Want to be an LA Metro police officer? Job postings and a recruitment website are now live

Topline:

The background: Metro’s Board of Directors approved a plan in June 2024 to develop its own in-house public safety department. Eventually, once the department is built up, the agency will phase out its decades-old system of outsourcing policing of its buses and trains to regional police agencies. Metro’s Department of Public Safety will be made up of police officers, neon-green clad ambassadors and people to assist with homeless outreach and mental health crises on the system.

The open positions: The entry-level position is open to anyone who is 21 years or older. The minimum education requirements include a high school diploma, GED or “other high school equivalency test approved by the [California Department of Education],” according to the job description. Entry-level hires will start getting paid before they attend the police academy, according to Metro. The more experienced position is open to people who have already achieved basic state training certifications and have completed the probationary period as a police officer elsewhere in California.

How many: Chief Bill Scott, who heads the department, told the agency’s Board of Directors that he’s aiming to hire 52 sworn officers this upcoming fiscal year.

Salaries and benefits: Metro is advertising an $87,000 to $130,500 annual salary range for its entry-level officers. For the more senior position, Metro is offering $95,000 to $142,500. The positions come with retirement, insurance, paid time off and tuition reimbursement, among other benefits.