ENTRY - LEVEL TRANSIT POLICE OFFICER
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - LA Metro Los Angeles, California, United States
- Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
- Categories: Public Safety, Transportation or Transit
- Job Type: Full Time
- Posted: May 29, 2026
Job Description:
ENTRY - LEVEL TRANSIT POLICE OFFICER
Description
Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.Description
Enforces laws and ordinances, protects life and property, provides information and assistance to the public, conducts criminal investigations, crime prevention and suppression; performs other public safety related duties as assigned, and collaborates with personnel assigned to other divisions and units within the Department and within the agency to 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.
Examples of Duties
- Sets an example for, and re-enforces, high standards of leadership, professionalism, collaboration, employee wellness and safety, respect for members of the public and fellow employees, accountability, and adherence to organizational values
- Patrols a designated area in a radio vehicle, on foot, or on a fixed post, to protect life and property, prevent and deter crime
- Responds to suspicious activities and answers emergency calls for services
- Enforces agency, city, county codes, or state and federal laws and ordinances.
- Assists in settling disputes, calms angry patrons, and provides crowd direction and control
- Prepares presentations to community and employee groups regarding personal safety and criminal activities
- Gathers evidence, interviews victims, witnesses and suspects from incident scenes and collects documents, and prepares evidence for court
- Prepares affidavits for arrest and/or search warrants, files criminal complaints, and coordinates investigative activities with other law enforcement agencies
- Transports prisoners to booking facilities and processes them
- Maintains accurate records and writes incident and crime reports
- Works with investigative and legal personnel and presents testimony in court
- Enforces fares and code of conduct regulations
- Serves warrants and subpoenas
May be required to perform other related job duties
Minimum Qualifications
A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:
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)
- None Required; One year of relevant experience in a related field such as security, law enforcement, or public safety is preferred
- Must possess a valid California Class C Driver License and have a satisfactory driving record
- Candidates need to be 20 ½ to apply and attend the academy and need to be21 at the time of swearing in (GC 1031.4)
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law and be free from disqualifying felony convictions (GC 1029)
- 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
- Successfully completes all required academic, physical, and practical training at a P.O.S.T.-certified Police Academy
- Participates in the Field Training Officer (FTO) program and applied learned skills in real-world assignments under supervision
Essential Knowledge
Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)
- Basic law enforcement terminology and concepts
- Techniques for dealing with varied groups of people
- Standard record keeping and report writing procedures and techniques
- Recruiting theories, principles and practices
- 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
- Analyzing situations, identifying problems, recommending solutions, and taking immediate action as necessary
- Observing and reporting
- Thinking critically and making sound decisions
- Communicating effectively orally and in writing
- Planning and facilitating training sessions
- Observe and accurately recall places, names, faces and incidents
- Understand and follow oral and written directions
- Interpret and apply complex laws, procedures and policies
- Communicate via two-way radio effectively using standard law enforcement radio codes
- Drive a motor vehicle safely
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those in the course of work
- Write accurate reports of incidents
- 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
- Read, write, speak, and understand English
- Interpret and apply rules, regulations, general orders and policies
- Maintain confidentiality
- Exercise independent judgement
- 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
- Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out
- 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
- 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
Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program . Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.
Selection Procedure
Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.
Application Procedure
To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.
Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro locations:
METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Open: Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)
Metro Talent Hub
8501 S. Evermont Place
Los Angeles, CA 90044
Open: Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)
East Los Angeles Customer Center
4501 B Whittier Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90022
Open: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm
(Closed Sun & Mon)
Wilshire/Vermont Customer Center
3183 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 174
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Open: Monday through Friday, 10am-6pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)
Rosa Parks Customer Center
Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station
11720 Wilmington Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Open: Monday through Friday, 6am to 6:30pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)
Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.
All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.
*Open to the public and all Metro employees
This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.
*Please refer to the applicable benefit type (Regular or Temporary)*
BENEFITS FOR REGULAR EMPLOYEES
Benefits cover probationary or regular full-time (working at least 40 hrs/week) employees of Metro.
We offer a range of high-quality medical, dental and vision plan options as well as health care spending accounts for you and your family. Metro will cover a significant portion of your health care premiums.
Medical/Dental/Vision Plan - Employee has the choice of 3 separate medical plans and 3 dental plans. A separate vision plan is included in each medical plan.
Group Life Insurance - PTSC pays for an amount equal to your annual salary, rounded up to the nearest $1,000. Minimum amount of life insurance is $30,000.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance - PTSC provides $50,000 coverage for each employee. Additional voluntary coverage in amounts up to $500,000 is available at favorable premium rates.
Long-Term Disability Insurance - 100% employer paid. Provides employees with a minimum income of 60% of earnings after six months of disability. Buy up or buy down options available.
Holidays - 12 days a year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Cesar E Chavez, Juneteenth,Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
Time off with Pay (TOWP) - Compensates employees who are on approved absence from work for reasons such as illness, injury, medical and dental appointments, personal business, vacation, or observance of (a) religious holiday.
Years of Service Annual Accrual
Hire date - 5 years 20 days
Beginning of 6th - 10th year 25 days
Beginning of 11th - 15th year 30 days
Beginning of 16th + years 35 days
Pension Plan - PTSC retirement plan is the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Vesting is five (5) years. Minimum retirement age is 52, based on the 2% at 62 formula.
Other Benefits: Transportation passes for employees and/or eligible dependents; Medicare; Tuition reimbursement; credit union membership; SDI; Deferred Compensation Plan; 401(K) Thrift plan; EAP; Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts; Flexible work schedules; and Jury Duty Pay.
BENEFITS FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES
Temporary (Contingent) employees are eligible for the following benefits only:
- Kaiser medical insurance
- Public Pension Plan
- 457/401K Plan
- Flex Spending
- Paid Sick Time
- Fare Media
- Rideshare Subsidies
- Metro One Fitness membership