Question for LASD deputies?

[Hawkmoon269]

Posted this on another board (thanks Samuel) and wanted to get more feedback. I'm a Reserve applicant for the L.A. Sheriff's Department. I've passed all the preliminary stuff and I'm currently in backgrounds. They said that barring any ommissions I'll be in the September academy (wohoo!). I received a letter instructing me to show up at the academy last weekend for an interview and more paperwork.

I prepared all weekend expecting something akin to an oral board or at least a few typical interview questions (why you want to be LASD, why do you think you're right for the job etc.). When I got into the interview it wasn't anything more than a few clarification questions about my background packet and work history.

Question is this. From what I've been told I only have the poly, psych and medical exams left. I'm wondering if I'll ever encounter any sort of oral board interview. For any current LASD reserves or full timers, what was your process like? Did you get go through an oral board or intense interview? I've been surprised how "interview-lite" the process has been.

[cobravenom1]

I apologize for the lateness of this response but I normally don't visit this area of the board.
I initialy applied to LASD for the full-time deputy position but due to CA's budget crisis had to rethink my career goals. I presently am in LASD Reserve Class #100. It's the first large class (75 trainees) LASD has taken from start to finish through all the levels of training (3 to 1). It so far has been a successful experiment using people who would have been in the full-time deputy class. My general belief is that my class is more motivated, physically fit, and of higher quality than a normal reserve class. Just my belief and not intended to offend any current LASD reserve graduates.
You should have been interviewed by either a reserve or full-time deputy when you were initially recruited from one of the LASD Reserve information meetings. If you are in the background phase, then your last interview was intended to just clear up any discrepencies the investigator could not clarify during thier research. At this point in the process, you are essentially done pending verification of your interview and future medical and poly.
Rumor has it that the September reserve class may not happen due to class #100 still being in session and the current recruitment of "Level 2" reserve officers/deputies to join on for the upgrade to "Level 1." If this recruitment plan is successful, there will not be enough trainers (DIs) in the reserve training cadre to implement reserve class #101. The full-time academy DI's rarely lends it's cadre to train reserves. However this is LA, CA and there are more rumors than playwrite scripts.
Good Luck through the remainder of your screening process and by all meens get in shape, shoot off some 9mm rounds, and do many mountain climbers. Most of the recruits that we have lost have been to injury and I foresee a few more being dropped for shooting scores. Consider it an inside tip.

[cease]

cobravenom1 could you tell us more about the mountain climbers exercise

[Hawkmoon269]

Thanks Cobra. I never bothered to followup on this but here's what happened.

Within a week of this interview I got a letter in the mail saying that I had been disqualified from the process. I inquired with the reserve coordinator that I initiated the process with and he was completely befuddled that I had gotten booted and also that it happened so quickly. Turns out it was a permanent DQ too. He said that in 10 years of doing reserves he'd never seen someone with such a good application get a permanent DQ. I didn't lie on the background at all and he didn't think anything would be a problem. After our interview he said that assuming I hadn't lied (I hadn't), I should get ready for the September class. It was frustrating to say the least and he seemed as frustrated as I was.

I assume what got me kicked out was my current position. I'm in the entertainment industry (in LA? you're kidding) and around some unsavory activity occasionally (lots and lots of drugs).

Anyway, the LAPD reserve program has my very impressed. They're actively recruiting reserves and I have my poly and PAT coming up. I originally wanted to do LASD to work in my area and though I really liked everyone at LASD that I met, the overall process for Reserves was really unorganized and chaotic IMO. LAPD seems to have their act together, has an office devoted to reserves and answering questions and a clear-cut process for the application.

Both are fine agencies so I don't think I could go wrong either way. Best of luck to you Cobra!

[txinvestigator1]

cobravenom1 could you tell us more about the mountain climbers exercise

Mountian climbers= Get in a front leaning rest position (push-up position). Keeping all other parts of your body still, run in place. Bring your feet up towards your body one at a time, as if running in place, you will bring your knnes up almost to your chest. It will kill you.

[cobravenom1]

Mountian climbers= Get in a front leaning rest position (push-up position). Keeping all other parts of your body still, run in place. Bring your feet up towards your body one at a time, as if running in place, you will bring your knnes up almost to your chest. It will kill you.

Physical death exercise. Try running 1.5 miles after doing 75, four count, and DI supervised mountain climbers in under 12 minutes. I'd rather climb Mount Ranier with no thermal undies in the winter.

[cobravenom1]

I assume what got me kicked out was my current position. I'm in the entertainment industry (in LA? you're kidding) and around some unsavory activity occasionally (lots and lots of drugs).

Being in the entertainment industry will not get you DQ'd, no matter where you work. As a matter of fact, there are many Reserves who work as bartenders, club owners, consultants etc... directly associated with Hollywood and it's studios. However if you work in adult entertainment, then that may be another hurdle I have no knowledge of how to overcome. Reserves here in LA are a breed apart because of the possibilities you bring to the table.
If you can, have your BI investigator look-up why you were DQ'd. You do have the right to respond in writing as to why and how the questioned event happened as well as how you cleared it up. LASD is a great department with an outstanding Reserve program. LAPD ranks up there too but it's city limit's = small compared to LA county = large/huge.

[cease]

Physical death exercise. Try running 1.5 miles after doing 75, four count, and DI supervised mountain climbers in under 12 minutes. I'd rather climb Mount Ranier with no thermal undies in the winter.

thanks guys ill have to give it a try