LA County Police Questions...

[gonzo1510]

Does the county PD send their recruits through the Sheriff's academy since they are a county agency or do they go through Rio Hondo ?

Also, does the PD have a motor/traffic unit ?

I couldn't find any info on this through the official website...

Thanks.

[DOAcop38]

Does the county PD send their recruits through the Sheriff's academy since they are a county agency or do they go through Rio Hondo ?

Also, does the PD have a motor/traffic unit ?

I couldn't find any info on this through the official website...

Thanks.

La County Police send their recruits to Rio Hondo regional Academy (Whittier,CA);They receive some in service AOT training from their own dept and from LASD.don't know about Motors as LASD pretty much handles more traffic in areas ,beside the CHP,but they LAC OPS has off road ATV patrols,and bike patrols.........

[exComptonCop]

but the LAC OPS has off road ATV patrols, and bike patrols.........

I just took a quick peek at their website, and it looks like they also have a Marine Patrol detail. I wonder what waterways they patrol?

Being a longtime wake boarder, that would seem like a pretty sick assignment The pay on the other hand, wouldn't do a lot for me

[gonzo1510]

I just took a quick peek at their website, and it looks like they also have a Marine Patrol detail. I wonder what waterways they patrol?(

Wouldn't they patrol Castaic lake, Santa fe Dam...?

[EMVAMPYRE]

Castaic and Pyramid Lake are handled by LASD boat operators. The County Police patrol the park portions of these areas. As for Santa Fe dam area, i'm not sure. There are no patrol boats on that lake.

County Police in their patrol aspect are mostly the old County Park Police. They have a few off road atv/motorcycle patrol units in Santa Clarita's area, or they used to 8 years ago when they were still the park police.

[IMachU]

I am a sergeant with LA County Police in the South LA area. We send our recruits through Rio Hondo.

We do have boats on Castaic Lake. LASD has no boats there usually. We do NOT patrol Pyramid Lake, either on the water or in cars since it is not LA County Parks and Recreation (our client department) controlled. We do handle Castaic Lake and it's surroundings. Sorry Vampyre. Your post, while respectful (and I really appreciate that) is very misinformed.

We USED to be LA County Park Police and LA County Safety Police, but that was many years ago. We have been Los Angeles County Police since 1998. Our jurisdictions are anywhere we are contracted to, which does incluse County parks, hospitals, and most anything County owned. We also do whatever LASD can't or won't do, which is why we are known (for the present time....) as the Board of Supervisor's own police department.

We have horses, ATVs, boats, bicycles and regular police car patrol. Those are used almost on a daily basis, deployment depending. We have had a big setback lately, and that may affect our deployment (lots of outgoing laterals).

Any more questions, lemme know!

[DOAcop38]

I am a sergeant with LA County Police in the South LA area. We send our recruits through Rio Hondo.

We do have boats on Castaic Lake. LASD has no boats there usually. We do NOT patrol Pyramid Lake, either on the water or in cars since it is not LA County Parks and Recreation (our client department) controlled. We do handle Castaic Lake and it's surroundings. Sorry Vampyre. Your post, while respectful (and I really appreciate that) is very misinformed.

We USED to be LA County Park Police and LA County Safety Police, but that was many years ago. We have been Los Angeles County Police since 1998. Our jurisdictions are anywhere we are contracted to, which does incluse County parks, hospitals, and most anything County owned. We also do whatever LASD can't or won't do, which is why we are known (for the present time....) as the Board of Supervisor's own police department.

We have horses, ATVs, boats, bicycles and regular police car patrol. Those are used almost on a daily basis, deployment depending. We have had a big setback lately, and that may affect our deployment (lots of outgoing laterals).

Any more questions, lemme know!

Welcome aboard- you can fill in some folks who don't kow about the Co.OPS. Yeah ,read that court decision on April 17th,2007- sucks-but I personally think you can still get what you want without taking on the LASD or BOS in a confrontational way.Talked to some County cops in So.El monte today,near Whittier narrows regonal PArk- they were upbeat and trying to do the "job" despite the lawsuit issue(BTW,what Is the actual case name???) .They also said that alot of guys are fed up and are looking to go elsewhere with their POSTs due to the pay issue,and some of them think Baca may make a "play" for OPS-but I don't think the BOS will go for that. I hope you win your suit as the appeals court decision sets a "BAD" precedent in terms of L.E. for small depts and other specialized PDs in terms of pay raise negotiations.

[IMachU]

Thanks DOA....the court case was George Frank et. al., V County of LA.

I have spoken with PPOA prez John Stites personally (a lot of stuff we discussed I can't talk about here, obviously). He is under the impression after speaking with Lee that if the atty doesn't file the appeal in the State Supreme court, we'll all be wearing a different badge as soon as July 2007. We already cost more per hour than a Dep does for contract services, and why have a duplicate of efforts?

Yeah, a LOT of folks have gotten apps from other agencies. I know of a couple of ranking members that are lateralling (sp?) out. That is their personal decision, and a business decision they have to make. If there is a mass exodus, then the BOS will HAVE to do something....either throw a bone, or merge us and LASD. It's a win-win for anyone in either of the organizations. You get a bunch of folks to help with the big retirements coming next year, and we get something to do other than patrol (not to mention Safety B and the pay!).

So, I think the worst thing that can happen is for the atty to file the appeal. It has held us back for so long since all Jensen and the BOS would say is, "We will not negotiate with the lawsuit hanging over our heads." Oh, the reason the appellate court reversed the decision is that our side didn't prove we were discriminated against on the base of race. The court did say that since we were well qualified law enforcement officers, we could go elsewhere that pays better. Well, a lot of folks are taking the court up on that phrase. So, we will NOT take on anyone in a controversial manner.

I know Phase 1 of the merger is done, and Phase 2 is almost there (logistcs). Phase 3 is the badge/patch/sticker/radio swap.

[SgtCHP]

Here is the information on the Los Angeles County Police Department:

http://ops.co.la.ca.us/Careers.htm

By the way, their chief is the wife of Judge Ito - of O.J. fame.

[DOAcop38]

.....I know Phase 1 of the merger is done, and Phase 2 is almost there (logistcs). Phase 3 is the badge/patch/sticker/radio swap.

.Sounds a bit different from our condition. in 2005 LAPD and its backers tossed charter Amendment "A" out to city of L.A.Voters-a below the radar ballot measure.IT was after a certain councilman started bad mouthing the L.A. airport PD and HYPING up every mistake like it was a major scandal or "proof" of incompetence.He claimed we "Made too much $$" in benefits and OT pay-LAPD actually makes btween 5-7% MORE than us and the same or more per officer in OT(LAXPD-$55K to $78K per officer,LAPD-$53K to $82K/per officer base),and the same councilman claimed that we did oly limited "Security" work and weren't facing any dangers-that is until one of our officers was murdered while conducting a ped stop while patrolling an airport adjacent rdwy.The ballot measure was a slap in the face of LAPD mgm't when ctzns voted AGAINST any take over by more than 2/3s !!

The difference is that you are bleeding personnel due to the cheapness of the BOS to pay officers for what they consider is an important job( or else why do they continue to hire and equip LACOPS?) whereas we are growing and accepting more and more applicants,and will soon pass you guys as the 4th largest dept in L.A. county- a position I feel my Dept doesn't need to be(a lean and well directed force of 250 -300 is all thats needed). but an LASD take over is alot less hostile than LAPD-LASD would retrain your personnel and put them to work,whereas LAPD has already stated that its mgm'ts position is that we are "inferior"and they would TRY to transfer or eliminate nearly 2/3s of the current dept then use the budgeted $$$ to hire their "own" people( and we are talking a Dept of officers with very low disciplinary issues,fairly young and healthy).Unlike Baca,a street deputy, Bratton is a blowhard from NYC.He claimed that LAXPD training standards were "low" without doing any background checking-Our people are fully POST certified,follow POST to the letter,and our command staff ,supervisors and specialized units are LAPD or LASD trained.Even Bratton himself,in lieu of having to train at LAPD,went to RIO HONDO to get certified for becoming LAPDs Chief.Now we all train at LAPD academy,like when I first came the job,and alot of our policies-via the city Attys office of L.A. are duplicates of LAPDs( the Port PD of L.A. and city Halls "L.A. OPS" are also included in that)-we believe that Bratton,in his second term will try a "friendlier" attempt to take over or run all of L.A.s police forces- 350 LAXPD,325 LAUSD, 100 Port PD and 110 OPS PD officers,plus their dept budgets.

Other than merger,do you see a future for LACOPS???

[Miller Time]

What "patrol" functions does LACOPS perform? I read their website and it specifically states that "our law enforcement duties may not extend county property". Does this mean their is no patrol functions expect around county hospitals, parks and buildings? I understand that LACOPS main function is of course the protection of county facilities. But will a Officer get a bad name if he/she enforces a traffic stop or what not that is not near a county facility? Thanks!

[IMachU]

Miller Time:

Our main patrol function is the protection of County and Contract areas. In our HSB (Health Services Bureau) section, we patrol MLK hospital, LAC/USC Hospital, Harbor General Hospital, and Olive View Hospital. Those can be VERY busy with a LOT of hooks in and around the area (especially MLK). Sometimes that area is kinda small, other times it can be pretty big. Our FSB (Facilities Services Bureau) contracts to Probation, Libraries, and welfare offices. So, we have folks on an A shift (Mon-Fri 8-5 day watch). Those areas are kinda small, but can be VERY active. We've had an officer killed in the line of duty in a welfare office in Skid Row in LA.

Conversely, our PSB (Parks Services Bureau) Bonelli Station (where I worked until last week), covers from San Dimas to City of Industry off the 60 fwy, and out to La Crescenta/La Canada off the 210 fwy. That station has some cars with 150K miles on them and still being used on patrol every day.

That said, there are times when we stretch things a bit, as we must in the interest of public safety. We get a LOT of off-facility stuff, and it is seen as a sweet hook. No one is chastised unless they conduct t-stops and write cites for expired registration. That is piddly crap. We have a lot of other things going. Now if it's a car stop that has poo-butt gangsters in it that are kown to frequent a park with a brake light out, then take it to the conclusion. I've seen a couple of search warrants written that stemmed from stops like that. That is just plain ol' good police work. Regardless of where the stop happened. But there MUST be a nexus to our main area of responsibility in order for that to happen.

[IMachU]

DoA - I wish the BOS would adopt that thinking....equal pay for an equal job. We have LASD training, and according to the lawsuit (both sides agree) we do 98% of what LASD does except jails. We are better trained than a lot of LASD deps, since we have training classes on various subjects all the time. Many dpes I talk to are screaming for training, and they are constantly denied (I think it depends on the station they are assigned at, too). So, I think the BOS is setting us up for a merger. It HAS been the County's plan all along to merge us, anyway. It's funny, in a tragic way...we cost about $20 an hour more than a dep per hour for contract services, and it's all overhead. Our Admin civilians get paid more than the sworn sergeants do.

Yeah, the County needs to do something IF they wanna keep the good ones. If Lee wants to keep the good County Police officers, then he'll have to move fast.

[Five-0fromSoCal]

Thanks DOA....the court case was George Frank et. al., V County of LA.

I have spoken with PPOA prez John Stites personally (a lot of stuff we discussed I can't talk about here, obviously). He is under the impression after speaking with Lee that if the atty doesn't file the appeal in the State Supreme court, we'll all be wearing a different badge as soon as July 2007. We already cost more per hour than a Dep does for contract services, and why have a duplicate of efforts?

Yeah, a LOT of folks have gotten apps from other agencies. I know of a couple of ranking members that are lateralling (sp?) out. That is their personal decision, and a business decision they have to make. If there is a mass exodus, then the BOS will HAVE to do something....either throw a bone, or merge us and LASD. It's a win-win for anyone in either of the organizations. You get a bunch of folks to help with the big retirements coming next year, and we get something to do other than patrol (not to mention Safety B and the pay!).

So, I think the worst thing that can happen is for the atty to file the appeal. It has held us back for so long since all Jensen and the BOS would say is, "We will not negotiate with the lawsuit hanging over our heads." Oh, the reason the appellate court reversed the decision is that our side didn't prove we were discriminated against on the base of race. The court did say that since we were well qualified law enforcement officers, we could go elsewhere that pays better. Well, a lot of folks are taking the court up on that phrase. So, we will NOT take on anyone in a controversial manner.

I know Phase 1 of the merger is done, and Phase 2 is almost there (logistcs). Phase 3 is the badge/patch/sticker/radio swap.

I think it would create alot of o/t for Deps, which would make the troops happy. How many officers does LACOPS have?

[DOAcop38]

I think it would create alot of o/t for Deps, which would make the troops happy. How many officers does LACOPS have?

I "heard" it was 490-and dropping(in a dept that needs at least 600 min). The difference ,"five-O"? ,LASD deps are big ego hounds in the streets ( gotta be "positive" to be a winner) but tend to be very respectful of folks from different depts or organizations.(LAPD still turns its nose up at other agencies) There would be some jostling at first but I think it would run smooth very quickly(LACOPS pulled into training or custody or courts, Deps working OT in parks or at welfare offices)Even their City of L.A. counter parts L.A. OPS wouldn't fight an LAPD absorption ,like the PORT PD and LAXPD has ,if they were promised a full opportunity to lateral,based on training and updated background.(LAPD mgm't threated to have us APPLY for the job like a person off the streets,not like a current city employee/police officer).As i've said before,if the BOS would simply pay LACOPS the regional avg in pay $52K to $68K,plus options for COL,you'd still save $$$,attract more applicants,even have the option of good applicants that were waiting for LASD,but not high enough to take right away,to go and fill the LACOPS openings ,thereby keeping them in the county system.I don't get mad becuase the city doesn't pay me the same as LAPD-my job is somewhat easier,no easy or safer,but not always as tough.The main reason? the city keeps us at or above most of our local So.Cal Depts in terms of pay,benefits ,training,opportunities (LAX's $55K to $72K for off the street applicants ,beats alot of locals who are only at $50K to 65K/yr).I know its not alot of "the we want to be equal to LASD mentality",its more we want respect in terms of pay like other PDs are getting for dealing with similar crap......