The Los Angeles Port Police Are Hiring!

Article by Jared Mendenhall, Freelance Writer for LCJS, 7/2/2009

The U.S. economy is crumbling and The state of California is trying to figure out its budget before it's too late. Never mind the massive layoffs at large and small corporations, the Los Angeles Port Police is hiring Port Police Officers. This is great news for those with a background in law enforcement, military, or criminal justice or a related education that are looking for an exciting and challenging law enforcement position with excellent benefits. Below you will find Los Angeles Port Police requirements, testing dates, job descriptions and some salary information for these positions as well as contact information to get more specific details.

According to the City of Los Angeles job posting for Los Angeles Port Police Officers, applicants must be 21 years of age at time of hire, hold a high school diploma or its equivalent, and must be a US citizen or resident alien who has applied for US citizenship. POST-certified candidates may be considered prior to other candidates due to their advanced training. The first step toward becoming a Los Angeles Port Police Officer is to complete a Preliminary Background Application and Job Preview Questionnaire, which can be found on the City of Los Angeles Personnel Department website. A link to this form can be found on the Los Angeles Port Police website (www.portoflosangeles.org/security/port_police.asp).

Those that pass the preliminary background check and questionnaire will be contacted and applicants that are still interested in this position can attend a Port Police Officer Pocket Testing, which is an all-day event that includes Personal Qualification Essay (PQE) and Physical Abilities Test (PAT). The selection process includes a number of other elements including a background check, interview and related criteria. To make an appointment for the pocket test contact Port Police Recruitment at 866-767-8731 or JoinPortPD@portla.org. Testing dates for this opportunity are scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2009, Saturday, October 17, 2009 and Saturday, December 19, 2009 at the Port of Los Angeles High School, located at 250 W. 5th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731.

What does a Los Angeles Port Police Officer do? In a nutshell, LA Port Police Officers are sworn peace officers in the state of California and are responsible for patrolling the Port of Los Angeles and surrounding harbor areas. They carry a firearm, enforce city, state and federal laws, safety statutes and safety regulations. There are also specialized programs that Port Police Officers may select to pursue, which include the Port Police Dive Team, Port Police K-9 Unit, Cargo Theft Interdiction Program (CTIP) and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Los Angeles Port Police ultimately provide for uninterrupted operations in the Port of Los Angeles.

The salary range for this position is $57,942 - $75,982, depending on various criteria assembled by the Los Angeles Port Police Department and the City of Los Angeles.

It is amazing to find an organization that is hiring these days. The great thing about the field of criminal justice is that it is so broad and a degree in this field can prepare people for so many different types of opportunities. To learn about other agencies and career opportunities in the field of criminal justice, check out the LCJS Criminal Justice Career Center.