POLICE LIEUTENANT

Police Lieutenant

A Police Lieutenant plans, organizes, and directs the work of sworn and civilian employees engaged in the operation of an assigned watch or a 24-hour team in a police division or an investigational unit or detail; commands a specialized division or section; applies sound supervisory principles and techniques in building and maintaining an effective workforce; fulfills equal employment opportunity responsibilities and does related work.

Requirement(s)/Minimum Qualification(s)

Two years as a Police Sergeant, Municipal Police Sergeant, Police Detective II, or Police Detective III in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) by April 29, 2027, one year of which must have been in a supervisory capacity; and completion of 90 semester or 135 quarter units from an accredited college or university.

Under the policy of rounding off experience to the nearest full month, continuous service beginning on or before May 13, 2025 meets the two-year experience requirement. Candidates must meet the experience requirement prior to appointment to Police Lieutenant.

Applicants who have completed a minimum of 60 semester or 90 quarter units may file for this examination. However, they cannot be appointed until they have completed the 90 semester or 135 quarter units as indicated in Requirement #2. Education will be verified by the LAPD Personnel Division's Position Control Section, located at 100 West First Street, Rm. 228, 90012 View phone number on click.appcast.io. Official copies or Original Transcripts will be required prior to appointment. Do not submit transcripts to the Personnel Department.

In addition to the regular City application, applicants must submit a "Police Lieutenant Verification of Work Experience form" (VWE) with the required signatures. The form can be obtained at (Download PDF reader). Applicants may attach their completed VWE form to their on-line application at the time of filing, or will have seven (7) calendar days from the on-line submission date to e-mail a copy of their completed VWE form to View email address on click.appcast.io . The subject line of your e-mail must include the exam title, your name and indicate it is a VWE. In the body of your e-mail, you must also include your first and last name, last four digits of your Social Security Number and contact phone number. Applicants who fail to submit their signed VWE form within the time required will not be considered further in this examination and their applications will not be processed.

Applicants must list their school name and location, dates attended, and number of semester or quarter units completed in the Education Section of the application. Applicants who fail to provide this information on their application will not be considered further in this examination and their applications will not be processed.

Supervisory capacity is defined as having full-time responsibility over other personnel in the performance of their duties, assigning work to and reviewing the work of subordinates, and completing personnel rating reports. Functional responsibility for personnel at crime scenes does not meet the definition of supervisory experience.

Please note that qualifying education must be from a college or university accredited by a City of Los Angeles recognized agency. A list of approved accrediting agencies can be found at (Download PDF reader).

Where To Apply & Application Deadline

Applications WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED ON-LINE. When you are viewing the on-line job bulletin of your choice, simply scroll to the top of the page and select the "Apply" icon. On-line job bulletins are also available for Promotional Examinations.

Only police experience shall be shown in the employment history part of the application and shall include the date of original appointment as a Police Officer, date of each promotion, and date of each transfer to another bureau or type of assignment that lasted three months or longer.

APPLICATION DEADLINE Applications must be received by THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026.

Selection Process

The examination will consist of a qualifying multiple-choice test, an advisory essay and a weighted interview. Candidates must receive a passing score on the qualifying multiple-choice test to continue in the examination.

The qualifying multiple-choice test, may evaluate the following job knowledge areas: principles and practices in supervision and community policing; LAPD policies, procedures, and philosophy as contained in the Department Manual, specialized manuals, and other documents of the LAPD relating to LAPD organization and structure, field operations, emergency and specialized unit operations, police tactics, use of force, pursuits, the arrest, detention, and disposition of prisoners and property, Juvenile Diversion Program, training programs, employee performance evaluation and discipline, employee safety, recording and reporting requirements, and the interrelationships between the LAPD and other City departments and the legal system; Constitutional law, case law, and court decisions; procedural justice; investigative board findings affecting the LAPD; the Police Officer's Bill of Rights; City government, federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations relating to personnel management; the Memoranda of Understanding for subordinate personnel; analytical ability used in calculating crime trends; and other necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities. The multiple-choice questions, with the possible exception of questions intended to test analytical ability in which all pertinent information is provided, will be from sources listed on the published bibliography. The bibliography will be available on-line at Additionally, all Los Angeles Police Department employees may contact LAPD's Career Development Unit, via e-mail at View email address on click.appcast.io for information regarding study materials .

The qualifying multiple-choice test will be proctored and administered on-line during a single session. Candidates invited to participate in the on-line multiple-choice test will be able to take the test as instructed from a remote location (i.e., their home) using a computer with a webcam and a reliable internet connection. Candidates will receive an e-mail from the City of Los Angeles outlining the dates and specific steps on how to take the multiple-choice test on-line. It is anticipated that the remote proctored multiple-choice test will be administered between THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026 and SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2026. Candidates who do not complete and submit the remote proctored multiple-choice test on-line using a computer by the specified date and time as instructed will not be considered further in this examination. For detailed information regarding the process for completing the multiple-choice test on-line, visit .

Only candidates who demonstrate a technical hardship may be offered the option to take the multiple-choice test onsite at a City facility.

Candidates with a passing score on the qualifying multiple-choice test will be invited to participate in the advisory essay test .

The advisory essay test, may evaluate the following competencies: Written Communication, Judgment and Decision Making, Initiative, Resolves Conflict, Leadership, Community Relations, and Job Knowledge which may include knowledge of and ability to apply: LAPD policies and procedures related to supervision of subordinates, community policing, field operations, training programs, and police tactics; LAPD organization and structure; investigative board findings affecting the LAPD; criminal, Constitutional, and case law; problem-solving, and analytical skills; the ability to communicate effectively in writing; and other necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities. The essays will not be scored separately, but will be presented to the interview board for discussion with the candidate, and for consideration in the overall evaluation of the candidate.

The passing score for the qualifying multiple-choice test will be determined by Personnel Department staff after the qualifying test is administered. Consideration will be given to the number of candidates taking the test and the existing and anticipated number of vacancies, such that there are a sufficient number of eligibles on the list to satisfy current and future vacancies for the next two years. Therefore, the passing score for the qualifying multiple-choice test may be set either above or below 70%.

The interview may evaluate the following competencies: Oral Communication, Written Communication, Leadership, Emotional Maturity, Judgment and Decision Making, Initiative, Community Relations, Resolves Conflict, and Job Knowledge which may include knowledge of and ability to apply LAPD policies, procedures, and philosophy; ability to apply management principles; analytical and problem-solving abilities; planning and organizational skills, interpersonal skills; procedural justice, and other necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities.

The interview panel may consist of members of the LAPD, the community, and/or outside agencies. LAPD personnel folders will be used. Candidates are encouraged to review their personnel folder by December 4, 2026. Personnel folders will not