Lateral - Senior Transit Police Officer

Mass Transit magazine; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training differential

Support for training programs

Job summary

Los Angeles Metro is seeking a sworn Peace Officer to enforce laws, protect life and property, and support daily operations within the Department of Public Safety. The role involves advanced patrols, investigations, and community engagement in a complex transit environment.

Qualified candidates will have a high school diploma or GED, a California POST Basic Certificate, and a willingness to undergo rigorous background and medical evaluations.

Qualifications

• Be a high school graduate, or GED or higher degree.
• Possess a valid California POST Basic Certificate; prior experience as a Peace Officer preferred.
• Must pass background investigations, medical and psychological evaluations; firearm qualified.

Responsibilities

• Conduct advanced patrols focusing on crime prevention and public safety.
• Respond to suspicious activity and emergencies; assess and act.
• Enforce laws and ordinances; coordinate investigations with legal personnel.
• Lead enforcement of fare compliance; prepare affidavits and warrants.
• Deliver training and provide mentorship to officers; support training programs.

Skills

Patrol operations

Conflict management

Public safety

Communication (oral and written)

Report writing

Training delivery

Education

High school diploma or GED

Two-year, four-year, or advanced degree

California POST Basic Certificate

Job description

Under limited supervision, enforces applicable laws and ordinances to protect life and property; provides information and assistance to the public; conducts criminal investigations and participates in crime prevention and suppression activities; performs other public safety related duties as assigned independently with minimal supervision, and works collaboratively with personnel across divisions and units to support daily operations and ensure the vision, mission, and objectives of the Los Angeles Metro and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) are met. This is an armed, sworn classification.

May be assigned to training functions depending on the needs of the department. Appointment to training functions will provide a differential at the discretion of management.

• Conducts advanced patrol operations in assigned areas, focusing on crime prevention, public safety, and community trust-building
• Responds to suspicious activity and emergency calls, independently assessing situations and taking appropriate enforcement or safety actions
• Enforces applicable agency, city, county, state, and federal laws and ordinances
• Manages and resolves conflicts, calms volatile situations, and provides crowd direction and control during incidents and events
• Conducts community outreach and delivers presentations to community and employee groups on safety, crime prevention, and enforcement initiatives
• Conducts complex evidence collection and documentation at incident scenes; interviews victims, witnesses, and suspects; and prepares evidence for court
• Coordinates investigative activities with investigative and legal personnel, and provides testimony in court as required
• Leads enforcement of fare compliance and conducts regulations, including enforcement operations and follow-up investigations
• Prepares affidavits for arrest and/or search warrants, files criminal complaints, and coordinates with other law enforcement agencies on investigative matters
• Transports and processes prisoners to booking facilities, ensuring compliance with custody procedures and safety protocols
• Maintains accurate records and prepares detailed incident and crime reports, ensuring documentation meets legal and departmental standards
• Serves warrants and subpoenas in accordance with agency procedures and legal requirements
• Assists in the planning, development, and delivery of training programs aligned with Metro strategic goals and applicable policies and regulations
• Provides operational support and training assistance to new officers, ensuring they meet performance expectations and are prepared for field assignments
• Delivers refresher and compliance training to existing personnel to maintain operational readiness and regulatory compliance
• Supports the assessment and tracking of trainee performance, providing constructive feedback to enhance skills and professional development
• Provides mentorship and technical support to officers, contributing to improved performance and operational consistency

May Be Required To Perform Other Related Job Duties

Education

• Be a high school graduate, or
• Pass the General Education Development (GED) test or other high school equivalency test approved by the CDE, or
• Have attained a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree from an accredited college or approved institution (GC 1031)

Experience

• Three years of relevant experience in a related field such as security, law enforcement, or public safety is preferred

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• Lateral Peace Officers must possess a valid California POST Basic Certificate and be currently or previously employed as a full-time salaried Peace Officer in the State of California
• Out of state sworn Peace Officers will be required to obtain a CA POST Basic Certificate and California State Driver’s License within a specified time and must be currently employed as a full-time salaried Peace Officer in the United States
• Must possess a valid California Class C Driver License and have a satisfactory driving record
• Must remain firearm qualified
• Must pass enhanced background investigation, psychological evaluation, and medical examination
• Positions in this job classification are considered safety-sensitive and subject to drug and alcohol testing, including random testing, under Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations

Knowledge of

• Basic law enforcement terminology and concepts
• Techniques for dealing with varied groups of people
• Standard record keeping and report writing procedures and techniques
• Research and report preparation methods
• Principles, techniques and methods used in the police background investigation process
• Research and report preparation methods
• Basic theories, principles, and practices of training program development

Skill in

• Analyzing situations, identifying problems, recommending solutions, and taking immediate action as necessary
• Thinking critically and making sound decisions
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Observing and reporting
• Planning and facilitating training sessions

Ability to

• Observe and accurately recall places, names, faces and incidents
• Understand and follow oral and written directions
• Interpret and apply complex laws, procedures and policies
• Use two-way radio communication equipment effectively
• Drive a motor vehicle safely
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work
• Maintain accurate records and prepare clear, concise and competent reports
• Handle firearms in a safe and proper manner
• Use verbal and tactical strategies to de-escalate situation
• Lift and carry equipment and boxes weighing up to 50 pounds
• Interpret and apply rules, regulations, general orders and policies
• Maintain confidentiality
• Exercise independent judgement
• Provide work direction and guidance to junior staff members
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

• This job specification is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements
• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job
• Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• This classification is at-will and the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the hiring authority when classified as an Intermittent, Emergency, Annuitant, or Temporary employee, is assigned to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) or Board Clerk's Office, and/or reporting directly to the LACMTA Board of Directors
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out

Working Conditions

• High noise environment
• Exposure to hostile and armed criminal suspects
• Exposure to physical and verbal abuse by clients/customers and/or general public
• Exposure to outdoor weather including extreme heat, cold, dampness and/or humidity
• Work irregular hours, split shifts, weekends, holidays, or 24-hour-a-day on-call assignments
• Local travel

Physical Effort Required

• Lifting and carrying equipment or objects weighing up to 50 pounds
• Using vision and hearing to observe surroundings, identify hazards, and respond to auditory signals or verbal commands
• Standing
• Walking
• Crawling, crouching, squatting, stooping and/or kneeling
• Climbing (e.g., ladders, scaffolds, stairs, poles, into vehicles, etc.)
• Pushing and/or pulling
• Communicating through speech in the English language required

(AW)