Recruitment

Call out for fire, police recruits

Daily News

By Troy Anderson
and Jesse Hiestand
Staff Writers

Police and fire agencies throughout Southern California are looking to hire hundreds of police officers, firefighters and civilians in coming months, officials said Saturday.

A combination of a tight job market, pending retirements, recent police scandals and a lack of qualified applicants brought dozens of law enforcement agencies to Los Angeles Saturday to conduct job expos for badly needed recruits.

Hundreds of People attended the Los Angeles Public Safety Expo at the Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center in Los Angeles where Los Angeles police, fire and park departments officials set up exhibits, put on demonstrations and held seminars to attract recruits.

In a related event, recruiters from about 30 police agencies gathered in the parking lot of the Glendale Civic Auditorium for the Police Expo and Family Security Show.

As U.S. Army soldiers rubbed camouflage makeup on the faces of youngsters and the Los Angeles Laker Girls demonstrated their dances at the Glendale show, the officers pitched the benefits of their department's pay package and job security.

It was a task made tougher by flaps and shooting scandals that have recently tarnished the image of police.

"Nobody wants to be a cop any more because of all the stuff that's going on with lawsuits and because the economy is so good," said Senior Officer Bill Madrid of the Los Angeles County Office of Public Safety. "We have 120 openings right now we need to fill, it is ridiculous."

Los Angeles Police Department Commander Betty Kelepecz said the department is looking to fill 750 - 790 sworn officer positions and 590 civilian jobs in the department by July 2000.

"The economy is wonderful and unemployment is low, and we are having difficulty recruiting people," she said. "We used to recruit only in Los Angeles -- but we aren't finding enough qualified people so we have gone to Washington and plan to go to Arizona soon."

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief William Bamattre said he's looking to hire 250 firefighters and paramedics next year and 150 a year for several years afterward.

"We are coming off a four-year hiring freeze," said Firefighter D'Lisa Davies. "We have a lot of people with 30 or more years with the department who are retiring."

Starting salaries for police officers range from $41, 175 to $55, 311 and include similar benefits. Applicants are required to be between the ages 21 and 35, have a highschool diploma, be in excellent health, take tests and train at the police academy.

Starting salaries for firefighters are $39,171 to $41,259 and benefits include a pension plan, health insurance and paid vacation. Applicants are required to have a high school diploma or a G.E.D., be in good physical shape and a nonsmoker, undergo testing and train at the city's training academy.

Los Angeles resident Jonathan Tyler, 15, a firefighter Explorer, said his older brother was training to a firefighter but was shot to death before he could achieve his dream.

"I want to finish what he started," Tyler said. "I want to save lives. It's a real serious job because you dealing with people's lives."

Los Angeles resident Romeo Robles, 16, also a firefighter Explorer, said he wants to be a firefighter because he wants to save lives and be a hero.

"When you are a little kid, you are raised to be a Superman," he said. "I want a more down-to-earth job, like saving lives. I want to be a hero, I guess."

Los angeles Park Ranger Lee Norris said the parks department is looking to hire 10 park rangers and more harbor and airport officers.

Starting salaries for park rangers are $34,032 to $42,276. Applicants must have a college degree or law enforcement or park-related experience and take tests and training.

Among agencies seeking recruits and reserves in Glendale were sheriff's departments from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties, as well as smaller departments from cities such as Fontana, Inglewood, Simi Valley and even Mesa, Ariz.

Arthur Gonzalez, 25, of Canoga Park said he had no intention of becoming a police officer but brought his wife and two daughters, ages 4 and 6.

"I came out for the kids--so they won't be afraid of the police," Gonzalez said. "I want them to know they're all right, that not everyone's corrupt."