Jan 2026 - THE MERITS OF OUR HIRING PROCESS

The path to working in Law enforcement is a long and tedious journey. The process is designed to weed
out those that have questionable backgrounds and possible nefarious reasons for joining a law
enforcement organization. As the years have gone, and it has become difficult to hire qualified
candidates, the process for hiring has relaxed or changed.
Twenty-six years ago, when I was applying for the LVMPD, there were about 450 people that showed
up. I remember looking around and thinking, wow, this must be a very coveted department! I overheard
people talking and one guy had tested four times and did not make the cut. But to his credit he kept
trying. I asked him why he tested so many times, he stated that it was always the background stuff that
got him.
The physical test was the first part of the process, followed by the written test, polygraph, psychological
screening, drug screening, and the background investigation. The process was easy for me. I had spent
10 years in the Air Force and was honorably discharged. Times have changed and society views law
enforcement differently today. I recently asked a recruit in the academy why they wanted this career,
and the recruit stated that they had been in dead end jobs for eight years since high school and was told
by a friend that this was an easy job with good pay. I agree that the pay is good, but the easy part is not
a factual statement. The average officer for LVMPD works between 14 and 16 days per month and with
all the vacation earned, that number probably goes down to 11 to 13 days per monthly average. We are
one the best paying departments in the country, but we also have standards and rules that keep us on
the path for success in this chosen career path.
This is why we have a testing process and rules to ensure we are hiring the best candidate. I always tell
people there is no shame in admitting that this career may not be the right one for you. Not everyone is
designed to be a cop, but there are numerous other career opportunities to work for LVMPD and not
carry a gun or badge. Know your limitations and accept what you can or can’t do. We must have a
process for weeding out the bad and a path for keeping the good on track. NOT EVERYONE CAN DO THIS
JOB. We need to be ready to ensure that we are only hiring those that deserve and want to be here. A
wise man once said, “before I can walk a mile in your shoes, I must first learn to tie the laces.”