LAPD LAPD Core Values and Hiring Process — Questions and Answers

Question 1: An officer notices a partner pocketing a small amount of cash found during a search. Which LAPD core value is MOST directly at stake?

Service to Our Communities
Quality Through Continuous Improvement
Integrity in All We Say and Do (Correct answer)
Commitment to Leadership

Correct answer: Integrity in All We Say and Do

Theft of property and failing to report it violate the core value of Integrity in All We Say and Do.

Question 2: Which phrase is part of the LAPD mission statement?

To maximize arrests in every patrol division
To enforce federal immigration statutes citywide
To serve the interests of the City Council first
To safeguard the lives and property of the people we serve (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To safeguard the lives and property of the people we serve

The LAPD mission begins with safeguarding the lives and property of the people it serves.

Question 3: Besides reducing crime itself, the LAPD mission statement commits the Department to reducing what?

Overtime costs
The fear of crime (Correct answer)
Court caseloads
Traffic congestion

Correct answer: The fear of crime

The mission statement aims to reduce the incidence and fear of crime.

Question 4: How many core values does the LAPD officially list?

Eight
Five
Six (Correct answer)
Four

Correct answer: Six

LAPD lists six core values, from Service to Our Communities to Quality Through Continuous Improvement.

Question 5: What minimum education credential is required to become an LAPD police officer?

An associate degree in criminal justice
A high school diploma, GED, or equivalent such as CHSPE (Correct answer)
A four-year bachelor's degree
At least 60 college semester units

Correct answer: A high school diploma, GED, or equivalent such as CHSPE

LAPD requires a high school diploma or an accepted equivalent such as the GED or CHSPE.

Question 6: Which state commission sets the minimum selection and training standards that LAPD officers must meet?

State Bar of California
California Department of Justice Licensing Unit
California POST (Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training) (Correct answer)
California Highway Patrol Board

Correct answer: California POST (Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training)

California POST sets statewide peace officer selection and training standards.

Question 7: During the hiring process, a candidate leaves a past arrest off their background questionnaire, and investigators later find it. What is the most likely result?

Nothing, because only convictions count
The omission is ignored if it happened over a year ago
The candidate is automatically promoted to the interview step
The candidate may be disqualified for lack of candor (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The candidate may be disqualified for lack of candor

Honesty is critical in background investigations, and dishonesty or omissions are a common reason for disqualification.

Question 8: A community member speaks limited English and is frustrated during a report. The officer patiently arranges a translator. Which core value does this BEST reflect?

Quality Through Continuous Improvement
Respect for People (Correct answer)
Commitment to Leadership
Reverence for the Law

Correct answer: Respect for People

Treating every person with dignity and patience reflects Respect for People.

Question 9: Which civilian body sets policy for the LAPD and oversees the Department?

The County Board of Supervisors
The California Supreme Court
The Board of Police Commissioners (Correct answer)
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department

Correct answer: The Board of Police Commissioners

The five-member civilian Board of Police Commissioners heads the Department and sets its policy.

Question 10: How is the LAPD Chief of Police selected?

Elected directly by city voters
Promoted automatically by seniority
Chosen by the Governor of California
Appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council

The Mayor appoints the Chief, often from candidates forwarded by the Police Commission, and the City Council confirms the choice.

Question 11: Which LAPD core value is shown when an officer studies after-action reports to improve how they handle future incidents?

Reverence for the Law
Quality Through Continuous Improvement (Correct answer)
Service to Our Communities
Respect for People

Correct answer: Quality Through Continuous Improvement

Learning from experience to perform better reflects Quality Through Continuous Improvement.

Question 12: What is the probationary rank given to a newly hired LAPD officer?

Sergeant I
Police Officer III
Detective I
Police Officer I (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Police Officer I

New LAPD officers start as Police Officer I while on probation.

Question 13: Why does LAPD give candidates a polygraph examination during hiring?

To rank candidates for academy class seating
To test knowledge of the Penal Code
To verify the truthfulness of information given in the background process (Correct answer)
To measure physical stamina

Correct answer: To verify the truthfulness of information given in the background process

The polygraph helps confirm that the candidate's background disclosures are truthful.

Question 14: LAPD's long-time motto 'To Protect and to Serve' came from which source?

A 1992 City Council resolution
A federal consent decree
A 1955 Police Academy motto contest won by Officer Joseph Dorobek (Correct answer)
The original 1869 city charter

Correct answer: A 1955 Police Academy motto contest won by Officer Joseph Dorobek

Officer Joseph S. Dorobek wrote the winning entry in a 1955 academy motto contest.

Question 15: An officer applies the law the same way to a city official as to any other resident. Which core value does this demonstrate?

Quality Through Continuous Improvement
Service to Our Communities
Commitment to Leadership
Reverence for the Law (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Reverence for the Law

Applying the law fairly and equally to everyone reflects Reverence for the Law.

Question 16: According to LAPD's 'Commitment to Leadership' value, who is expected to show leadership?

Every member of the Department, at every rank (Correct answer)
Only sergeants and above
Only the Chief of Police
Only field training officers

Correct answer: Every member of the Department, at every rank

LAPD expects every employee to lead by example, whatever their rank.

Question 17: In the hiring process, what does the Physical Abilities Test (PAT) mainly assess?

Whether the candidate has the fitness to start academy training (Correct answer)
Firearms accuracy
Knowledge of LAPD policy manuals
Driving skill on a pursuit course

Correct answer: Whether the candidate has the fitness to start academy training

The PAT checks that candidates are fit enough to handle the physical demands of the academy.

Question 18: A candidate has a strong record but a history of hostile, threatening social media posts. In which phase is this most likely to come up?

The uniform fitting
The background investigation (Correct answer)
The vision exam
The academy graduation ceremony

Correct answer: The background investigation

The background investigation looks at a candidate's conduct, including their online activity.

Question 19: After the Rampart scandal, the LAPD operated under what kind of federal oversight starting in 2001?

Direct supervision by the FBI Director
A consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice (Correct answer)
A state takeover by the Attorney General
Military command of the National Guard

Correct answer: A consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice

LAPD entered a federal consent decree in 2001 to carry out reforms after Rampart.

Question 20: An officer joins a neighborhood watch meeting to hear residents' concerns and work out solutions with them. Which core value fits BEST?

Quality Through Continuous Improvement
Reverence for the Law
Integrity in All We Say and Do
Service to Our Communities (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Service to Our Communities

Partnering with residents to address their concerns reflects Service to Our Communities.

Question 21: Which evaluation in the LAPD hiring process looks at emotional stability and fitness for police work?

The psychological evaluation (Correct answer)
The Physical Abilities Test
The written multiple-choice test
The Preliminary Background Application

Correct answer: The psychological evaluation

A psychological evaluation checks whether a candidate is emotionally suited to police duties.

LAPD LAPD Core Values and Hiring Process

An officer notices a partner pocketing a small amount of cash found during a search.
Which LAPD core value is MOST directly at stake?

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