Prior record before entering LE

[shurefire]

Hi guys, I will shortly be finished with school this year, and hopefully will apply to some local agencies here in the Bay Area. I was wondering about any of you officers/deputies/detectives/inspectors/agents out there had anything on their record that they were worried about before applying to an agency. I had 2 accidents (1 my fault)and a speeding ticket that I went to traffic school for and is supposedly gone, at least my insurance doesn't know about it. Am I wrong to beleive that to be even considered for an agency you have to have a squeeky clean record? I want to put everything out in the open, when I was in my early teens (13-15) I used to shoplift sometimes, I never got caught, I just stopped because it was wrong, I was a stupid kid. Last time I did any drug, was pot, and that was the only narcotic I have ever used and that was only about 8 times total, that was back in 1995, I am 21 now. Drugs are stupid, I wish I could take those times back. I have 1 ticket for "acrobatic skateboarding" in 1997, I was not even skateboarding acrobatically but rolling through a shopping center parking lot and was stopped by a Deputy who said he "had to because the management wants to get rid of skateboarders from the Plaza." He was genuinely sorry because his son skateboarded, I didn't mind. I just hope that this won't disqualify me from a career in Law Enforcement.

Reason why I am asking about "priors" is because a kid that graduated a year before me is in the Orange County Sherriff's Academy. This guy was a non-experimental drug user, I know for a fact that he used to sell marijuana in high school, and rumored to have burglarized houses. Thing is, his dad is a high ranking deputy, so does that mean he got special treatment in the application and hiring process? Is nepotism the way to get into LE if you "used" to be a slacker?

I have wanted to be a LEO all of my life, but I'll be the first to admit I was no angel in my terrible teens. I want to know my chances, before going through the whole application process and then getting grilled in during the poly exam. If I am straightforward and answer honestly and tell them I have learned my lesson and would be an excellent cop will that mean anything?

I spoke to an officer with the Oakland Police Dept. and he was telling me how he is disappointed that the department has been hiring a lot of unqualified people, alot of them "cowboys" with no community policing skills just to fill the quota, he told me that he has seen suspects that he has ran into in the past now become brothers alongside him behind the badge.

I'm sorry this is so long winded and may be confusing, I'm not very eloquent. I was just hoping that I could get some answers for my questions, as I hope nothing is stopping me from my goal of protecting and serving the public. What should I do? Should I forget about my aspirations and resort to becoming part of the corporate world?

Thank you in advance and be safe out there.
JL


[This message has been edited by shurefire (edited 11-14-2000).]

[NMBR5ML]

Hopefully someone can offer some firsthand insight, but I've been through the process with a couple different agencies.
For the most part, your average LE agency will be looking for: felony crimes, patterns of misdemeanors in the past year or so, use of hard drugs, use of marijuana w/in the past 3 yrs or more than 10 times, SERIOUS financial delinquincies, stealing from employers (very bad).
This varies widely...but that's what you can expect for the most part. If the agency verifies your info with a polygraph, you pretty much have to be honest. If not, I personally would not reveal anything they can't find through public records or personal references. Do not get caught in a lie. And do not get discouraged if you fail the background process... Larger agencies process alot of applicants and routinely disqualify people for little stuff. Apply to as many agencies as possible and you will prob. get hired by at least one. I don't know if Orange Cty. gives polygraphs but if your examiner is a cop, and likes you (or knows your dad) you could pretty much lie about your name and pass. It is a very subjective process. Hope this helps. Anyone who is already a cop please correct me if you feel I've given any bad advice.

Just thought I should add...Getting hired by a LE Agency is a pain in the ass. It's a long, frustrating process which very often ends in failure. If you really want to be a cop, you will succeed. Whether it's on your first or eleventh try. It will be worth the effort in the end.

[This message has been edited by NMBR5ML (edited 11-14-2000).]

[wolfhound227]

Different departments have different standards.Example-Santa Cruz,CA. PD won't hire anyone who's used cocain.Others will.
The first rule is to be 100% honest.List everything.If you were a hell raiser,say so.
They will look at what you did and when you did it and balance that with the rest of your history.It can be hard but at least you're honest.The last thing you want is to get caught in a lie.If that happens,forget about LE.Because every department you apply to next will find out why the first department turned you down.
If you give them everything up front then they have more to work with.And you protect yourself and your future.

This is based on from when I applied to the CHP and also my friend at the Carmel PD who does the backround checks on every applicant for the department.

[jnc36rcpd]

I believe the majority of agencies would overlook the history you're recounted. It varies from agency to agency, so do not get discouraged. One of our officer candidates was turned down by a nearby major department because he had been charged with a felony (theft of a dirtbike) when he was fourteen. He was an automatic DQ only because it was a felony charge. Had he been an adult, it is unlikely he would have been convicted of the offense. The other agency's loss is my department's gain.

I would not worry about any lack of eloquence. You express yourself better than some reports I have reviewed. Good luck.

Oh, I emphasize what everyone else says. Absolutely tell the truth. Deception is an automatic DQ just about everywhere.

[shurefire]

Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it. I will continue pursuing my goal of becoming a peace officer.
Be safe and God speed.
JL