Reserve Police Officer Program (Volunteer Officers)
The LAPD Reserve Corps - the finest in the nation

The Los Angeles Police Reserve 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 fulltime officers and work alongside them in every aspect of Department operations.

The Los Angeles Police Reserve Corps has over 650 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 Reserve 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. Lieutenant Robert Edgar, Volunteer Services Section, Reserve Unit, oversees the administrative functions of the Reserve Program.

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 which is required for a Los Angeles Police Reserve Officer. The first step is to attend a reserve orientation meeting.

The Reserve Officer orientation meeting is held on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at the following location:

For more information contact the Reserve Recruitment Team members, Recruitment and Employment Division at 213-485-4097.

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The Rewards of Becoming a Reserve Officer
Level III Reserve
Level I and Level II Reserves

How to Become a Reserve Officer 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 even request 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 Reserve Officers are uniformed, but unarmed Police Officers, who 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

Examination

Training

Level III Reserve Officers receive approximately 200 hours of professional classroom instruction. Classes are held at the Los Angeles Police Department Ahmanson Recruit Training Center (5651 W. Manchester Blvd., Los Angeles, 90045).

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 recruits for self-defense training.

Equipment

Police equipment and uniforms are provided.

Commitment

Level III Reserve Officers, after graduating from the academy, are required to work a minimum of 32 hours every two 28 day deployment periods 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 who work in police vehicles along with full-time police officers.

Requirements

Examination

Training

Level I and II Reserve Officers receive additional training. Level II Reserve Officers receive approximately 250 hours of professional classroom instruction. Level I Reserve Officers receive approximately 590 hours of professional classroom instruction.

Classes are held at the Los Angeles Police Department Ahmanson Recruit Training Center (5651 W. Manchester Blvd., Los Angeles, 90045). Tactics, firearms, and Emergency Vehicle Operations will be held at the Davis Training Facility (12001 Blucher Ave., Granada Hills, 91340). 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

Police equipment and uniforms are provided.

Commitment

After graduating from the academy Level I and II Reserve Officers are required to work a minimum of 32 hours every two 28 day deployment periods and attend mandatory monthly reserve officer meetings.

How to Become a Reserve Officer

If you are interested in serving the community by becoming a Los Angeles Police Reserve Officer, you must attend an orientation session. This orientation is conducted on the first and third Thursday evening of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the:

For more information contact the Reserve Recruitment Team members, Recruitment and Employment Division at 213-485-4097.

Hope to see you there!