Police Officer 2214 (revised 01/22/25)

Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States and has a multi-ethnic population of
approximately four million. It is truly a world-class city that offers a diversified economy and an unparalleled quality of life. Los Angeles continues to maintain its position as an economic power-
house, the entertainment capital of the world, and a major trendsetter in virtually every field of human endeavor.

Los Angeles is a charter city and is governed by a Mayor and City Council. The City Council serves
full time and has fifteen members elected by district for four-year terms. Boards of Commissioners, appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council, oversee several
of the City’s departments and bureaus.

The City has 44 departments, bureaus, and offices for which funds are budgeted annually by the
Mayor and City Council. Within those, the City has three departments (the Departments of Water &
Power, Harbor, and Airports) that are financed solely by revenue generated from their operations,
which are governed by Commissions, as well as two distinctly separate pension systems (Los
Angeles Fire & Police Pensions and the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System).