RESERVE, LAPD/ AIR PD/ CHP

[cylryu]

Hi guys,

I am applying RESERVE LAPD, ACTIVE LAPD and AIRPORT Police, now is on face 3. I am thinking about should i go for active or reserve? I just separated from the sevice few months ago. Try to get my bachelor right now and wanna try for reserve. but when i attended to the orientation, recruiter told us that if we wanna transfer from reserve to active, we gonna do the whole process again, it is true? if that so, whats the benefit for being a reserve?

moreover, i really wanna know the true cons for being a cop, I came from military and see alot of BS of it. it kinda hold me back for being a cop.

I really wanna learn something that my people are blind for, and educate them

thanks for the answers

[mixicus]

As a reserve, you can get your foot in the door while finishing your BA. As for going through the entire process again, depends on the department. If you are a Level 1 reserve, you shouldn't need to go through an academy again. As a level 2 or 3 reserve, you would need to train up to a level 1 or full time equivalent at an academy. You would likely need to go through a FTO program. If you are switching agencies, you need to go through the full hiring process.

As a full time officer/deputy, finishing your degree can be challenging. rotating shifts several times a year makes going to a traditional university difficult.

There's BS in every endeavor or career. Each path has it's own quirks. If too many quirks of a given job hit your hot-button issues, then it's BS and makes for a miserable time. Since I don't know what your hot-buttons are, your drivers or goals, I can't make a specific judgement on "cons" of going into LE.

General "cons": shift work, what's going on in the media, normal politics that exist in corporate America, para-military environment...

Pros: It's a career in which you CAN affect the quality of a person's or community's life every week. In SoCal, you get a good salary and benefit package (won't get rich but it ain't bad). The bond you get from working with the a team in some "interesting" circumstances.

[Che762x39]

I tell everyone take an aptitude test to see if law enforcement is for you. I never would have been a lawman if the Marines did not put me in the M.P.s.

One thing to get in the academy, another to pass probation and another to do 30 years. My academy class graduated 85 and I think 30 made retirement. Another downside is seniority. You will work holidays and you do not have a choice for shifts. When you promote your seniority starts over again. Now you have a wife that makes it difficult too.

[KD714]

LAPD has a lateral program for their Level 1 reserves. But the problem you will face is having to go through all three separate modules of academy to get there (Level 3,2 and1). This could take you a couple of years but it allows you more time to get your degree.

If you want to become a full time police officer don't go the reserve route. Go full time and work on your degree while you're working. There are several colleges that cater to officers and they have programs designed to fit your schedule.

Keep in mid that while on probation you're not going to have time for school.

As far as work BS goes you will be dealing with that no matter what career path you choose. Might as will do something you like.

[cylryu]

As a reserve, you can get your foot in the door while finishing your BA. As for going through the entire process again, depends on the department. If you are a Level 1 reserve, you shouldn't need to go through an academy again. As a level 2 or 3 reserve, you would need to train up to a level 1 or full time equivalent at an academy. You would likely need to go through a FTO program. If you are switching agencies, you need to go through the full hiring process.

As a full time officer/deputy, finishing your degree can be challenging. rotating shifts several times a year makes going to a traditional university difficult.

There's BS in every endeavor or career. Each path has it's own quirks. If too many quirks of a given job hit your hot-button issues, then it's BS and makes for a miserable time. Since I don't know what your hot-buttons are, your drivers or goals, I can't make a specific judgement on "cons" of going into LE.

General "cons": shift work, what's going on in the media, normal politics that exist in corporate America, para-military environment...

Pros: It's a career in which you CAN affect the quality of a person's or community's life every week. In SoCal, you get a good salary and benefit package (won't get rich but it ain't bad). The bond you get from working with the a team in some "interesting" circumstances.

thanks for you reply, they didnt tell me that lvl1 reserve is depend on dept., that make me more interest to in as a reserve, and i called the counselor today, they advise me finish my school then get back in for higher ranking, however; i gotta do the essay and rest of them again. i think i will go for reserve as this time

[cylryu]

I tell everyone take an aptitude test to see if law enforcement is for you. I never would have been a lawman if the Marines did not put me in the M.P.s.

One thing to get in the academy, another to pass probation and another to do 30 years. My academy class graduated 85 and I think 30 made retirement. Another downside is seniority. You will work holidays and you do not have a choice for shifts. When you promote your seniority starts over again. Now you have a wife that makes it difficult too.

thanks for you replied. holiday shift isn't big issue to me, i been thru it when i was in military, as long as pay for overtime.. but dont they? some of my buddies said yes, some said no.

[cylryu]

LAPD has a lateral program for their Level 1 reserves. But the problem you will face is having to go through all three modules separate modules of academy to get there (Level 3,2 and1). This could take you a couple of years but it allows you more time to get your BS.

If you want to become a full time police officer don't go the reserve route. Go full time and work on your BS while you're working. There are several colleges that cater to officers and they have programs designed to fit your schedule.

Keep in mid that while on probation you're not going to have time for school.

As far as BS goes you will be dealing with that no matter what career path you choose.

thanks for your replied, as you mentioned the school thing, what is the normal schedule for the LAPD? like 4 days on 3 dayys off? i were able finished 2 of my classes only while i was in military, and it was pain of my ***. i worked more than 18 hrs a day and then work on my school stuff

[KD714]

LAPD is on 3/12s. Your schedule will vary based on your days off and court.

[dicker3957lasd]

Where you go makes no deferrece

Its will not be easy wherever go you. Try not to take it home with you, on the other side you will always take it with you no matter where you go. My Class started with a 125 and 51 graduates, over 30 years 4 of the 51 that graduated that day 4 were shot to death on Duty, 1 officer was shot to death just after he had left the Station to go home. He stopped to use a restroom at a gas station. He was shot 6 times with his own gun. After 30 years most retired on medical.
If you asked me if I would do it again my reply is "HELL YES " I would do it all over again.

[cylryu]

Its will not be easy wherever go you. Try not to take it home with you, on the other side you will always take it with you no matter where you go. My Class started with a 125 and 51 graduates, over 30 years 4 of the 51 that graduated that day 4 were shot to death on Duty, 1 officer was shot to death just after he had left the Station to go home. He stopped to use a restroom at a gas station. He was shot 6 times with his own gun. After 30 years most retired on medical.
If you asked me if I would do it again my reply is "HELL YES " I would do it all over again.

thanks for the share. Sorry for the lost. would you mind i ask where he stationed at?