LA Life

[Futurelaw89]

I live in a town just north of LA, and its population is roughly 350,000 people. Its not too big and not too small and I've always wanted to be a police officer in my hometown but due to its current hiring freeze I don't think they'll go on a hiring spree anytime soon.

So my second option was LAPD. So I'm wondering if any of you current LAPD/LASD officers enjoy working in LA? How many of you came from another city and how did you adjust to the notorious "traffic jams and fast paced life" of LA?






Thank you for any input,
Futurelaw89

[mtxpro752]

I was born and raised in the Southeast and Midwest US. I became a cop in NC. Moved to LA not even expecting to continue my LE career. I Love the LAPD, it give you more choices in career than most other dept could imagine. Give it a try, if you get hired and don't like it, you can lateral to any other CA angency.

[Kieth M.]

The training and street experience any big city/county agency officer/deputy recieves can put them to the top of the hiring list when smaller agencies open their doors to new hires. However, there's usually a pay cut associated with such a move. When I worked Rampart we had an officer working there and residing in Bakersfield. Working a 3/12 shift he spent two nights in the cot room before going home for his days off.

Yeah, there's lots of traffic and crowds. That's one thing I do not miss about L.A. But, once you live/work there, you adapt.

[LA Copper]

I grew up in a small town in New England before I joined the LAPD over 20 years ago. It was "bit" of an adjustment coming to the big city but after all this time, I still love the job.

[Coronth]

Theres a bit of change, but you learn fast on this job. If you go LAPD you may never want to transfer to a smaller place.

[QRF]

We had a young officer who resigned last month to go to a smaller agency. This month, he is back at LAPD on his hands and knees begging for his old job back. He was gone less than 30 days. The powers to be are working with him to fasttrack him back, but he lost all his sick time, vacation time, and seniority.

I came to LA from a smaller Department. I would say the comparison is apples and oranges. It's almost like being in a different line of work. While a small Department certainly had some advantages, nothing compares to LAPD in terms of what you will gain in experience and exposure to different things. Big things happen in the Big City. When I worked for the smaller department, there were officers who still talked about the bank robbery that happened five years before, or the time that Joe shot the liquor store bandit. In Los Angeles, that would have been old news a week later.

[archercapt32]

anyone have any advice on where to do probation? Im thinking of putting down Southeast, Newton, and either 77th or Southwest on my dream sheet.

[Jrdeputy]

none of the officers really get their "wish" when it comes to probation...put those three, but they can send you to foothill if they need you there!!

[QRF]

none of the officers really get their "wish" when it comes to probation...put those three, but they can send you to foothill if they need you there!!

I'm pretty sure class standing has something to do with it. The top 10 in my class all went where they wanted to go. Make sure you don't put down some place where you might want to work for a long time. You only stay at your first Division for probation, then you get wheeled out.

[Coronth]

I got my first choice. My best advice for your wishlist is to put places close to home. The #1 strain on quality of life in LA is traffic. Probation is hard enough without an hour or two in traffic after your 12 hour(+OT and court) shifts. Worry about getting through the academy and then probation, where you land doesn't matter much.