54,475 to $77,172

A starting salary above the minimum may be available based on education and/or law enforcement experience.

As a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department, a Police Specialist maintains order, enforces laws and ordinances, and protects life and property; issues citations, makes arrests, prepares reports, and provides information to the public and departmental units; works with neighborhood associations and community members as a planner, community organizer, problem solver and information link; and does related work.

NOTE:

A Police Specialist will receive a condensed version of the classroom and physical training provided at the Police Academy for Police Officer recruits. A Police Specialist, upon successful completion of a 12-month probation period, will receive a Charter Section 1014 transfer to the class of Police Officer.

1. Possess a current California Basic P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer Standards and Training) Certificate at the time of application; or Have standing as an LAPD Line Reserve Officer with Certified Designated level 1 (CDL) status; or A Basic Course Waiver issued by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Testing; and
2. Meet other standards including those pertaining to vision, physical capability, health conditions, and background applicable to Police Officer. You must also be 21 years of age at the time of hire.

THE SELECTION PROCESS IS STARTED by faxing a letter stating your desire to apply for Police Specialist. The letter must include your name, social security number, telephone number(s) where you can be contacted, address, the California law enforcement agency with which you are employed, and the length of time you have been employed by the agency. You must fax a copy of your current California Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate, verification of your standing as an LAPD Line Reserve with CDL 1 status, or a copy of your Basic Course Waiver. These documents should be faxed to (213) 473-9040, attention of the Police Specialist Analyst. After your qualifications have been verified, you will be contacted to schedule the necessary steps.

1. Advisory PRELIMINARY BACKGROUND APPLICATION (PBA) and JOB PREVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE (JPQ): The PBA includes questions regarding your background so that you can be provided a preliminary assessment of your chance for success in the complete background investigation. The JPQ includes questions designed to help you understand the nature of the work you will be performing as a Police Specialist. The advisory PBA and JPQ must be completed online (www.lacity.org/per/safety.htm) before you appear for the written test. Once you fill out the PBA and JPQ online, you will receive immediate results regarding your responses. Be sure to bring your PBA results and your JPQ results with you to the written test.
2. PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS ESSAY (PQE): Requires you to write essays in response to questions regarding demonstration of your personal qualifications for a law enforcement position. Essays will be evaluated based on your reading skill, written communication skill, and demonstrated effectiveness in judgment and decision making and behavioral flexibility. You must read the questions carefully to ensure that your answers are appropriate to the questions. Passing the PQE requires a score of 70% or higher. The score you receive will determine your rank on the hiring list. You may take the PQE once every 3 months. Your score is valid for 18 months. Written test sessions are offered five times each week. Testing is held at the following locations (no testing on major holidays):
   
   
   • Personnel Building
     700 East Temple Street - Room 115-B, Los Angeles 90012
     Every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. and Every Saturday at 8:00 a.m., (213) 473-9311 TDD (213) 473-9312
   • Constituent Service Center
     8475 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles 90044
     1st Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
   • Marvin Braude Building
     6262 Van Nuys Boulevard - Conf. Room 1-A, Van Nuys 91401
     Every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
   • San Pedro Municipal Building
     638 South Beacon Street - Conf. Room 452, San Pedro 90731
     Every Monday at 7:00 p.m.
   • Hollywood Neighborhood City Hall
     6501 Fountain Avenue - Community Room, Los Angeles 90028
     Every Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

   NOTE:

   For recruitment purposes, written tests may occasionally be held at other locations to be announced. Please visit www.JoinLAPD.com for a complete listing.

3. PHYSICAL ABILITIES TEST: Consists of events designed to measure your strength, endurance, and agility. The PAT consists of two portions. The first portion is taken after placement on the eligible list and is administered at a City facility. The second test portion, which consists of a treadmill test, will be administered usually at the time of the Medical Evaluation. A description of the test will be provided when you are scheduled or upon request. This description is also available on-line at www.lacity.org/per/recruit1.htm You may take this test as often as is necessary to pass, and the score is valid for 12 months.
4. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: The investigation begins with completion of a Personal History Form, which requires compilation of extensive biographical information, completion of additional questionnaires, fingerprinting, and a background interview. The investigation includes checks of employment, police, financial, education, and military records and interviews with family members, neighbors, supervisors, co-workers, and friends. Findings are valid for 12 months. A polygraph examination will be conducted to confirm information obtained during the selection process.
5. MEDICAL EVALUATION: Consists of a thorough evaluation by a City physician. It is essential that you be in excellent health, with no conditions that would restrict your ability to safely perform the work of a Police Officer. A cardiac stress test may be required. To remain medically qualified, you must maintain your good health during the period following the medical examination. Medical examination results are valid for up to 12 months, at the discretion of the City's medical staff. Part of the medical evaluation includes a PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION by a City psychologist. This evaluation consists of written tests and an individual oral interview. You will be evaluated on the psychological factors related to successful job performance to determine if you are suited for the difficult and stressful occupation of Police Officer. The results of the oral psychological evaluation are valid for 12 months. Your written psychological tests are valid for up to 24 months, at the discretion of the City's psychological staff. For candidate safety, the final portion of the PAT (treadmill test) will be conducted after receiving a medical clearance.
6. CERTIFICATION AND APPOINTMENT: Before you can be hired as a Police Specialist, you must successfully complete steps 1 through 5 above.

SELECTIVE CERTIFICATION: Applicants who are fluent in a language other than English may be selectively certified and eligible for bonus pay.

DEPARTMENT INTERVIEW: You will be interviewed by the hiring department to determine your qualifications for this position. Only those candidates who pass the interview will receive a Conditional Job Offer.

HEALTH/PHYSICAL CONDITION: You must be in excellent health, with no conditions that would restrict your ability to safely complete Academy training and perform police work for the Los Angeles Police Department. Your weight (body fat content) must be appropriate for height and build and you should be in excellent physical condition.

VISION: Your uncorrected distance vision must not exceed 20/70 in either eye and the best eye must be at least 20/40 and wearing eyeglasses you must have corrected vision to 20/30 in each eye. If soft contact lenses are worn, they must have been worn for at least three months and vision must be at least 20/30 in each eye tested wearing the contact lenses and there is no uncorrected distant vision requirement. If a LASIK procedure (refractive surgery) was performed, vision must be at least 20/30 in each eye. In addition, candidates must be able to accurately and quickly name colors, and must be free from other visual impairments that would restrict the ability to perform law enforcement duties.

BACKGROUND: Any conviction by a state, the federal government, or a foreign government of a crime, the punishment for which would have been imprisonment in a federal penitentiary or the state prison (felony) will result in a disqualification. Note: Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor involving domestic violence from carrying a firearm.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT SUBSTANCE SCREENING: Because this class has been designated as safety sensitive, in accordance with City Policy, substance-screening tests may be required prior to appointment.

ACADEMY TRAINING: You will be required to attend an abbreviated training and orientation program, lasting approximately four weeks, which will cover areas where LAPD training exceeds POST mandated training and areas that are LAPD specific. The training will be conducted in a manner that recognizes your standing as an experienced California peace officer and not a new recruit. Training is based on a 40-hour week during which you will receive full pay.

ASSIGNMENTS: A Police Specialist's initial assignment will be in a position that has been designated as a Temporary Training position by the Civil Service Commission. Employment in such positions will be limited to six months. After service in the Temporary Training position, employees will receive regular appointments to the class of Police Specialist and will begin a 12-month probationary period. Upon successful completion of the 12-month probationary period, a Police Specialist will receive a Charter Section 1014 transfer to the class of Police Officer. Police Specialists are assigned to a Training Officer during their field training. Your first two to three years will be spent in a patrol assignment.

JOB BENEFITS: Among the excellent benefits provided are annual paid vacations, holidays, medical and dental plans, sick leave, and a retirement system.

1. Appointment is subject to possession of a valid California driver's license.
2. The City of Los Angeles has voluntarily agreed to a Consent Decree, approved in federal court, which provides for increased representation of women, Blacks, and Hispanics in the LAPD. Additionally, the City wishes to increase the number of Asian-Pacific Islander officers.
3. As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to programs, services, and activities.
4. Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure that minimum qualifications are met. Candidates may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualifications stated on this bulletin.

If you need additional information, you may go to www.lacity.org/per/safety.htm, call (213) 473-9060, or visit the Public Safety Bureau’s Recruitment and Selection Division, 700 East Temple Street, Room 150, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Class Code 2217CONT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REVISED 04-25-2008

If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment. Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position.

The City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, creed, color, ancestry, medical condition (cancer), and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Applicants or employees who believe that they have been discriminated against are encouraged to contact the Office of Discrimination Complaint Resolution at (213) 473-9123.