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[mg40235]

I am a 21 year old student studying to become a law enforcement officer at a major university. I am a fluent in Spanish, and in great physical condition; however, I am worried about two things in particular about my past:

When I was 15 years old, I was riding around in a car with some guys that were damaging people's property: throwing things at mailboxes and driving through people's yards. After that night, I felt uncomfortable and sorry for being apart of the vandalism, and did not hang out with any of those guys again. Recently I began talking to one of the guys that was a part of that group, and we were discussing what went on that night. He told me that I threw an object at a mailbox and knocked it over. I don't recall throwing anything, but I can't be sure. I'm afraid to answer no, if im not sure what really happened

More recently, when I was 18 and in college, I was with a large group of people and they decided that they wanted to take down a street sign. The sign that they wanted to steal was a City Limit sign located in our college town. I did have a part to do with taking the sign down. I know what I did was wrong. Moreover, a year later, a police officer saw the sign hanging in my residence, and confiscated it. He informed us that everyone that residence could be charged with multiple felony counts, and asked us all to meet with a detective at the police station. A few months prior I finally realized that I wanted to become a police officer. I panicked when I was interrogated by the detective in fear of the future consequences concerning my career choice. I told him that I found the sign, and that I had no part in stealing the sign. I wrote out a statement and no charges were filed.

I have not been able to get these ridiculous and selfish actions out of my head. I am debating on whether or not to go to the police station and confess about the street sign, now two years later. I would appreciate your opinion on whether or not it matters if I own up to my wrongdoing as well as my chances of becoming a part of law enforcement. I am afraid that these two incidents will hinder my chances of ever becoming a police officer.

[Drakor]

I'd be honest and tell them the truth. We all have had a poor choice of friends at points in our lives. The first incident occurred while you were a passenger in your friends cars. You couldn't prevent what you friends were doing even though you felt morally responsible. I would explain it as such you were geting a ride from you friend and he decided to be stupid.
As far as the sign is concerned I believe you can buy or find them anywhere.
I wouldn't worry about either thing. However too much info is just as bad as not enough and really who knows anyway.

[mg40235]

Drakor: I appreciate your opinion, but I'm not quite sure about your advice. Are you saying that I should not come clean with the police department, or should I go and tell the detective that I lied? I don't believe, morally, that I should be able to lie to the police and get away with it. Do you think that admitting my guilt will harm my chances of becoming a police officer? I know that those in law enforcement do not look highly upon people that do not tell the truth. I feel like I would be getting away with lying to both the recruiter as well as the detective, but I know that with my skills and beliefs, I would make a damn fine police officer. I just don't want to make any decisions that could obstruct my chances.

[DikTracy]

I really would not worry about it, because like Drakor said,
too much info my question the situation even more., then they might really look into it. Just make it vague and short like. WHen you were riding with your friends and hit mailboxes I would just drop that totally cause they dont even know about that at all or if it was u guys, but with the sign - I would say stick with the story that you found it and keep the story like that if they even question it. Because If they believe if you lied about something that little would they trust you if u caught a thief/drug dealer with 10,000.
I would not worry about it all and dont let it bother u at all, what they dont know wont hurt.

[Drakor]

I'm not saying to lie. I'm telling you that it too much information. Information that may get you disqualified especially since you were less then forthcomming to the detective at the very same police department your applying.
I also know that if you tell them you took the sign you may be criminally held for it. Here where I live there was a guy who applied. He told the detectives he carjacked a woman when he was younger. They in turned went right to his house and arrested him. This was a bigger deal then the sign, I know.
It's your call..... I think it's too much information. Information that may cause you alot of heartache. Good Luck

[Drakor]

Just an add-on. We do not always tell the truth. There is a very big Lie comming up in December your know Santa Claus and it's a lie the whole world is in on. Here is some other lies......Do I look fat in this shirt.... How was the dinner I made.......Have you ever called in sick.....but wasn't. Again it's your call

[TEJ1956]

All the advice about this is great but you have to remember what you say and do reflects on no one but yourself. I myself started accessing this site when I wanted to be a police officer. I am now 4 months into being an officer on the street and I can tell you, I need partners who will tell the truth no matter what. There is no gray area here. Either you tell the truth always or you don't. A lie is a lie no matter how you color it. The issue here is how do you want your fellow police officer's to look at you? As someone who is trustworthy always or someone who tells the truth when it is convient for them? Also say you do get hired, you have to take a lie detector test. They ask you have you ever lied to prevent being caught in a crime? The question may not be worded exactly that way, but what are you, mg40235, going to say? If you go and get your story straight and I mean totally straight(about the city limits sign), then when or if you get hired your answers to the polygraph will be truthful. Because you did tell the truth. And about telling the truth, I find it hard to believe that you don't remember throwing something at a mailbox? You have a poor memory if you don't. But to not belabor that point, I don't think something you did when you were 15 will be that great an issue. However something you did when you were 18 will be. Also you said you are in great physical condition. Is this also really true? Great physical condition as compared to whom? How many pushups can you do? How many situps? How fast do you run 400 yards? 2 miles? Be honest here with yourself also. Don't tell me messed up numbers. Intregity is something you and you alone have and once you lose it, it is gone. Have you lost yours? It is my opinion and it is only my opinion, but if you ever want to get hired you need to straighten out your story with the detective. Unless you stole a sign, like a stop sign that caused a major fatality or something like that, I can't see how they could charge you for a felony. A city limits sign is just that no more. The officer was blowing smoke, he was just wanting to make sure that it would be reported and not done again.

Finally sorry to be so long winded. You may email me or answer here. As I said I am a police officer and untruthfullness has no business in my business. Oh yeah by the way I can do 49 pushups and 51 situps in one minute. I run the 400 in 12 seconds and 2 miles in 14:15. But I am 46. Age does count just wait untll you are. TJ