deputy sheriff

custodian

laundry attendant

avionics technician

Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department

A day of work in a LA County jail starts by arriving 20 to 30 minutes before the start of your shift.  Go to locker room and change into uniform, with handcuffs, O.C. spray, flashlight and radio.  Go to Watch Sergeant’s Office get job assignment and sign-in.  My normal job was inside supervising 200 to 248 Inmates in Dorms through out the day.
	First activity of the day at 0700 was Inmate Count, when count cleared, Clean-Up was done.  After clean-up was done and tools were collected and checked, Out-Door Yard and TV’s were turned on at 0800.  The rest of the morning was taken up by pulling people out for legal visits, pill call and doctor’s line both medical and dental, workers for their jobs.
	At 1030 close yard and get everyone ready for lunch.  Feed lunch 1100 to 1130 then open second yard.  Transfer Lines come in between 1200 and 1430, the incoming inmates are given a mattress, whites, sheet & blanket, and roll of toilet paper.  They are assigned to bunks in the dorms, then logged into the computer so a record of who is in the dorm and the total count is known.
	At 1430 to 1445 a purge of the dorms is printed out listing all inmates assigned to the dorm, inmates in court and other locations out of the dorm.  1445 to 1455 my relief arrives and is given a briefing of the days actives, current count in the dorm and every one that is an out-of count for the dorm.
	Change back to street cloths and go home.

The level of immaturity, not just in life but also in the profession is what causes the failure of line supervision and improper actions of trained deputies. Deputies are promoted to the rank of supervision with as little as two years of a deputy. Attempted positive changes to mitigate liability by upper management are fought off by the union. Deputy cliques are REAL and career success is often based on who you know and the relationships you've forged over years. Choice of patrol station to train and work is very important to career success and upward mobility. Not always the best person is promoted because their people skills don't always translate into good leadership skills. The elitist mentality is very real and the arrogance is shameful. This department has many jobs that actually have nothing to do with actual law enforcement that are filled with trained deputy personnel making a great salary/benefits as if they were working the streets making arrest but are doing nothing but clerical work. Beyond all of that, the department is huge and there are many wonderful professional people working there.

A typical day at work involved dealing with the courts, irate callers, data entry and filing which could be stressful at times.  The sheriff's department is a place where a hardworking and driven person could grow and promote.  Dealing with the public, whether in person or over the phone could be challenging at times, but you get better with every person you come in contact with.  And of course, there's always the reward whenever you can help someone with a problem

As a 9-1-1 operator, your day was usually unpredictable.  It could start off as a peaceful morning that turns into a bomb threat by afternoon (zero to 10).  You just had to be prepared!  Moral is important especially when you’re working in close proximity all day with law enforcement as well as other operators.  The hardest part of the job for me was probably knowing that someone was seriously hurt or lost their life in the process of a call.  And again, it was always rewarding when you were able to help someone.

Working in Law Enforcement is demanding. Not just for all that it requires, but from family and outside work-life. It requires a sacrifice that not many know they're signing up for. There is no consistency and so much favoritism in the organization. A typical work day can go from good to bad in a matter of seconds. As far as management goes, you have some great supervisors and you have supervisors who are incompetent. They drill the importance of being a great partner and showing up for your partner and being a family, and it's the most dysfunctional organization I have ever worked for. There is no family-work life balance. "Racism is still alive, they just be concealing it." The hardest part of the job is staying motivated on those days you feel no one has your back. The most enjoyable part of the job is getting your pay check every two weeks. No but seriously, the rewarding part is when you can actually see the difference you are making/have made in someone else's life.

A typical day was fast-paced, supervising inmates and supporting sworn staff. I learned patience, communication, and how to stay calm under pressure. Management expected professionalism but could be rigid at times. The workplace culture was structured, with teamwork being essential. The hardest part was handling unpredictable inmate behavior and long hours. The most enjoyable part was building camaraderie with coworkers and knowing my work contributed to safety.

Days are long and supervisors are un-supportive. You deal with high risk situations each and everyday, with very seldom receiving accolades for a job well done.  Work is typically performed outside, no matter the weather.  However, if you can stay focused on the reason you signed up to make the commitment to serve, the reward of helping/changing communities is worth it.  Each day you touch someones life.  You can see the direct affect you have on communities you work in.  They are small changes, but they are there.  This job is a calling and no amount of money will over come the difficulties you'll face in it.  So for you to be successful, you need to have a strong desire to be a civil servant, helping others solve their problems each day.

I have worked for four police agencies throughout the years, and I have not seen one in California that is as professional and efficient as the LASD. I left after 10 years, which consisted of being a jail deputy then a field deputy at a station called Firestone. I would not recommend law enforcement as a career anymore due to all the stress and just bad stuff you are exposed to constantly, but if you have to have this career, LASD is definitely one of the best departments to be at (at least in CA). LASD is not perfect, but if I had to do it again I would not have left the department as everywhere else I've worked since has been a disappointment. 

I worked there for over a decade and feel blessed to have gotten certain positions. There were plenty of times I did not want to ever show up again but the pay and benefits kept me there. You will be constantly reminded that you and everyone around you is replaceable. There's a lot of bitterness and high school mentality, from the top on down. There are still some people that will look out for you but not many. Like I said the pay was good and there's plenty of overtime but it's not worth my family's time.

What is the best part of working at the company?
You will always have a steady career and the staff and management is wonderful , dealing with the court administration the public is another story 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Court administrators and dealing with the different personalities of disrespectful members of the public

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
a court environment where members of the public are coming in for cases but it can also be a most sad depressing environment and it may be a little dramatic

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
weapon screening, routine inner patrols, report writing ,heavy customer service

The Los Angeles county Sheriff's department is a different environment compared to the hospital or a nursing home. Its a correctional facility where care is provided to inmates in jail.Everyday is a challenge because all these inmates are unpredictable and incarcerated. The job is very challenging and have its own risk , security is provided by deputies, I am a nurse to all the inmates,i do not see them as criminals, but patients that i need to care for no matter what their offence might be.  I love my job and i love being a nurse , so that keeps me going, team work is also encouraged,so you will not feel the pressure of work load , managers and supervisors are approachable and helpful, so what else can you ask for!

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Deputy sheriff 4 salaries reported	$121,144 per year
Custodian 4 salaries reported	$71,500 per year
Laundry attendant 1 salary reported	$31,320 per year
Avionics technician 1 salary reported	$6,467 per month

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