Reserve Police Officer Program

700 East Temple #B38
Los Angeles, CA
(424) 393-4540

The Los Angeles Police Reserves Corps is comprised of community members who volunteer their time to fulfill many of the roles handled by full-time sworn police officers. Reserve Officers receive the same training as full-time officers and work alongside them in every aspect of Department operations.

The Los Angeles Police Reserve Corps has hundreds of active reserve officers, and is the largest Police Department Reserve Unit in California. Accredited by the California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST), the Los Angeles Police Department’s Reserve officers are perhaps the finest in the nation.

The Los Angeles Police Reserve Corps continuously seeks qualified community members who meet the high standards necessary to become a Los Angeles Police Officer. The City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Police Department invite you to consider a second career with one of the nation’s finest law enforcement agencies.

The Los Angeles Police Department is also seeking qualified Reserve Police Officers for lateral entry into its Police Reserve Corps. Lateral Reserve Officers will not have to attend another academy, only orientation type training to become familiar with LAPD policies and procedures. Applicants must have graduated from a POST approved academy. Candidates will be required to successfully complete the same processing criteria required for a Los Angeles Police Reserve Officer. The first step is to attend a reserve orientation meeting.

The Rewards of Becoming a Reserve Officer

Reserve Officers are generally not content to play a passive role in life. Instead, they continue to devote more and more of their time and talents to the City of Los Angeles. They “get involved” for the betterment of their community, and by doing so, live up to the Reserve Corps’ motto, “To be a Reserve is to be twice a citizen.”

Because Reserve Officers are effective spokespersons in their neighborhoods for the support of law enforcement, their presence in the Department provides full-time officers with more insight into all segments of the City’s population.

Department personnel who have been associated with the Police Reserve Corps are continually impressed by the performance and dedication of its members.

How do the Reserve Officers fit into the organization of the Los Angeles Police Department? Because of the standards, the selection process and the training program for Reserve Officers, their acceptance by regular members of the Department has been extremely favorable. Some Patrol Officers have even requested to be assigned to work with a particular Reserve Officer. Reserve Officers have received numerous commendations for their actions in the field and are highly valued members of the LAPD team.

Level III Reserves

Level III Reserved Officers are uniformed Police Officers who are qualified to carry a firearm at 21 years of age (18-20 years of age cannot carry a firearm). Level III Reserves perform various administrative functions within the Police Department. Level III Reserve Officers are assigned duties at the front desk, with Area detectives and in community relations.

Requirements

1. Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application for membership;
2. Must be in good physical and mental health with no disabling physical condition;
3. Must possess a valid California Class C driver’s license;
4. Must not have a history of criminal or improper personal conduct that may affect suitability for police work;
5. Must possess a United States High school diploma or GED equivalent; and
6. United States Citizenship required or has applied for Citizenship.

Examination

1. Preliminary Background Application and Job Preview Questionnaire (PBA and JPQ)
2. Personal Qualifications Essay
3. Background Investigation and Polygraph Examination
4. Department Interview
5. Medical Evaluation and Psychological Evaluation
6. Physical Abilities Test (PAT – Treadmill)
7. Certification and Appointment

Training

Level III Reserve Officers received approximately 144 hours of professional classroom instruction. Classes are held at the Los Angeles Police Department Ahmanson Recruit Training Center (5651 West Manchester Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90045), Los Angeles Elysian Park Academy (1880 N. Academy Road, Los Angeles, CA 90012), and/or Edward M. Davis Training Facility (12001 Blucher Avenue, Granada Hills, CA 91344) tentatively as follows:

• Four-hour blocks, twice a week, on weeknights
• Eight-hour blocks, on Saturday or Sunday
• All classes are scheduled according to the instructor availability

Classes are not conducted on days that fall on major holidays. Classroom training methods are similar to those used in institutions of higher learning. Academic subjects are normally taught in a standard classroom setting and appropriate examinations are administered to ensure mastery of the subject matter. As training progresses, role-playing and practical field exercises are introduced.

Level III Reserve Officers also receive approximately 26 hours of basic self-defense including wrist locks, twist locks, kicks and other techniques at the lower end of the Department’s Use Of Force scale. Physical fitness exercises are used to prepare for self-defense training.

Equipment

Standard duty police equipment and uniforms are provided. Additional training materials and equipment may be purchased as needed.

Commitment

Level III Reserve Officers, after graduating from the academy, are required to work a minimum of 16 hours every 28-day deployment period and attend mandatory monthly Reserve Officer Meetings.

Level I and II Reserves

Level I and II Reserve Officers perform the same functions as regular, full-time police officers. They are armed, uniformed peace officers that work in police vehicles along with full-time officers.

Requirements

1. Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of application for membership;
2. Must be in good physical and mental health with no disabling physical condition;
3. Must possess a valid California Class C driver’s license;
4. Must not have a history of criminal or improper personal conduct that may affect suitability for police work;
5. Must possess a United States high school diploma or GED equivalent; and
6. United States Citizenship required as has applied for Citizenship.

Examination

1. Preliminary Background Application and Job Preview Questionnaire (PBA and JPQ)
2. Personal Qualifications Essay
3. Background Investigation and Polygraph Examination
4. Department Interview
5. Medical Evaluation and Psychological Evaluation
6. Physical Abilities Test (PAT – Treadmill)
7. Certification and Appointment

Training

Level I and II Reserve Officers receive additional training. Level II Reserve Officers receive approximately 189 hours of professional classroom instruction. Level I Reserve Officers receive approximately 394 hours of professional classroom instruction. Classes are held at the Los Angeles Police Department Ahmanson Recruit Training Center (5651 West Manchester Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90045), Los Angeles Elysian Park Academy
(1880 N. Academy Road, Los Angeles, CA 90012), and/or Edward M. Davis Training Facility (12001 Blucher Avenue, Granada Hills, CA 91344) tentatively as follows:

• Four-hour blocks, twice a week, on weeknights
• Eight-hour blocks, on Saturday or Sunday
• All classes are scheduled according to the instructor availability

Classes are not conducted on days that fall on major holidays. Classroom training methods are similar to those used in institutions of higher learning; it also mirrors the curriculum of the Los Angeles Police Department Academy. Academic subjects are normally taught in a standard classroom setting and appropriate examinations are administered to ensure mastery of the subject matter. As training progresses, role-playing and practical field exercises are introduced.

Level I and II Reserve Officers also receive approximately 72-hours of self-defense training. This training includes techniques available within the higher end of the Department’s Use of Force scale. Physical training includes weight training, calisthenics, and running. Level I and II Reserves are required to pass a physical fitness and self-defense test prior to graduation. Applicants should begin the Academy in a reasonably fit condition. Their running program should include some moderate to steep hill work.

Equipment

Standard duty police equipment and uniforms are provided. Additional training materials and equipment may be purchased as needed.

Commitment

After graduating from the academy Level I and II Reserve Officers are required to work a minimum of 16 hours every 28-day deployment period and attend mandatory monthly Reserve Officer Meetings.

How to Become a Reserve Officer
To start the process of becoming a Reserve you must attend an orientation seminar. Orientations are held the first and third Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm at the Van Nuys Community Police Station, 6240 Sylmar Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91401. Orientations are also held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at Olympic Community Police Station, 1130 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90006. For more information, call (424) 393-4540.