March 28, 2002
Good Afternoon:
You may enter the Academy while the citizenship is being processed. But you must be a citizen of the U.S.A. in order to graduate.
Michael L. Prendergast
Staff Liaison, Police Commission
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March 28, 2002
Mr. Prendergast:
Thank you for the information. But you are mistaken.
"CITIZENSHIP (Revised 8/1998)
The City of Los Angeles requires that a Police Officer candidate be a United States citizen, or that a non-citizen be a permanent resident alien who, in accordance with the requirements of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), is eligible and has applied for citizenship. During the selection processs, each non-citizen will be required to prove that his/her application for citizenship was accepted by INS prior to the date of application for employment.
California State law requires that citizenship be granted within three years after the employment application date. For information regarding citizenship requirements, please contact the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) of the Federal Government."
There is nothing in the statement that says anything about a requirement to be a citizen before graduation.
I hope this clears it up for you.
Respectfully,
Hal Netkin
