Founded in 1995 by LAUSD Board President Roberta Weintraub, the Los Angeles Police Academy Magnet Schools (PAMS) is a Career Technical Education (CTE) program designed to help prepare students for law enforcement careers. These programs include instruction in:
· Communication skills with an emphasis on integrity, public speaking, and writing as it relates to law enforcement
· Basic concepts of criminal law, principles of law enforcement, constitutional law, the
criminal justice system and other law related topics throughout all core academic courses
· Health training, including nutrition and mental health
· Physical Training and fitness in accordance with LAPD standards
· Community service to develop a commitment to community leadership
Another important aspect the Los Angeles Police Academy Magnet Programs is that they
simulate the LAPD’s recruit academy structure. Each PAMS has a full-time LAPD officer and a Los Angeles Unified School District Police officer assigned to the program who incorporates criminal justice lectures, physical fitness, and basic drill and ceremony. To further expose students to the many facets of police work, the students also go on field trips to tour the LAPD’s Bomb Squad, Mounted Unit, LAPD Historical Museum, CSULA Crime Lab, and Police training facilities.
There are currently seven PAMS high schools located at Reseda High School, Monroe High School, Fairfax High School, West Adams High School, San Pedro High School, and Banning High School. Additionally, there are two Jr. High School PAMS located at Luther Burbank Middle School and Mulholland Middle School.
Combined, these schools serve more than 1,300 students within the Los Angeles Unified School District each year. For more information on a specific PAMS program, please contact the PAMS Program Chair, Ms. Alise Cayen at (818) 758-3739 or by email at acayen@lausd.net