POST Academy

[MASTERLAB]

Hello Officers,

I am applying to various departments to become a peace officer and had a few questions about POST.

I have been looking on the POST website and called the number listed for the Los Angeles POST Academy (as well as others in the LA County Area) but couldn't get through and there is no email I can find. I was hoping to see if it was possible to go through the academy 'self-sponsored' using the Cal Vet Program to be a more competitive applicant

Does Anyone have an email to get in contact with the POST Academy?

Has anyone self sponsored themselves through the academy? Any advice, difficulties?

Does POST accept the Cal Vet Education Program for payment?

[CaptMike]

Last time i spoke with one of the Rio Hondo acafemy deans, they told me that Rio Hondo was goung to be allowed to run full academies again. Dont know if that happened yet, but call the Rio Hondo community college criminal justice program and ask. Most other LA academies such as LASD ans LAPD do not allow self sponsored recruits, only agency sponsored

[mixicus]

POST certifies (amongst other things) the programs at LE academies. It does not run a basic academy. The basic academies are offered by either a major department or a community college. In LA county, there are basic academies offered by LAPD, LASD, Rio Hondo College and occasionally by Long Beach PD. Adjacent to LA county, there are basic academies offered by Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange County SDs as well as Fullerton, Golden West Community Colleges.

It is possible to self-sponsor thru an academy. Not all academies accept self-sponsored recruits. The ones independent of a department (i.e. community college based) are more commonly associated with self-sponsors (Rio Hondo or Golden West).

Having completed an academy does make you a more competitive applicant. To a dept, it shows a commitment to the career. It also means they don't have to worry about you dropping out during the academy, having to pay for you to attend and it puts you 6 months closer to being operational than a recruit. It would allow you to apply for "academy graduate" listings. Most depts that post for "recruits" will also post for "graduates" at the same time.

Just call the academy and ask. Golden West, Rio Hondo and Fullerton should be very open and approachable.

As for use of Cal Vet or GI Bill type benefits, these can be use to pay for the academy ("college"). I do not know if all fees/supplies associated with an academy are subject to funding from these programs. POST has nothing to do with the collection of tuition. Again POST sets the standards and audits compliance. Tuition and fees are related to the host college. Even if the academy is under the umbrella of a dept, there is an associated college (OCSD with Santa Ana CC).

[NuGunner]

Try Golden West College, Fullerton city college, and I think Pasadena city college. The first two I know for sure run POST certified academies. Co-worker of mine graduated from Golden West and then got hired on.

[p7m8jg]

Depends on the academy. When I went through in 1978 many of our class were self-sponsored. When I taught at Stanislaus County's RSCJTC in 2006/2007 there were a few also self-sponsored recruits.

It can be done...

[CaptMike]

Pasadena city college only runs the 40 hour 832 pc course and the 24 hour 832 pc firearms course. They have one of the better administration of justice programs but do not run a full academy.

[MASTERLAB]

Thank-you for the clarification between POST and an Academy that meets POST requirements.

I will look into the community colleges mentioned to see if they will work in my situation.

[MASTERLAB]

Thank-you for the clarification between POST and an Academy that meets POST requirements.

I will look into the community colleges mentioned to see if they will work in my situation.

Thank-you all for your replies, they were very helpful.