The Los Angeles Police Department is one of the most famous and admired police forces in the world. Frequently the subject of movies and television shows, The LAPD has long set a standard of excellence for police training and performance. For the over 9,200 LAPD Officers, it is their job to protect and to serve the more than 3 million residents of the City of Los Angeles. Their jurisdiction is the sprawling 465 square miles of the City. (Police services for the rest of Los Angeles County are provided by the LA County sheriffs and 44 other police forces representing the other cities within the county.) The City of Los Angeles is one of the most ethnically and geographically diverse cities in the country. Its residents speak 224 languages and live in diverse communities. In order to effectively meet the needs of all of the city's residents, LAPD Officers work out of 18 divisions around the city. They speak over 30 languages and have access to interpreters 24 hours a day to reach citizens in additional languages. They patrol in cars, boats, helicopters, and on bikes, horseback and on foot. There are LAPD SCUBA divers and climbers. The LAPD was founded in 1869 with six officers to police 5,728 residents. It grew rapidly as the city expanded. By 1881 it had its first traffic squad. In 1910, it hired the first woman police officer in the nation, Alice Stebbins Wells, who continued to work on the force for 30 years. The LAPD is under the jurisdiction of a Chief of Police, who is appointed by a City Police Commission. The Police Commission is appointed by the mayor. The current chief, Chief William J. Bratton, was appointed on October 27, 2002 - and is the 54th LAPD Chief of Police. For more information on the LAPD and its history, visit www.lapdonline.org. Want more information? Contact an LAPD recruiter: 866-444-LAPD (866-444-5273) or joinlapd@lapd.lacity.org