Thinking about LAPD

[nrvnqsrxk]

Hey guys, I'm currently a senior at the University of Southern California, with a major in Business Administration with a concentration in finance, and am going to graduate in May. I heard the hiring process takes around 6 months, so I figured I'd start now.

I'm going to take the PQE test soon for the LAPD, and was wondering what was the best way I could prepare for it. From the research I've done, it seems like the people who score the highest are considered first for employment. I was wondering what was the best way to to study for the multiple choice exam.

Are the questions basic knowledge questions regarding math, reading comprehension and critical thinking? Or are they more situational questions that test for law enforcement knowledge? Also, what types of responses are they looking for from the essay questions?

I tried calling the mentor service found on the joinLAPD.com website, but no one was available to answer my call. I figured I could get a straight answer from someone at Calguns.net. Thanks for taking the time to read this and help me out!

[shot]

Go here and read up.

http://policebackground.net/Forum/

[nrvnqsrxk]

Yeup, been on that forum for the past 2 hours, just soaking everything. Thanks for the heads up

I tried to take the test today, showed up 10 minutes early, but they already ran out of blue papers to fill out

[tyrist]

The written test is a joke especially for college students. I am sure you will do fine.

[Unit74]

The written test is a joke especially for college students. I am sure you will do fine.

It was one step up from one of those" Picture menus" at McDonalds when I took it. I was like WTF!?!?! Was that really the test? And I am by no means a stellar test taker.

[sac550]

Why would anyone want to work for LAPD? There are some great agencies out there that are hiring and don't have any of the black marks LAPD has.

Continue with the leo bashing and you will not be posting in this forum in the future. You might want to read the rules of this forum in the sticky.

[nrvnqsrxk]

Looking to get into Federal Law Enforcement in the future, and figured working for LAPD seems like a good place to cut my teeth. Ideally I'd work there until I were on SWAT for around three years before applying for an FLEO agency.

Where do you recommend applying to? I want to be able to get on a SWAT team eventually.

[Trigger Finger]

LAPD is a very good department with the FIRST and now possibly the best SWAT team in the nation! When I joined the department I got to waive the initial test due to my prior experience and having a college degree.
You should do fine on the written.
It will take you about 5 years just to be able to apply for SWAT.
Good luck.

[sg916]

It is a crappy time to get into a law enforcement career. Most agencies are in or soon will be in budget cutbacks. They are hundreds of laid off officers right now trying to get the few jobs available in the state.

If you can get picked up go for it. The benefits will start decreasing as seen with 3 @ 55 being accepted at a few agencies now. I caution you being the newbie your the first one to be cut in budget problems.

Don't let this discourage you, I like seeing hard working people get into law enforcement.

[tyrist]

Looking to get into Federal Law Enforcement in the future, and figured working for LAPD seems like a good place to cut my teeth. Ideally I'd work there until I were on SWAT for around three years before applying for an FLEO agency.

Where do you recommend applying to? I want to be able to get on a SWAT team eventually.

First if you want to be Federal Law Enforcement just apply for it. Second if you want to make the swat team at minimum you need to have 5 years of patrol experience. There are not too many young people on swat teams.

[bluestaterebel]

Looking to get into Federal Law Enforcement in the future, and figured working for LAPD seems like a good place to cut my teeth. Ideally I'd work there until I were on SWAT for around three years before applying for an FLEO agency.

Where do you recommend applying to? I want to be able to get on a SWAT team eventually.

Times are tough right now, I think there is a hiring freeze with the LAPD right now. However, I have a bit of a prediction. If its action youre looking for, you will get tons of it working the streets of LA. You will see more as a Los Angeles police officer than most officers in the country. You will also learn that SWAT is over rated as well. Remember if there is a SWAT call out, patrol and Detectives are already there. Besides, non SWAT officers are allowed to have AR15s, Slug guns, and soon 1911s.

I highly doubt that after working several years with the LAPD you will chose to take a paycut and go FEDS, and there are so many cool gigs within LAPD that i doubt you will want SWAT when u figure out what they r about. No disrespect on SWAT, they are the best at what they do but its pretty anticlimactic, youll see more action and break down more doors working narcotics or the gang unit. I dont think there are too many guys under 40 working SWAT.

As for the test, they r not important. They are all pass or fail except for the Interview.That is the important one that gets scored. Good luck!

[SoCalDep]

If its action youre looking for, you will get tons of it working the streets of LA.....officers are allowed to have AR15s, Slug guns, and soon 1911s.

OK....You win. I'm taking my shovel and sandbox and sulking in the non-1911 corner.

[nrvnqsrxk]

Despite the competition and lowered paycheck, I'm still going to go through with the process. I read once that if you found something you loved doing, you'd never have to work a day in your life. If this doesn't work out, I also have other things planned

[Chk Chk Boom]

Despite the competition and lowered paycheck, I'm still going to go through with the process. I read once that if you found something you loved doing, you'd never have to work a day in your life. If this doesn't work out, I also have other things planned

That's a great outlook man. Plus that degree of yours will get you far if you decide law enforcement isn't for you. Good luck brother!

[Paul E]

I just took the written exam. Its pretty straightforward and simple. Just 3 essay questions. I ended up writing about a page and a half per question. I consider myself to have a pretty good grasp on the english language, though. It took me about an hour, 90 minutes are alotted.

I'll get the results in a month or so...so we'll see if it was actually as easy as I thought it was.