Law Enforcement - A Question

[DownHillPhil]

Hi hi ,

Those of you who are police or know somebody in law enforcement...

What are your thoughts on LAX PD? They're hiring right now and I have been thinking about a police job for a while.

If I wanted a change of pace, could I transfer to a city PD?

What kind of hours do you work as a police officer? I have heard that 4x10's is common, as well as 3x12's

thanks!
DHP

EDIT: Paging JoeTruth!

[BrewMaster]

CHP is also hiring.

[SheDevil]

There are plenty of agencies hiring outside of them...which probably will give you better experience as well. Most times you won't be able to lateral out of there without more training. Your best bet is to get yourself into an academy and sponsor yourself through it...(pay your own way without being hired) and then apply to different agencies. You will start working the shifts nobody wants most of the time, and you'll be in them for a while. 4-10, 3-12 and some even have 5-8's but with a schedule that is rough. Thats the way it goes!

[ddmansprty]

I was hired by Glendale PD about 6 years ago. I had to quit due to my wife's hospitalization after our second son was born. PM me, I would be happy to give you my two cents. If you really want a job in law enforcement, I can certainly help you out.

[dstepper]

I hear there looking for a new Sheriff in Orange County.

[Burner]

Originally Posted by dstepper

I hear there looking for a new Sheriff in Orange County.

and the (side) benefits are really good

[art23rockpile]

Originally Posted by dstepper

I hear there looking for a new Sheriff in Orange County.

Yes, but i'll bet it requires a LOT of "special" training!

[stinkyrider]

Originally Posted by SheDevil

Your best bet is to get yourself into an academy and sponsor yourself through it...(pay your own way without being hired) and then apply to different agencies.

I have had at least 5 of my friends that have gone through the academy within the last 4 years. One of which is now an instructor at another police academy. All recommend getting hired/sponsored by a department.

Yes, going without sponsorship is an option but there are things that must be considered before you invest all that time and money into the academy.

The academy isn't terribly expensive compared to a 4-year university, but it can cost a decent chunk of change. Other costs to consider are for uniforms, weapon, and other equipment that you must provide for yourself if not sponsored. Also consider that your uniforms will need to be taken to the drycleaners on regular basis. If you are sponsored, almost all these costs are reimbursed. On top of that you get paid a salary to go to the academy, otherwise you are forgoing about 6 months of income that you would be earning if you were just at your normal job instead of the academy.

The time you will invest is another issue. Most academies are 12 hour days, 6 days a week for 6 months months and probably the most stressful ordeal you will ever endure in your entire life unless you have already been in the military. Between all the classroom work and physical training, my friends have described it as going basically like going to bootcamp and gradschool at the same time. The entire process is engineered to be as stressful as possible.

Why get sponsored first?
Because you do not want to go through that whole ordeal, pay all that money, and forego 6 months of income only to find out that you cannot get hired due to some technicality or some minor blemish on your record. There are some people that my buddies went to the academy with that still have not been hired to a department. Things as seemingly inconsequential as having too many speeding tickets can disqualify you from getting hired by some departments.

Ok, I think I've been long-winded enough already.

[DownHillPhil]

I'm not privy to that OC sheriff joke but I am sure the story is good...link to a news story?

thanks for all the posts so far!

http://www.ocweekly.com/news/news/calamity-mike/25218/

hahahaha!

[art23rockpile]

Originally Posted by DownHillPhil

I'm not privy to that OC sheriff joke but I am sure the story is good...link to a news story?

thanks for all the posts so far!

Google Mike Carona.

[JoeTruth]

Glendale is hiring and needs all the help they can get. I know they have their hands full dealing with The Brows who have Drakkar in their chromosomes.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FsRiy-1PZ8w

[SheDevil]

Originally Posted by stinkyrider

I have had at least 5 of my friends that have gone through the academy within the last 4 years. One of which is now an instructor at another police academy. All recommend getting hired/sponsored by a department.

Yes, going without sponsorship is an option but there are things that must be considered before you invest all that time and money into the academy.

The academy isn't terribly expensive compared to a 4-year university, but it can cost a decent chunk of change. Other costs to consider are for uniforms, weapon, and other equipment that you must provide for yourself if not sponsored. Also consider that your uniforms will need to be taken to the drycleaners on regular basis. If you are sponsored, almost all these costs are reimbursed. On top of that you get paid a salary to go to the academy, otherwise you are forgoing about 6 months of income that you would be earning if you were just at your normal job instead of the academy.

The time you will invest is another issue. Most academies are 12 hour days, 6 days a week for 6 months months and probably the most stressful ordeal you will ever endure in your entire life unless you have already been in the military. Between all the classroom work and physical training, my friends have described it as going basically like going to bootcamp and gradschool at the same time. The entire process is engineered to be as stressful as possible.

Why get sponsored first?
Because you do not want to go through that whole ordeal, pay all that money, and forego 6 months of income only to find out that you cannot get hired due to some technicality or some minor blemish on your record. There are some people that my buddies went to the academy with that still have not been hired to a department. Things as seemingly inconsequential as having too many speeding tickets can disqualify you from getting hired by some departments.

Ok, I think I've been long-winded enough already.

Well and on the flip side...the guy who's face is lost in the crowd, or didn't compete well makes himself more desirable by taking that financial strain off the dept hiring. All of my friends who sponsored themself were hired while IN the academy. I'd think common sense is you don't pursue a job without looking into your own background details....and then slack through an academy self sponsored. Thats a big waste of time and money. Another thing to consider is...if the hire doesnt make it or gets injured in the academy he's out a job and an academy(and probably quit his old job as well). I'm all for part time academy self sponsorship, it's a safe bet all around. Then personally I've always walked into a job holding more cards then expected...


But then what do I know??? I work at Hot Dog on a Stick

[DownHillPhil]

Joe, how comfortable are the uniform shoes? I've always been curious...

[BobBurnes]

Originally Posted by DownHillPhil

Hi hi ,

Those of you who are police or know somebody in law enforcement...

What are your thoughts on LAX PD? They're hiring right now and I have been thinking about a police job for a while.

If I wanted a change of pace, could I transfer to a city PD?

What kind of hours do you work as a police officer? I have heard that 4x10's is common, as well as 3x12's

thanks!
DHP

EDIT: Paging JoeTruth!

1. What are your thoughts on LAX PD? They're hiring right now and I have been thinking about a police job for a while.

a. The LAX PD are a very busy, well trained police department with all the levels (pay grade and rank) and specialized departments (traiffic, investigations) of any other police department of their size. The LAX PD, along with SFO's department, are respected in the law enforcement world.

If that's the law enforcement path you choose, you certainly won't be bored.

2. If I wanted a change of pace, could I transfer to a city PD?

a. After your probationary period, you'll be granted an Advanced Police Officer's Standards and Training certificate (POST), which means you can lateral to another department. You're training and and experience in communication, problem solving, counter and anti-terrorism measures, and medicals will really make you a 1st choice pick for outside agencies-though the pace will really be different and very quite.

3. What kind of hours do you work as a police officer? I have heard that 4x10's is common, as well as 3x12's

a. Police have some of the most creative hours I've ever experienced. At Marina PD, I worked 5x8's and in King City I worked 3x12's. However, when I go to work for the Persidio of Monterey Police Department in the fall, I'll be working a rotating 4x10; another common set of hours a lot of departments work.

What ever the hours, you'll get used to it and find a pace after about a month or so.


It's a good career as long as you treat people the way you'd want to be treated in/under similar circumstance(s). Learn to memorize names, control hands-they'll kill you, and never ask a sexual assualt victim "how they're doing." (This almost never ends well....trust me.)

[dirtmistress]

Originally Posted by JoeTruth

Glendale is hiring and needs all the help they can get. I know they have their hands full dealing with The Brows who have Drakkar in their chromosomes.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FsRiy-1PZ8w

OMG!! Joe, that was hysterical!! You gotta put that in Pub!! Why can't more people make fun of themselves like that!!!

[JoeTruth]

Liz, I have no problem making fun of myself or my kind. I cast plenty of stones so I best not be living in a glass house or I'll be doomed.

Originally Posted by dirtmistress

OMG!! Joe, that was hysterical!! You gotta put that in Pub!! Why can't more people make fun of themselves like that!!!