The Los Alamitos Police Department values and practices principles embodied in the philosophy of Community Oriented Policing. The members of the Police Department work to create police-community partnerships that proactively address causes of crime as well as other community issues. Basic life principles of respect, trust, courage, honor and loyalty provide the foundation for the service philosophy in Los Alamitos. The Los Alamitos Police Department has a staff of 29 full-time employees, of which 25 are sworn police officers. One of the sworn, a motor officer, fills a grant funded overfill position. Part-time employees include four reserve officers, four police service aides, one investigator, and seven crossing guards. 

The Department is organized into two major divisions, Operations and Support Services. The Operations Division is overseen by the Police Captain and is comprised of patrol and those activities that are directly related to enforcement. In addition to the patrol function, this division encompasses the traffic unit, which includes the new motor officer the department received as part of a multi-jurisdictional Office of Traffic Safety Grant. It also includes personnel and training, the Reserve Officer Program, press information, the Police Explorer Post, and the Detective Bureau, which is responsible for the investigation and follow-up of criminal activities.

The Support Services Division is overseen by a civilian manager and encompasses special programs and those areas of the police functions that are not directly related to regular patrol. This Division includes the Records Bureau, Property and Evidence, Facilities, Emergency Preparedness, administration of the Police Department’s grants and budget, and the Community Outreach Program. The Community Outreach Program, or COP Team, utilizes multi-dimensional and geographical approaches to crime prevention and other issues. Among the specialties incorporated into this program are various neighborhood, school and youth programs, Women’s Self Defense classes, the Citizens’ Academy, and the Police Bicycle Patrol Unit.