Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

Hi, I'm new here. My significant other is half way done with the Academy and we are looking into our options as far as applying to different departments.

Any advice will be great!!

Thank you so much.

Marcie

"best" is ambiguous and subjective. "best" may just be the one that offers you a job...

I totally agree Samuel. At this point we are pretty much hoping for anything but considering that there are a lot of vets here, I was hoping to get some much needed insight. Like I mentioned before I am new to this and would love any advice. I understand that I'm going to get a lot of flack, but I'm really trying to support my soon to be LEO and do whats best for our family. If anyone can offer some positive responses and let me know what we should do about applying, I'd appreciate it.

I don't think anyone is giving flak, just sound advice. It all boils down to what you guys (and him specifically) want out of the department and what specific departments have to offer. Is he looking for a lot of money? A lot of promotional opportunities? Specialty division opportunities? Big city and a lot of calls? Smaller city and a lot of proactive work? etc...

It's kind of an "eye of the beholder" thing.

As far as locations, pay, etc, he at this point just wants to get his foot in the door. He did apply to Oakland PD a couple wks back, so we'll see how that goes. I was just looking for some insight...maybe someone here loves the pd they work for, maybe someone had an opinion on where not to apply.

He has put a lot of interest in the K-9 unit. Hes up for any challenge and is at the top of his class. I'm really proud of him and want to help in any way that I can.

Hi, I'm new here. My significant other is half way done with the Academy and we are looking into our options as far as applying to different departments.

Any advice will be great!!

Thank you so much.

Marcie

I don't know what "best" means but from conversations I have had with West Covina Police officers a few mentioned El Monte PD as their starting point.
Nobody however mentioned Hollywood, West Hollywood, B.Hills, Culver City, Burbank, Pasadena or West L.A. PD's.

I don't think anyone is giving flak, just sound advice. It all boils down to what you guys (and him specifically) want out of the department and what specific departments have to offer. Is he looking for a lot of money? A lot of promotional opportunities? Specialty division opportunities? Big city and a lot of calls? Smaller city and a lot of proactive work? etc...

It's kind of an "eye of the beholder" thing.

What Lawson said.

There is no simple answer to your question - in addition to what I said earlier, it's also too ambiguous and too broad. You're saying that you're willing to relocate ANYWHERE in California?

You ask about some of the "best" departments in CA. CA is a HUGE place with just about every kind of variety LE has to offer - department size, pay scale, retirement benefits, locations, weather, housing/living costs, specialized assignments, hiring requirements, fringe benefits, types of duties, typical daily activities, rural/urban, residential/commercial/industrial, low/medium/high economic classes, city/county/state/federal agencies, etc etc etc.

Also, it sounds like he is attending a private academy (otherwise he'd already have a job waiting) - some agencies require you to attend THEIR OWN academy, some don't.

You need to figure out a few answers first and then come back and ask more specific questions. Google is also your friend.

Sorta like asking what's the best vehicle to own. Depends entirely on what you want out of it. I worked where there were just under 1K sworn, live in a town with less than 30 sworn. I wouldn't have wanted to work here in the small one and the guys here think I was nuts for working where I did.