Los Angeles Port Police

[Jake]

Hola-

Anyone work for or know someone who works for the Los Angeles Port Police? Some circumstances at work are leading me to consider a career change, and I'm wondering if trying to get hooked up with the dive team might be worth looking into. The money isn't ideal, but it seems like the job might have a lot of other benefits that are worth taking a financial hit for.

I'm very interested in finding out what the dive teams or boat teams actually do. Also, as a general question to anyone in law enforcement, what are the background checks like? I'm not particularly concerned about anything, but it just kind of...makes me nervous having someone interviewing everyone I know and then having to take a polygraph test.

Here's a link to the site: The Port of Los Angeles | Security

Thanks in advance.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I used to work with a few of the guys on the dive team. You have to go through the academy and be selected to the force before joining the dive team. They control civilian boat traffic in the harbor and assist with drug enforcement, accidents and other incidents in the L.A. Harbor area. Everyone I know seems to really enjoy the job.

 

[tc]

Dove with them a couple of times many years ago- they always seemed to have their act together and were a good group to work with.

 

[Jake]

Thanks guys.

 

[Codyjp]

my old dive instructor was going to go down that route but opted to work for a 'regular' department and dive for pleasure on his days off. Remember that all of the larger PD's will all have dive/recovery teams. (LAPD, LASD etc). also keep in mind when you go diving with them you will be in the harbor looking for dead hookers and bombs and other fun stuff. maybe not a barrel of monkeys. Long Beach PD also has a marine department I believe.

Good luck, it is a career I have looked into very closely!

 

[Dive California]

Jake...if you don't like having a background done on you (ie: interview co-workers, friends, family)...then do not go into Law Enforcement. Also, as has been stated...diving on LE teams are not "fun" and glamorous...dark and murky come to mind.

 

[Codyjp]

speaking of background checks... My brother went through the process a few years back and it didn't seem to bad. It took a while but the only person that they talked to was his former business partner. They never contacted friends or family.