If you’re thinking of pursuing a career in law enforcement in California, one of the first things you should consider is department size. The number of sworn officers per police department varies widely depending on the location and population of an area. With greater opportunities for advancement and training, here are the 10 largest police departments in California.
Top 10 Largest Police Departments in CA
- Los Angeles: 9,805
- San Francisco: 2,197
- San Diego: 1,860
- San Jose: 1,066
- Long Beach: 806
- Fresno: 784
- Oakland: 734
- Sacramento: 686
- Stockton: 442
- Bakersfield: 404
All figures above reflect the number of full-time sworn officers employed by a department as reported by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training as of January 2021. The numbers above do not include any reserve officers or dispatchers working for a specific department.
Out of the largest police departments in California, the LAPD easily tops the list with nearly 10,000 officers. This department isn’t just one of the largest departments in the state, it’s also one of the largest in the country — only New York City and Chicago employ more officers! In general, major cities across the country have large police departments. This trend shows with San Francisco and San Diego taking up the next two slots after Los Angeles.
Interested in learning more about law enforcement careers? Check out our hiring resources, connect with dozens of agencies, or search our database to find the best public safety opportunities.
