Interview – Jobs with the LAPD

What’s it like to be an officer with the LAPD? We talked to one of LA’s finest to find out.

Meet Darius Trugman, a Field Training Officer-Patrol with the LAPD.

What does your job entail on an average day?

My job involves responding to calls for service, crime suppression, and maintaining relationships with community members in order to better serve the area.

I do this while training a new officer who is assigned to me after graduating from the academy. As a field training officer, I mentor new officers.

What inspired you to pursue a career in law enforcement? Was it something you had always dreamed of, or a job you decided to pursue later in life?

I think secretly I always wanted to be a police officer. I did not do it in the most conventional of ways as I went to UC Santa Barbara for my undergraduate work and Rutgers University School of Law. But as time passed, I decided I wanted to go into law enforcement, particularly after the events of September 11th.

What educational and practical background did you have prior to entering the field?

UC Santa Barbara for my undergraduate work and Rutgers University School of Law. In addition, I had experience in several counties and federal positions working on the pre-trial and trial side of the law. This was done mostly before and during law school.

What requirements did you have to meet to be eligible for your job?

Clean background, physical requirements, and a desire.

What sort of training did you go through for the job?

The academy was approximately seven months which included legal training, physical training, tactics, firearms, and human relations.

What do you like about your job?

I enjoy the action, variety, personal satisfaction, and to serve as a role model to the children.

What do you dislike about your job?

We often see the worst side of people and society.

Please describe an exciting incident you’ve experienced in your work.

Many suspects decide to run away from us either on foot or in a vehicle. The foot pursuits and vehicle pursuits are always action-packed and exciting.

Have you ever been exposed to violent or dangerous situations while on the job?

All the time. You never know when and where, but so long as you are physically and mentally prepared, you can respond appropriately.

What advice do you have for young people looking to break into your line of work?

The best advice is make sure you are choosing this career for the right reasons. It can be incredibly exciting and rewarding if you do.