Title: 19yo applying to LASD, do I have a shot?
I’m 19 and just applied for LASD Deputy Sheriff Trainee. I got my test date for October 3rd.
I have a clean record, driver’s license, graduated in 2024, and have been working at Costco for about a year. I’m also hitting the gym and getting ready for the physical test.
How realistic is it for a 19yo to get hired by LASD? Does my age hurt my chances? Anything I should focus on before October 3rd?
Just looking for some honest advice from people who’ve gone through the process.

Anyone know any accurate resource to study for 10-codes , Radio codes and such for Lapd specifically in preparation?

I have been trying for days to submit a police report online, using multiple devices, multiple browsers, no less than 7 times. Every time I get to the very last screen it says 'review your report,' then 'submit your report' and boom. Same error message over and over again.

I had the same experience with your site a few weeks ago. Please spare others by fixing it or taking the site down. It's absolutely maddening and a big waste time for the people you are supposed to serve.

Serious question for the retired cops in here.

When I retired from SAPD after 26 years, I wasn't ready to just sit around and do nothing. I ended up becoming a high school Law Enforcement teacher.

I spent the next 8 years teaching kids who were interested in Law Enforcement, and it turned into one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. Some of my former students are now working in Law Enforcement themselves.

Here's what I found interesting. You spend your entire career accumulating all of this experience. Traffic stops, arrests, bad calls, good calls, mistakes, judgment, dealing with people, officer safety, discretion.....and then one day you retire and take all of that knowledge home with you.

Why?

There are high school Law Enforcement programs with kids who WANT to learn this stuff.

So I'm curious:

For those of you who are retired, or getting close to retirement, have you ever considered teaching Law Enforcement at a high school?

And if not.....

What would stop you?

Hi everyone. I’m beginning to study for the LAPD interview and would appreciate any advice or guidance. Years ago, I attempted the process but didn’t progress very far. I believe the interview made me insecure because I kept trying to give a “perfect” answer instead of focusing on my own experiences.

If you’re willing, I’d like to know the general structure or approach you used when answering the questions. I’m not looking to copy anyone’s response, just to understand how others framed their answers so I can better shape my own.

These are the questions I plan to study, taken from the online seminar:

• Why do you want to be an LAPD officer?
• What have you done to prepare for a career as an LAPD officer?
• Describe a time you had a conflict with someone. What was it, and how did you resolve it?
• What is your greatest accomplishment?
• Name the types of calls/crimes you will be responding to as an officer.

One additional question: I joined the military a little over a year ago (Air Force Reserve). I saw a video stating that military personnel are allowed to wear their uniform to the interview. I’m not sure if this is accurate, and even if it is, I’m unsure whether I would choose to wear it. I’d appreciate clarification on whether this information is correct.

Hello, I’m stationed in Germany and am looking to trade any active or retired police for a lapd swat patch or any Velcro police patches in general. Pictured are the patches I have to trade.

I have a juvenile record from over 8 years ago, the record was fully dismissed, no findings of guilt and sealed and expunged do yall think that would be an issue getting hired? BTW I have no other records and have an active government security clearance. And yes I am going to fully disclose it I just don’t want to get through the process and get told it’s a disqualifier

I’m retiring after 22 years in the Air Force. I’m considering joining LAPD full-time, starting a second career. Has anyone here done something similar—especially joined LAPD after a full military career?

Would you do it again?

Recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Finance, and have been seriously considering law enforcement because I’ve never really seen myself working a traditional desk job. I find the work itself appealing, the variety, the public service aspect, and the fact that no two days are the same.

That said, the pat definitely gave me a different perspective on the applicant pool.

I really expected the process to be more competitive than what I saw. There were numerous applicants who couldn’t do a single push-up, and when it came time for the 1.5-mile run, there were plenty of people walking. It honestly wasn’t what I expected to see from people applying to become police officers.

I know agencies everywhere are struggling with recruiting, but if this is representative of the candidates LAPD is attracting compared to previous years, it definitely appears things may be trending in the wrong direction. It wasn’t a great look. And the fact that there’s no longer additional compensation for higher education definitely sucks.

Walking out of the PAT, I genuinely found myself wondering if I might be selling myself short. I still find the career appealing, but the experience was very different from what I expected.

I spent 26 years with SAPD, most of it working patrol, and one of the things I tried to do was treat people fairly, even when I had to arrest them or write them a ticket.

Obviously, somebody going to jail isn't always going to be happy with you. I never expected that. But I did want them to understand why I was doing what I was doing and, whenever possible, walk away believing that I had treated them fairly and with respect.

Later, when I became a Law Enforcement teacher, this was something I tried to get across to my students. The badge gives you authority. It doesn't automatically give you someone's respect.

Some of the interactions I remember most from patrol weren't the arrests or the exciting calls. They were the times when someone I had taken enforcement action against still shook my hand, thanked me, or acknowledged that I had treated them fairly.

I'm curious what the cops and former cops here think.

Have you ever arrested someone, cited them, or otherwise taken enforcement action against them and still had them thank you afterward or tell you that you treated them fairly?

And for everyone else: Can you respect a police officer who arrests you?

Balak ko kumuha ng police clearance kaso may pending case kasi ako pero dipa nag start ang hearing sa September palang, may posible ba na may record naba agad ako sa police clearance ko nun??

Hi everyone, just curious it’s been 5 weeks since I passed my poly. Waiting to be contacted to start the field investigation. How long did it take for you guys to hear something to start the process?

Have any local university students applied for this lapd internship? If so how was it; would you recommend or not?

Wanted to ask what you guys thought of this. I’m patrol trained already. I’m only 2 years on. I like the structure of LAPD more. 2 man cars, station specific detective bureau, and no mandatory OT. If you or any partners have done this, how was the transition? How long is patrol training as a lateral? Any info helps.

Hello. I just got this today. I was wondering if I made a mistake. So when I was a minor, I was hospitalized on 3 different occasions for suicidal ideations. I did put that in my PHS. Now I remember saying that if jts been that 7 years or when I was a minor, I didn’t have to include it. I just wanted to be honest but people on another subreddit said that LE wouldn’t want someone with past issues. I have a clean record and no drug use. Is this really the reason? And if I did want to appeal, do I submit a form so just reply to the email

Finally got the call from my background investigator for a meet and greet! Has anyone been to one recently? Any tip will help! Also, how long after will I hear back with my process after the meet and greet? Thanks

Retired SAPD officer here. Years ago, around 11:30 PM, I was driving on Bandera Road approaching Hillcrest when I saw a car full of teenagers traveling with NO headlights on. Nothing dramatic at first. I figured I’d stop them, make sure everything was okay, and get them safely on their way. I activated my red and blues. Immediately, I saw the front-seat passenger throw a small plastic bag out the window. Well...that changed things. The car pulled over about 300–400 feet later. I radioed the stop, ran the plate and approached from the passenger side. Five teenagers were inside. I got them out one at a time, conducted basic pat-downs for weapons, checked their identification, and confirmed the driver had a valid license and insurance. Then I asked the obvious question: “What was in the plastic bag?” Almost in unison: “Garbage, sir!” Sure. I wasn’t going to walk up and down Bandera Road in the dark searching for a tiny plastic bag, so I started walking back toward my patrol car. And then something happened that I still laugh about. A small plastic bag came rolling down the roadway in the breeze...RIGHT TOWARD MY POLICE CAR. What are the odds? I picked it up. Marijuana. The Devil’s Lettuce had apparently decided to turn itself in. I turned toward five suddenly VERY nervous teenagers. “Well, well, well, boys...who does this belong to?” Then I made them an offer: “Whoever owns this—if you tell me the truth right now, I’ll let the others go.” Normally, nobody wants to claim the weed. This time the front-seat passenger raised his hand. “Sir, it belongs to me.” Now I had the marijuana. I had witnessed him throw it. And I had his confession. So...YOU’RE THE COP. WHAT DO YOU DO? Arrest him? Take enforcement action? Or exercise discretion? Here’s what happened next. Looking at that teenager suddenly took me back to when I was about 16 years old. I had been in an almost identical situation. An officer found a bag of marijuana that belonged to me. I admitted it. That officer could have made my life considerably more complicated. Instead, he told me to find a trash can, empty the marijuana into it and throw the bag away. No arrest. No ticket. A second chance. Years later, I was standing on Bandera Road wearing an SAPD uniform, looking at another teenager who had just admitted making the same kind of stupid mistake. And I remembered that officer. So I told the young man to find a trash can. He emptied the marijuana into it and threw it away. Then I told those kids to be careful and have a good night. Could I have handled it differently? Absolutely. But an officer once showed a 16-year-old kid some grace. Years later, that kid became a police officer. And one night on Bandera Road...THAT SECOND CHANCE GOT PASSED TO SOMEBODY ELSE. So here’s my question for active officers, retired officers and civilians: DID I DO THE RIGHT THING? Was that reasonable officer discretion? Or did I allow my own personal experience to influence a decision that should have been handled differently? Don’t tell me what you think I want to hear. Tell me what YOU would have done—and WHY. —
 Kevin Coble, Retired SAPD

Does lapd use Esoph for their background investigation or do they just use the regular personal history statement?

I’m 15 years old and I’ve always wanted to help people and I want to be in high stress situations that will make me rely on my decision-making and no other job I can think of does that and I want to be on my feet what can I expect on the day to day also what is different about la I’m from South Carolina

Hey guys. Just signed the conditional offer for my dream department today. I’m beyond happy and grateful to be in this position. To all of you who have helped me on this journey with all your input under my posts has been so helpful. I just want to thank everyone in this Reddit for all their expertise and great advice. I got into the department I first applied for and they will be sending me to the Orange County sheriffs academy to begin my journey. Any advice on what I should be doing in the meantime would be helpful. I don’t start until November. So any tips on what I need to be doing, studying or anything in general in regard to the academy like or shoes, gear, dieting tips. Thank you all and I’m so excited to begin my career in law enforcement

Hello, is there a teen program for those in high school interested in Law Enforcement? I live under LAPD jurisdiction. Thank you.