Need Application Advice from LEOs

[PsychGuy274]

So I live in San Diego and was in the application process for SDPD. Just today I got my BI denial letter (the one that says that they aren't even going to do a BI, not that I failed it). I am fairly ticked seeing as I am college educated, currently work for law enforcement and literally have no criminal or traffic record whatsoever.

I already talked to some officers and even the recruiter said that they are being INSANELY picky right now due to budget issues in San Diego along with the rest of California.

My question is this: Are there any agencies around southern California that are actively hiring? And I mean putting 20-30 people through the academy at once, not just 2 like San Diego. I heard that Irvine, Upland and San Bernadino might be hiring now.

Also, I am seriously considering just leaving California after I graduate (~6 months). I've been looking into Manchester, Keene and State for New Hampshire. I'd also consider Arizona, Colorado or Nevada.

ANY help/advice/info would be greatly appreciated.

PsychGuy274

[Ron-Solo]

Arizona has been hurting too. Mesa PD laid off a bunch and they had trouble finding jobs in the area as most of the cities are experiencing financial difficulties.

Background investigations are expensive and are useless unless they are hiring.

LAPD and LASD are hiring in small numbers, as is CHP. Two years ago LASD was running 3-4 classes at a time with 100+ in each class. Our last class graduated 19. Times are tough right now.

Keep at it and be persistent. Best of luck.

[Unit74]

Escondido is hiring 4 and they got over 200 applicants. Most of which were laterals or academy graduates.

Riverside SO is hiring. CHP is stalling on their academies as well right now.


It's just a really bad time to try and get into LE. Once the smoke clears there will end up being a shortage. But until that time I'd say look into alternatives.

FWIW...... You can go Federal at the military bases. However, the 0083 classifications are not "Peace Officers" even though that is exactly what you will be doing. It's a cost savings measure. You will be considered law enforcement on the base though.

Camp Pendleton and Yuma are hiring. 32nd st and Coronado as well. Pay starts in the $46k-ish range and at least at Pendleton there is plenty of OT to work.

[Cpl. Haas]

Border Patrol is hiring agents right now... not sure how many, but the feds sure don't seem to be hurting like the local agencies are.

[Big D]

+1 on Broder Patrol, as well as Customs. Don't let the small salaries that they quote on USA jobs scare you away, they both pay pretty well.

[PsychGuy274]

I actually just applied to Border Patrol. One of my friend just got in and is on his way to the academy.

If there are any Border Patrol Agents here that can offer some insight, send me a PM!

[cr250chevy]

Dont get your hopes down too much on getting hired somewhere. Yeah there are ALOT of applicants with POST certificates and there are even alot with badges in their wallets already. But if an agency is going to host their own academy, they are probably looking for entry level GOOD/ EXCELLENT recruits that they can train and build up to better fit their departments culture/ ways of doing police work by attending their own academy. Many times with laterals they come over with a different method of doing police work and can often be "set in their ways," and many departments who host their own academy do so for a reason, they dont know what kinds of training the applicant got at their academy, because not all academies are created equal. By sending to you one of their own academies they KNOW EXACTLY what level of training you got.
Good luck, like many have stated you are trying to enter at the worst time possible, like myself, just stay persistent and NEVER lie on anything. If its meant to be it will happen...

[bRiT636]

This website has a lot of great, pertinent info.

http://policebackground.net/Forum/