Working for the LAPD (law, legal, design)

[strikefirefall]

Can anyone here help give me more insight into it? Like someone who is a cop or knows one personally. There's no police forum on City Data so I thought this would be a good place to post this topic. I'm planning to take the written test tomorrow.

[California Vagabond]

You might have better luck with this question on a forum for police officers, like:

Police Forums & Law Enforcement Forums @ Officer.com

or

Real Police: Law Enforcement,Police Officer,Criminal Justice,Background Checks website...

[molerat]

why do you want to be a cop?

[Gurbie]

Originally Posted by strikefirefall

Can anyone here help give me more insight into it? Like someone who is a cop or knows one personally. There's no police forum on City Data so I thought this would be a good place to post this topic. I'm planning to take the written test tomorrow.

The standard written test for peace officers is designed to allow you to demonstrate you reading, writing, and reasoning skills. There won't be any questions designed to test your knowledge of police procedure, because you aren't expected to have any at this stage.

They won't make you diagram sentences, or anything corny like that. But you will be asked to read through some short pieces, then answer questions designed to show how well you understood what you just read.

You may be given logic puzzles to solve, like "Which of these three things is not like the others?", or "what is the next number in this sequence?"

You'll also be asked to read some "scenarios" that may or may not be police related, then asked questions. But they won't be testing your policing skills, but instead your logic, judgment, and maybe your character (ethical stuff).

If you had more time, there are practice tests you can take, just to get an idea what to expect. But really, it's not something you can study for. You either have the necessary reading comprehension skills, or you don't.

I don't want to worry you, but I'll tell you, the written exam is harder than you might expect. Out of every 100 P.O. candidates, only three make it all the way through the selection process. The "written" is the first big hurdle, and I've seen it frustrate many guys and women who I thought would otherwise make good cops.

Get plenty of rest, drink some water and have a coffee, and take your time. If you rush, you'll make dumb mistakes (that being said, there will be a time limit- the examiners don't want to be there all day- but you'll have plenty of time to finish).

Good luck.

[strikefirefall]

Originally Posted by molerat

why do you want to be a cop?

A career in law enforcement has always been in the back of my head. I'd like to eventually work for the FBI.

[HarryKerryJr]

Yes. The written police report is just as vital as the more obvious police skills. I know a fellow who was an excellent cadidate, so PERFECT for being a cop, but his learning disability just prvented him from mastering commas, and while they wanted to put him in the program to hire, his commas were killing the police report test/examples. The police report is a legal document and is often the only evidence a judge has, and that report must be unambiguous and clear, not the confusing mess my poor acquantence was producing with so many comma errors. So, if you wamt to be a cop, you all had better listen and learn in your English class.

[strikefirefall]

Originally Posted by HarryKerryJr

So, if you want to be a cop, you all had better listen and learn in your English class.

English is actually my strongest subject.

[strikefirefall]

Originally Posted by Gurbie

The standard written test for peace officers is designed to allow you to demonstrate you reading, writing, and reasoning skills. There won't be any questions designed to test your knowledge of police procedure, because you aren't expected to have any at this stage.

They won't make you diagram sentences, or anything corny like that. But you will be asked to read through some short pieces, then answer questions designed to show how well you understood what you just read.

You may be given logic puzzles to solve, like "Which of these three things is not like the others?", or "what is the next number in this sequence?"

You'll also be asked to read some "scenarios" that may or may not be police related, then asked questions. But they won't be testing your policing skills, but instead your logic, judgment, and maybe your character (ethical stuff).

If you had more time, there are practice tests you can take, just to get an idea what to expect. But really, it's not something you can study for. You either have the necessary reading comprehension skills, or you don't.

I don't want to worry you, but I'll tell you, the written exam is harder than you might expect. Out of every 100 P.O. candidates, only three make it all the way through the selection process. The "written" is the first big hurdle, and I've seen it frustrate many guys and women who I thought would otherwise make good cops.

Get plenty of rest, drink some water and have a coffee, and take your time. If you rush, you'll make dumb mistakes (that being said, there will be a time limit- the examiners don't want to be there all day- but you'll have plenty of time to finish).

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.