They enforce laws and ordinances within the jurisdiction of a city police department.
When engaged in enforcement activity, they may work alone or as a team member.
Police officers patrol the streets and answer calls and complaints requesting police assistance. Depending on the situation, they interview witnesses and suspects to obtain information for a written report. They may issue a warning or a citation, or apprehend violators and transport them to the police station.
For unsolved crimes, they may use computers to generate leads, or run checks on persons and property. Police officers may be called to testify as a witness in criminal court cases.
Types of crimes and incidents that police officers handle are traffic violations or accidents, domestic disputes and other situations in violation of laws and ordinances.
Additional duties can include researching and preparing special reports on police-related activities and programs as well as conducting community-relations activities.
Salary Range
LAPD police academy trainees are paid approximately $4,300 per month while completing the training program. If you have an associate's degree, the pay is approximately $4,400 per month.
Newly employed LAPD officers must complete an 18-month probationary period before qualifying for a pay increase. The current pay of LAPD police officers ranges from approximately $51,000 to $67,000 per year.
The pay of City of Long Beach police officers is approximately $52,000 to $65,000 per year.
Employment Outlook
Above average growth is projected through 2010 for police officers.
Susan W. Miller, M.A., is a National Certified Career Counselor, a Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist and holds diplomate status on the American Board of Vocational Experts. She heads California Career Services, a private practice career counseling firm in Los Angeles.
E-mail career questions you'd like answered in this column to info@californiacareerservices.com or visit California Career Services at www.californiacareerservices.com.
— Bryan
Response: As a recent graduate of high school, you are not old enough to be a police officer yet. The minimum age to work as a LAPD police officer is 21. Other city jurisdictions, such as the City of Long Beach, have similar minimum age requirements.
Since you have a few years before you would qualify for police academy training, you could consider enrolling in an associate's degree program in criminal justice or a related field. This would qualify you for more pay as a police officer and provide opportunities for career advancement once you join the force.
Associate of Arts Degree Programs in Criminal Justice
The following is an example of an associate's degree program in criminal justice:
- Los Angeles City College
- Administration Justice and Corrections Department
- 855 N. Vermont Avenue
- Los Angeles, CA 90029
- (323) 953-4000
- www.lacitycollege.edu
- Contact: Tim Sweetman, Chair
- (323) 953-4000 x 2753
- E-mail: Timsweetman@yahoo.com
- 855 N. Vermont Avenue
Students must also complete a set of elective courses including Report Writing for Law Enforcement and Recruitment Selection Process. This course provides in-depth coverage of employment in a law enforcement agency. Course topics include written and physical ability exams and academy training.
The program is a minimum of 60 units depending on your choice of electives and your area of focus. The cost is $26 per unit.
LAPD Police Recruitment and Training
The LAPD's selection process takes approximately eight months. It begins with a preliminary background application on which you provide your employment history and driving record. There is also a job preview questionnaire.
You are then required to take and pass a multiple-choice examination. This is used to assess your reading comprehension and grammar skills. In addition, you must complete a personal qualifications essay. The essay will be scored on criteria such as writing ability and decision-making skills.
You are also required to take and pass a two-part physical abilities test.
A background check is conducted based on the information you provided on your preliminary background application. Your overall qualifications are reviewed. You are given a polygraph examination and then a field investigation is conducted to further confirm your background information.
If you make it this far, you are given an oral interview that assesses your personal history, communication skills, and others factors that gauge your aptitude for a police officer position. There is also a medical examination, and a psychological examination and interview.
To be considered for recruitment into the police academy, you must successfully pass every step of the recruitment process. The department then reviews the list of candidates to make selections for the academy.
The police academy training program is offered on a year-round basis. A new class of recruits enters every month. The program lasts for eight months. Approximately 60 police officers are recruited into the LAPD department in each training period.
The training program involves high-level physical endurance drills and exercises. Recruits also attend classroom lectures. By the end of the program, trainees will have completed fieldwork assignments alongside experienced police officers. After completing the training program, police officers are assigned to a specific geographic area of Los Angeles.
The LAPD offers a five-week Academy Trainee program to qualified police officer candidates before they begin their eight months of academy training. The program curriculum includes extensive physical and psychological preparatory training and practical instruction in drill and equipment care and usage. According to a representative, this program has been successful in providing adequate preparation for the police academy program.
For further information contact:
- City of Los Angeles
- Los Angeles Police Department
- (866) 444-5273
- www.lapdonline.org
- joinlapd@lapd.lacity.org
- (866) 444-5273
Police officers are responsible for maintaining peace and order in a community. They enforce laws and ordinances within the jurisdiction of a city police department.
When engaged in enforcement activity, they may work alone or as a team member.
Police officers patrol the streets and answer calls and complaints requesting police assistance. Depending on the situation, they interview witnesses and suspects to obtain information for a written report. They may issue a warning or a citation, or apprehend violators and transport them to the police station.
For unsolved crimes, they may use computers to generate leads, or run checks on persons and property. Police officers may be called to testify as a witness in criminal court cases.
Types of crimes and incidents that police officers handle are traffic violations or accidents, domestic disputes and other situations in violation of laws and ordinances.
Additional duties can include researching and preparing special reports on police-related activities and programs as well as conducting community-relations activities.
Salary Range
LAPD police academy trainees are paid approximately $4,300 per month while completing the training program. If you have an associate's degree, the pay is approximately $4,400 per month.
Newly employed LAPD officers must complete an 18-month probationary period before qualifying for a pay increase. The current pay of LAPD police officers ranges from approximately $51,000 to $67,000 per year.
The pay of City of Long Beach police officers is approximately $52,000 to $65,000 per year.
Employment Outlook
Above average growth is projected through 2010 for police officers.
— • —
Susan W. Miller, M.A., is a National Certified Career Counselor, a Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist and holds diplomate status on the American Board of Vocational Experts. She heads California Career Services, a private practice career counseling firm in Los Angeles.
E-mail career questions you'd like answered in this column to info@californiacareerservices.com or visit California Career Services at www.californiacareerservices.com.
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