Police Officer at the Los Angeles Police Department
LAPD officer Louis Origel has an all points bullet out for veterans to join the Los Angeles Police Department.
by Warren Duffie
A number of military skills have helped Louis Origel succeed in the Los Angeles Police Department: physical fitness, discipline, attention to detail, and the ability to follow orders.
But perhaps the most important element has been his experience with people of different faiths and races. This is crucial for someone charged with helping to protect one of the world’s most diverse urban melting pots — a city whose residents speak 224 languages.
“In the Navy, I was able to travel around the world and learn a lot about different cultures,” says Origel, a former petty officer third class. “That has helped tremendously in my work with the LAPD.”
Origel, 28, works in the department’s downtown Los Angeles recruitment division. His days consist of traveling to local colleges and military bases to tout the benefits of a law enforcement career. When Origel isn’t on the road, he’s overseeing entrance exams for new candidates.
“We heavily recruit veterans,” Origel says. “I go to Camp Pendleton and Twentynine Palms quite often. We’re a paramilitary organization, and veterans have all the skills we want – discipline, leadership, the ability to follow orders, and the willingness to work long hours.”
On the Job
The LAPD is the third-largest law enforcement agency in the United States – with more than 9,400 officers safeguarding 465 square miles of cityscape. To meet this demand, the police officers work out of 18 divisions, speak more than 30 languages, and have access to interpreters 24 hours a day to communicate with citizens in additional languages. The police officers patrol their turf by car, boat, helicopter, bike, horseback, and foot. There are also LAPD scuba divers and climbers.
Would you like to be a part of this celebrated tradition? You must be at least 21 years of age, a U.S. citizen or legal resident, and have a high school diploma or GED. You also need to pass an entrance exam, a background check, and a physical fitness test. Upon acceptance, you’ll be sent to the LAPD’s eight-week academy – where you’ll be trained in firearms, driving tactics, self-defense, report writing, and investigation techniques, to name a few.
After graduation, you’ll begin your career as a patrol officer. Your base starting salary will be $52,638, $54,747 if you have at least 60 college credits, and $56,898 if you have a four-year degree. Bilingual officers are eligible for additional pay. Benefits include health and dental plans, various pension plans, sick leave and disability benefits.
Don’t want to spend your career as a patrol officer? After a few years, you can choose from more than 250 jobs – including K-9, SWAT, community relations, and public affairs.
The Transition
Origel always wanted to be a police officer. His father was a Los Angeles firefighter with a lot of cop buddies. The young Origel was fascinated by their bravery and exploits. However, after graduating from high school in 1996, he decided he wanted to see the world, and enlisted in the Navy. After basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Origel was assigned as a machinist’s mate (boiler technician) to the USS Kitty Hawk and, later, the USS Coronado.
Although he enjoyed his time in the Navy, Origel still wanted to pursue a law enforcement career with the LAPD. He spent much of 1999 taking the necessary tests, was accepted, and entered the academy upon separating from the military in 2000.
“Physically and emotionally, Navy boot camp was a lot harder than the police academy,” Origel says. “You couldn’t go home and didn’t have weekends off. However, the academy was much more strenuous academically. A lot of book and study time is involved.”
“When I became a civilian, my quality of life improved dramatically,” he continues. “The pay is a lot better, and you can advance faster. Within three to five years you can apply for detective, and I’ve seen people make sergeant within seven years. It all depends on you.”
Origel’s Advice
Research your career options. “Start at least six months before you leave the military. You don’t want to get out still unsure of what you want to do.”
Consider a law enforcement or civil service career. “The atmosphere is similar to the military’s, and the pay and benefits are good.”
Stay in the Reserve. “Most places, especially law enforcement agencies, are very supportive of reservists. Also, if you’re a police officer and a reservist, you can be eligible for two retirement pensions.”