The Community Academy is a free and informative 11-week program hosted by the San Fernando Police Department. 

 

The mission of the Community Academy is to strengthen the Police Department’s relationship with community stakeholders through interactive educational and instructional opportunities in the spirit of trust, transparency, and legitimacy.

THE PROGRAM

Presented in a friendly, casual environment, the Community Academy covers a wide variety of subject areas including police communications, criminal law and procedures, street crime enforcement, criminal investigations, defensive tactics, community programs, and more. The classes are taught by experienced peace officers and staff. The Community Academy concludes with a culmination ceremony, where participants receive a certificate of completion. The Community Academy does not certify participants as law enforcement officers.

SCHEDULE

The next Community Academy start date is scheduled for Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at 6 pm. Interested individuals may submit an application on or prior to September 1, 2023. The 11-week class schedule will be distributed to registered students. Please note: class will not be held on November 21, 2023. Space is limited to 20 students per class.

If selected for the Community Academy, participants will be expected to attend nine of the 11 scheduled sessions in order to receive a certificate of completion.

CODE OF CONDUCT

It is the intent of the Community Academy staff to facilitate a positive learning environment. Meaningful and constructive dialogue is encouraged and requires a degree of mutual respect, willingness to learn, and tolerance of opposing points of view. Respect for individual differences and alternative viewpoints will be maintained at all times. A person’s words and use of language should be temperate and within acceptable bounds of civility and decency.

All participants are required to treat each other and the staff with courtesy and respect. Failure to abide by the Community Academy Class Code of Conduct is grounds for dismissal from the course.

REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum age at submission of application is 18 years old.
• If in high school, must be in good academic standing.
• Must live, work, or go to school within City limits.
• Must not be on active probation, parole, no pending criminal cases, or prior/current litigation involving the City.
• Must not have prior felony convictions or arrests, and must be able to pass a background check. The Police Chief, or his designee, reserves the right to make the final decision regarding admission into the Community Academy.
• Applicants should be able to speak, read, and understand basic English. An abridged Spanish language academy is being planned for the future.
• If selected to attend the Community Academy, participants are expected to attend nine of the 11 scheduled sessions in order to receive a certificate of completion.

   

APPLY NOW!

Black & White Towing, Inc.

10857 San Fernando Road, Pacoima

(818) 896-9511

Temporary Hours of Operation due to COVID-19: Monday through Friday; 8 am to 5 pm

Customer Parking: Located in front of their office

Visit the Los Angeles Official Police Garages website to search the database to locate and check the status, as well as the cost to retrieve your vehicle. You’ll need to enter your vehicle license plate or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Los Angeles Official Police Garages

RETRIEVING YOUR VEHICLE

Once at Black and White, Inc., present the release form (if applicable) and they will charge you a separate fee for the cost of towing and storage at their facility. Please refer to the Black and White, Inc. Fee Schedule below:

• Initial Storage:  $134
• Daily Storage Fee:  $41.50 plus Tax
• *Additional Storage Fees may apply 

RIGHT TO A POST STORAGE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING

Per 22852 of the California Vehicle Code, you have the right to a hearing to determine the validity of the storage. Your request for a hearing shall be received at San Fernando Police Department within ten (10) days from the date of notice. If you request a hearing, it will be conducted within 48 hours of the request, excluding weekends and holidays. The vehicle storage hearing is an informal process to determine whether or not a vehicle was lawfully stored.

The hearing can be requested in person, in writing or via telephone.

San Fernando Police Department

910 First Street, San Fernando, CA 91340

(818) 898-1255

Post Storage Hearing Request form. 

Vehicle Storage Procedure form.

The Patrol Division consists of:

• Patrol Shifts
• K-9 Unit
• Communications
• Dispatch Calls
• Lobby Traffic
• 9-1-1 Operators
• Jailers
• General Telephone Calls
• Community Service Officers (parking enforcement)
• Reserve Police Officers
• Neighborhood Watch/Area Lead Officers
• Special Response Team 

Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch also provides the opportunity for members of the community to meet and speak with guest speakers.

UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

For urgent parking matters, for example someone blocking a driveway, please call our Dispatch at 818 898-1267. 

PARKING CITATIONS

If you have received a parking citation and wish to dispute it, you may do so online or US mail. Appeals must be submitted within 21 days, otherwise, your right to appeal will expire. Once you have appealed the citation and would like to provide additional information, please feel free to email us via the below link.

Please Note: There is no street sweeping and parking enforcement on holidays.

In 2017, K9 Loki, who was a three (3) year old Belgian Malinois, dual purpose dog, who is trained for patrol and narcotics detection, joined the San Fernando Police Department canine unit and in February 2020, Officer Ernesto Esquivel was also assigned to the canine unit.

The primary initiative of the K9 team is to search for and locate suspects, evidence, narcotics that can be linked to a specific crime.

Download application or pick up from City Hall, Personnel Division.

Return completed and signed application to the Police Department.

Qualified individuals will be invited to the interview process.

Upon successful completion of the interview process, a background process will be initiated.

The mission of the SRT is to provide the Department with the capability to safely resolve high-risk situations. Some examples of these types of situations are:

• Active shooter scenarios
• Hostage situations
• Barricaded suspects
• Suicidal subjects (Armed)
• High risk search warrants/raids
• High risk arrests
• VIP protection details
• Other situations where the likelihood of armed resistance appears great 

The Support Services consists of:

• Records Bureau
• Providing Copies of Reports
• Civilian Fingerprinting
• Vehicle Inspections
• Court Commitment Program
• Explorer Post 521
• San Fernando Police Advisory Council
• Child Safety Seat Inspections 

• Arrest Reports of Adults and Juveniles
• Crime Reports
• Citations
• Restraining Orders
• Data Entry for Local, State, and Federal Systems
• Arson, Narcotic, Gang, and Sex Registrants
• Requests for Clearance Letters
• Court Commitment
• Vehicle Inspections
• Court Commitment Program
• Civilian Fingerprinting 

• Cost for a report is $20 (non-refundable) 

• Rolling Fee is $25
• Agency requesting your fingerprints should furnish you with a card; if you do not have a card, the fee is an additional $8 per card
• These fees are in addition to any fees charged by the Department of Justice
• All fees are collected when you are fingerprinted 

FEE

• Vehicle Inspection Fee is $20

EXAMPLES OF VIOLATIONS

• Missing License Plate §5200(a)
• Registration Required §4000(a)(1)
• Material Obstructing or Reducing Driver’s View §26708(a)(1)
• Headlamps on Motor Vehicles §24400(a)
• License Plate Light §24601 

FEES

• Application Fee $50 (non-refundable)
• Daily Rate Fee $100 (non-refundable)

The Explorer Program offers young people a variety of hands-on, career-oriented activities that provide the Explorers with a unique insight in the workings of the Police Department, while also providing service to the community.

For young men and women who are interested in a career in the field of law enforcement, exploring offers experimental learning combined with lots of fun-filled, hands-on activities that promote personal growth and development.

• Download Application

LATERAL ENTRY

Applicants must be currently employed as a full-time sworn paid Police Officer in the State of California with a Municipal, County or State law enforcement agency and have passed that department’s probation period. Applicant shall possess a California POST basic certificate.

PRE-SERVICE TRAINED

In addition to the minimum qualifications included in the job bulletin, applicant must be enrolled at the time of application, or have successfully completed within the twelve month period immediately prior to date of application, a POST approved police officer training academy program; and have not served as a sworn police officer for a law enforcement agency. A reserve police officer training academy is not acceptable. Successful completion of the academy is required prior to appointment.

ENTRY LEVEL

The City of San Fernando is also accepting applications for entry level candidates on an on-going basis until all open positions are filled. Priority is given to lateral and preservice candidates as described in this flyer. Entry level candidates must meet the qualifications/special requirements listed and successfully pass the oral interview, a PELLTB written examination achieving a minimum score of 42, and complete the Physical Agilities Test, which includes completing the 1½ mile run in under 15 minutes. Additionally, the process will require passing background review, psychological examination, polygraph and medical examination. Successful candidates may then be sponsored into a local police academy as a police officer recruit.

• Job Bulletin
• City Employment Application

Interested in putting yourself through the academy to become pre-service certified? CLICK HERE to be redirected to the Rio Hondo Police Academy website for more information.

The training of officers is audited biannually by the State of California POST Commission staff and is administered by the Department’s Administrative Sergeant.

Although our City and police staff are working diligently to provide responsive records as quickly as possible, please keep in mind that these documents can be voluminous in nature and encompass hundreds of pages.

In order to comply with the spirit and intent of the law, you will find the documents in a PDF format under the following subheading links:

SFPD POLICY MANUAL 

• Police Department Policy Manual  
• Prison Rape Elimination Rape Act (PREA)

• California Code of Regulations Title 22 Narcan Instructions  
• Frequently Asked Questions About Emergency Treatment For Opioid Overdose  
• Narcan Presentation  
• Narcan Quick Start Guide: Opioid Overdose Response Instructions  
• SFPD Narcan Use Report Template  
• SFPD Narcan Training Test 

• Firearms Training Course No. 5
• Firearms Training Course No. 7  
• Firearms Training Course No. 9  
• Firearms Training Course No. 12  
• Quarterly Proficiency Course   

   

As a small police department, the majority of our training are provided by other agencies and these materials are not posted on this website. These are available through such agencies as may be legally required and redacted as allowable under the law.

On September 30, 2021, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 481 to address the funding, acquisition, and use of military equipment by law enforcement agencies in California. The San Fernando Police Department does not possess any equipment procured from the military, or the United States Department of Defense Law Enforcement Support Program (also known as the 1028 or 1033 program). Assembly Bill 481 has designated certain equipment as “military equipment,” regardless of whether it was procured from the military or not.   

As required by State law, below, please find the San Fernando Police Department’s Military Equipment Policy:

• Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition, and Use Policy

   

• Chat with the Chief
• Coffee with a Cop
• Pink Patch Project
• Movember
• SFPOA Golf Tournament
• Law Enforcement Appreciation Night at Dodger Stadium
• Law Enforcement Torch Run
• Baker to Vegas 

Scroll down for more information on each event/program.

In 2018, Chief Anthony Vairo was honored to receive the Award of Excellence for exemplifying the department’s commitment to the program and serving with honor and integrity. The San Fernando Police Department is proud to be a Guardian of the Special Olympics LETR Flame of Hope, raising awareness and supporting inclusion for people with disabilities.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. In demonstrating our support, SFPD Officer’s are permitted to wear commemorative pink shoulder patches on their uniform shirts.

In addition, the commemorative patches are available for sale to community members.

For information, SFPD does not wear shoulder patches on exterior police jackets. The police uniform is blue or black in color with shoulder patches worn on the uniform shirt. The uniform shirt will also contain a metal or cloth badge, name plate, and rank insignia. Also, the officer will be wearing a duty belt with various equipment including a police radio.

This information is provided to ensure that community members are able to identify San Fernando PD Officers from other citizens who may affix the commemorative pink patches to a piece of clothing.

If you believe that you have been contacted by someone impersonating a San Fernando Police Officer, please contact the department at (818) 898-1267 (24 hour line).

Join the San Fernando Police Department in raising awareness for men’s health, including prostate and testicular cancer.

The Department will be growing out their mustaches and beards throughout November. Donate to the team, or any member’s, fundraiser page for an opportunity to vote for your favorite stache or beard! Check back throughout the month for status updates!

Teams of law enforcement and military personnel, 20 runners and 5 alternates, from around the world supported by thousands of volunteers and runners, compete for the honor of receiving a mug in recognition of their team accomplishment.  This world-renowned event draws tens of thousands of people annually to witness and support the event, building strong relationships amongst the teams and law enforcement locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

The San Fernando Police Department is proud to have received mugs in 2018 and 2019 thanks to the support of the Chief and the great leadership of San Fernando’s Team Captain, Sergeant Walter Dominguez.

• Anonymous Crime Tips  (818) 831-5002 | English, Spanish, Korean, Armenian
• Automatic License Plate Reader Policy | CLICK HERE to View the Current Policy
• Disaster & Storm Preparedness | CLICK HERE to Visit the Disaster & Storm Preparedness Page
• Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) | (800) 540-4000
• Earthquake Safety Guide | https://www.areavibes.com/library/earthquake-safety-guide/
• Elder and Dependent Abuse Hotline | (877) 477-3646
• Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Inmate Locator | https://app5.lasd.org/iic/ajis_search.cfm
• National Domestic Violence Hotline | (800) 799-7233
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline | (800) 273-8255
• SFPD Policy Manual | CLICK HERE to View the San Fernando Police Department Policy Manual
• SFPD Policy Manual: Rape Elimination Section | CLICK HERE to View the San Fernando Police Department Policy Manual: Rape Elimination Section
• Restraining Orders | Chatsworth Court House | 9425 Penfield Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 91331 | Monday through Thursday | 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 p to 4:30 pm | Friday | 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
• Sign up for Public Safety Alerts | Alert San Fernando Sign-up
• Valley Family Center | (818) 365-8588 | https://valleyfamilycenter.org/
• Victims Assistance Program | (800) 380-3811 | https://victims.ca.gov/victims/
• Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) | (877) 411-5588 | https://www.vinelink.com/

• Citizen’s Report Form
• Ride-A-Long Request Form
• City Employment Application
• Explorer application
• Reserve officer qualifications & applicant information form
• Reserve officer application form
• Vehicle storage procedure form
• Post storage hearing request form