POLICE OFFICER (Revised 07/31/26)

Police OfficerAnnual salary is $93,730 to $127,660 and $97,363 to $127,660. Salary range applies to Police Officer I & II. Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer. Check for details.As a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department, a Police Officer maintains order, enforces laws and ordinances, and protects life and property; works with neighborhood associations and community members as a planner, community organizer, problem solver and information link; issues citations, makes arrests, prepares reports, and provides information to the public and departmental units; and does related work.Requirements/Minimum QualificationsAt least 20 years of age at the time of application and 21 years of age by police academy graduation.Graduation from a U.S. high school, G.E.D. or equivalent from a U.S. institution, or a California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) certificate is required. A two or four year college degree from an accredited U.S. or foreign institution may be substituted for the high school requirements. Documentation demonstrating that the institution is accredited must be submitted prior to taking the written test.Be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law. addition to the regular City application, all applicants MUST complete the entry-level Peace Officer Supplemental Questionnaire at the time of filing. The entry-level Peace Officer Supplemental Questionnaire is located within the Supplemental Questions section of the City application. Applicants who fail to complete the Supplemental Questionnaire will not be considered further in this examination, and their application will not be processed.Applicants MUST review the corresponding "Essential Duties and Work Conditions for Entry-level Peace Officers" for critical, detailed information about the entry-level Peace Officer position duties and work conditions. The document is available on-line at a condition of employment, a valid Class C driver's license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required at the time of appointment. Applicants will be disqualified or deemed ineligible for hire if their DMV record reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation within the last 36 months in any state or jurisdiction. The City of Los Angeles reserves the right to issue a notice of disqualification or ineligibility at any time before a final job offer is extended.Candidates MUST currently meet or be able to meet all standards set forth by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (CA POST) to be considered for the position of Police Officer.Any history of illegal drug use may be evaluated during the background investigation and can result in disqualification depending on the type of substance, frequency, and recency of use. Ongoing compliance with the City's drug and alcohol policies is required as a condition of employment.Because this class has been designated as Safety Sensitive in accordance with City Policy, a drug and alcohol screening test shall be required prior to appointment and during employment.Applicants will be disqualified from the Police Officer examination if any of the following events applies: (1) they have been decertified by the California POST Commission by a revocation or voluntary surrender of their certification; (2) they are ineligible to serve as a peace officer pursuant to the provisions of California Government Code section 1029; or (3) they fail to requalify for POST certification or obtain a valid waiver at the time of submission of their employment application for the position of Police Officer.Candidates must comply with all current Department grooming and appearance policies, including, but not limited to policies related to tattoos and/or brandings, as outlined in the LAPD Manual Section 605, Airport Police Manual Chapter 6, and LA Port Police Policy Manual Section 1044.Candidates completing the selection process are required to provide proof of qualifying documentation. Applicants who received their high school diploma or college or university degrees from within the United States must attach a copy of their qualifying U.S. high school diploma or U.S. school transcripts to their on-line application at the time of filing in the Attachments section. Applicants must attach qualifying U.S. high school diploma or U.S. school transcripts BEFORE finalizing and submitting the application. Applicants WILL NOT be able to attach qualifying U.S. high school diploma or U.S. school transcripts AFTER submitting the application. Applicants who fail to attach qualifying U.S. high school diploma or U.S. school transcripts at the time of filing WILL NOT be considered further in this examination and their applications WILL NOT be processed.Please note that qualifying education must be from a college or university accredited by a City of Los Angeles recognized agency if your college or university degree was earned within the United States. A list of approved accrediting agencies can be found at (Download PDF reader).For applicants with foreign education credentials: A high school diploma received outside of the United States will not be accepted to satisfy the education requirement for this classification. Applicants who attempt to use a foreign high school diploma to qualify WILL NOT be considered further in this examination and their applications WILL NOT be processed.For applicants with foreign education credentials: If your college or university degree was earned outside the United States, it must be evaluated for U.S. educational equivalency to move forward in the selection process. To be considered further, you must attach a copy of your credential evaluation report from an active member of either NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) or AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc.) BEFORE finalizing and submitting the application. Applicants WILL NOT be able to attach a copy of their credential evaluation report AFTER submitting the application. Applicants who fail to attach a copy of their credential evaluation report at the time of filing WILL NOT be considered further in this examination and their applications WILL NOT be processed.Selection ProcessThe examination will consist of a qualifying multiple-choice test, a qualifying physical abilities test (PAT), and an interview. The qualifying multiple-choice test will evaluate the following competencies: Judgment and Decision Making and Written Communication, including spelling, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and clarity. Your passing score does not expire. The multiple-choice test will be proctored and administered in person. Candidates will be notified later by e-mail of the date, time, and location of the multiple-choice test, which will be held in a single half-day session in Los Angeles.All candidates who receive a passing score on the multiple-choice test will be invited to participate in a qualifying Physical Abilities Test (PAT). The qualifying PAT will evaluate the following competency: Physical Capabilities, including the ability to perform physically demanding tasks under stressful conditions, while maintaining endurance, agility, and strength necessary for law enforcement duties. Candidates invited to participate in the PAT will be required to complete four events: maximum sit-ups in one minute, 300-meter sprint, maximum push-ups in one minute, and 1.5-mile run. To complete the Physical Abilities Test (PAT), you must attempt all four events. Failure to attempt any event will result in a failing score for the entire test. Your passing score will expire after 12 months. Candidates will be notified later by e-mail of the date, time, and location of the PAT, which will be held in a single half-day session in Los Angeles.Candidates who pass the PAT will be invited for an interview. In the interview, the following competencies may be evaluated: Experience, Judgment and Decision Making (Problem Solving Ability); Initiative; Stress Tolerance; Job Interest (Interest/Motivation); Interpersonal Skills; Community Relations (Community Involvement/Awareness), including the importance of cultural sensitivity and community-oriented policing practices with the ability to interact respectfully, professionally, and effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds; and Oral communication (Communication Skills). Your interview score will determine your rank on the eligible list. Your passing score will expire after 12 months. The interview will be conducted in person. Candidates will be notified later by e-mail of the date, time, and location of the interview, which will be held in Los Angeles.Candidates unable to appear in person for the interview may request a virtual interview conducted remotely (i.e., their home) by following the instructions provided in their interview notice. Please note that a virtual interview requires you to have access to a computer with a working webcam and microphone, a reliable internet connection, and a private, distraction-free testing environment. Failure to submit a request by the deadline will confirm your attendance at the scheduled in-person interview.Additional job analysis