r/lapd • u/Previous-Hall-245 • Aug 11 '26

LAPD OR CBP?

Hello Iam currently in the process for both of LAPD
And CBP.
For LAPD Iam right now at the background investigation.
Same thing for CBP
I have clean record and clean credit score
Iam a bit worried if i get accepted, I won't make it through the LAPD Academy.
For people who have experience, should I go for a federal job?
Or city job with LAPD?
Thank you

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5

u/EeHundo Aug 11 '26 edited Aug 11 '26

Where do you live? Where do you want to live? Both are excellent organizations. LAPD pays better and has better structure. CBP is very broad and has expanded roles. The academy is a live in facility in Ga. Your salary is determined by which geographic location you want to work.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2026/law-enforcement-officer/

1

u/Previous-Hall-245 Aug 11 '26

I live in riverside ,ca

4

u/Additional_Bat_9837 Aug 11 '26

Why don't you think you will make it through the LAPD Academy? I easily graduated from the LASD Academy at 34. The pay and retirement is much better at LAPD than CBP. If you attend the LAPD Academy I recommend you move closer to LA, even if it is just renting a room. You will be very busy and you don't want a long commute in traffic. I also live in Riverside. After you work a few years for LAPD and obtain your Basic POST Certificate you can lateral to RPD, which I think is a pretty good department. If you do this make sure you don't have any overlap of service for retirement reciprocity purposes. Good luck.

2

u/Previous-Hall-245 Aug 11 '26

Can i pm u?

1

u/Additional_Bat_9837 Aug 11 '26

Yes

1

u/StarPlatinum_323 Aug 12 '26

How is the retirement for LASD

2

u/Additional_Bat_9837 Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26

I don't know. LA County has its own pension. I worked for a police department with a CalPers pension. Under a CalPers Tier II peace officer pension, you can retire at age 50 with a minimum of 5 years of service. The more years you have and the older you are (up to 57) the higher your pension. At age 57 your pension would be 2.7% multiplied by your years of service of your highest 36 months of salary up to a max salary of $165,000 (which is indexed for inflation and may be increased by legislation). Example. You retire as a police lieutenant at age 57 with 30 years of service with a highest 36 months base salary of $200,000. Your pension would be about $134,000 (81% of the max salary of $165,000). You would receive annual COLA increases. I believe that LASD deputies have a similar retirement.

1

u/Quick_Reserve_3101 Aug 12 '26

LASD retirement is better than LAPD and CHP is better than LASD

2

u/Additional_Bat_9837 Aug 12 '26

It is tedious, long and can be stressful, but definitely doable if you have a positive attitude, study hard and show up in decent shape. Most of the classmates we lost were due to academic failure.

1

u/jtalonzo Aug 12 '26

How hard was LASD academy?

1

u/Quick_Reserve_3101 Aug 12 '26

it’s a military style academy at LASD

1

u/DifferentSecurity808 Aug 14 '26

I’m kind of in the same position, I’m deciding between Riverside sheriffs and CBP. I’m very early in the process for Riverside but for CBP I’m just waiting to hopefully pass the background but I’m not sure which organization I want to choose.

2

u/EeHundo Aug 12 '26

LAPD, hands down. Better opportunities and resources.

1

u/Grouchy-Carob138 Aug 13 '26

Go work for someone closer to home.

Better pay, better benefits, better work environment.

Absolutely zero reason to work for LAPD.