background

[jeremy]

my only question is:
what if you have been in trouble with the law before? will this definately stop someone from being a cop??

[JimCMR]

Jeremy:

There is Trouble, and then there is trouble.

If you have a felony conviction, you most probably won't become a cop. A couple speeding tickets, should not be a problem. You need to spell out your "Troubles" if you want to get a good answer.

JimCMR

[lich]

I was once charged with careless driving. The charges were droppped when the assistant D.A. decided not to take the case to trial.

I know I won't technically have this held against me in my application process, but I wonder if the officers who handle my application will believe I was innocent or just let off on some technicality.

My feeling is the police are more likely to trust the decision the officer on the scene made than the decision the attorney in the court room five miles away and three months later.

Does anyone know if the officer who handled the call will be contacted? I'm not worried about it, but I am curious.

[Cpl Mike]

Unless there is some sort of civil case regarding your arrest-"NO"....Usually an agencies' background investigator will check NCIC/and whatever state /county criminal records your area of the country inputs into a data base .The issue will be how long ago and under what circumstances; this is the determining factor-you MUST still list this incident if asked on an application ( unless the application specifically states "have you ever been convicted for....") remember conviction and arrest are totally different , but the personal character and maturity issues can be a hinderance to applicants. My best advice is call the agency you are interested in and ask a background investigator.Be straight forward and you'll get the honest answer...

[John Smith]

I was wondering if somebody could help me with a quetion. I noticed with municipal police in my area that they have a lifestyles section which you have to fill out if selected. Well on that sheet they ask a bunch of questions ranging from how much you drink etc, to theft and friends.

Well here's the thing:
In my past I have a few incidents of theft etc. Yes I felt guilty about it and yes it did occur a few times. The last time was about 6-7 years ago. However before that was about 12 years ago. So a pattern could be seen I guess. One time I was caught, but not charged-Police were not involved. The other times I wasn't caught. This included stuff like stealing a purse at a bar (basically on a dare from some so called friends). So there is some pretty damaging stuff in there. Also there was an incident with pot and well a prostitute in Amsterdamn. (Which I might add is not illegal in that area, and is nothing like here in North America) This happened about 4-5 years ago.

Is there any chance in hell I would be hired if I come clean on this stuff? A lot of which would never show up on a background check. (I wasn't proud about it and didn't tell others). Of course I want to tell the truth and get come clean on this stuff, but the reality is I'm competing for a job/carreer. Other than these skeletons in my closet, I'm well spoken, educated, very fit and I believe that I would make an excellent police officer.

So the question is would a recruiter take one look at that if I'm honest and file my application in file 13?

Any help would be appreciated.

[guest 35]

Guarenteed if oyu disclose that info you will never become a cop. Theft is pretty serious business. If oyu disclosed oyu stole something once when you were oyung you might be OK but a couple of time as recent as 6 years ago you will be screwed. Also stealing a purse in a bar means you did it when you were over 18 in Canada and over 21 in the States so you should have known better! You sound sincere when you say you regret doing that and wish you haden't now (maybe you have changed your ways?). If you do disclose that info you will never make it as a cop. The force will defer you and pass that info on to every other force you apply to. It will stick with you for life. I believe peopl grow, mature, and change so if you really want this LE thing you had better not disclose that info. Also read up on he poly so you don't spill your guts during the poly thinking they will catch you in a lie (they can't tell if oyu are lying or not). Enter into this LE application process very gingerly and calculated. One wrong admission will foil your chances for life!

[John Smith]

Changed my ways. Yes and no. I've always been a good person, I just made a few stupid mistakes. The amount of honest things I've done far outweights the dishonest. Including things like finding a wallet full of money and returning it to the owner(when I could have taken it and not been caught). I've always stood up for those who couldn't .I'm not the kind of guy to "not get involved or look the other way". So no I haven't changed my ways, I was always a good person but I made mistakes. Yes I was 21 with the bar incident. I'm now 29. Theievery repulses me, which is why I'm not proud of what I did. I didn't do it for the money, or to be a criminal. I did it to fit in and prove that I could take risks. Again stupid!!! with regards to the prostitute, well it is very different over there, I would never have done that in North America. I also haven't been with a prostitute since and have zero intentions of ever doing so again. but I have a feeling that you're right, guest. If I come clean on this I'll never be a police officer, even though I know there is no chance of any repeat mistakes, and I'm far less coruptable because of these mistakes than others who haven't made these errors. Basically I am completely unbribable because of this. I know there is no such thing as easy or free money. Not being able to sleep at night because of guilt, fear of being caught, and more importantly the risk of family and friends finding out. I know what the real cost is.

[John Smith]

JimCMR and Cpl Mike

Would you please let me know a yes or no, if there is any chance with a background like this? Ie if I tell the truth if I'd be DQ'd right at the start? I obviously don't expect you to suggest lying. So whether or not I should bother applying is the real question.

[Cpl Mike]

Oh,boy! Well John, honestly-DON'T LIE! contact that agencies backgrounds for add'l info and be direct. If the application asks if you've been arrest /convicted for a crime , then it sounds like you didn't and you honestly say "no". However, on the person history questionaire, you might have to disclose certain things,but at least explain the incident if there is room for explanation-Yes most,er, ALL agencies want trustworthy/vice free officers, but they also want honest applicants. They don't expect you to be an angel, just aspiring to do right.usually a 7-10 yr gap in questionable activity shows maturity and 29 yoa is alot different from 22 yoa.( Iknow 22 yoa officers with 18-19 yoa girlfriends-talk about teeny boppers!!).Apply and "roll the dice" ,if told to come back and apply later, then do it....

[guest]

You roll the dice, as Mike puts it, and you will lose! The police recruiters are not your friends and are not in the business of being preists and forgiving past sins. They are their to delve into applicants pasts and find disqualifying info about the applicants. Their job is to not only find "good" applicants but to find and disqualify the questionable ones that might cause embarrasment to the force in the future should some questionable histories in their officers arise. Thinkk about it, if you were a cop would you be proud to say your force is made up of officers who have taken drugs, been serviced by prostitues, and stolen things in their past? Oh but they were young and neive. They have grown up now! The public doesn't see it that way. If you want to be a cop you had better search this web page some more and read some of the stories regarding "confessions" and the preemployment poly before you make the recruters job real easy by divuldging your past. I would like to beleive you have grown and would make a good cop but they won't see it that way no matter what they tell you. I also thought I would be honest, hell that is what they are looking for right?, honest cops and I have been disqualified 6 times for my honesty in my first aplication. Every time I get the letter telling me to apply again yet everytime it is the same thing. I get to the very end only to be sent packing. Think hard about it. If you want it really bad you will have to withhold some info regarding your past. Do you honestly think every cop out there told the complete truth during their application? I would bet the farm not. If that was the case we would be policed entirely by nerds and women!

[onedaysoon]

GUEST

That's brutal. I suggest you go else where with that negative outlook. I pride myself on my personal integrity and honesty but everyone makes mistakes in their lives.

The force has to decide what is acceptable to them just like any other employer. Stick with the truth. LIES ALWAYS COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU!!!

If your not the right person for the job then you shouldn't get it..

Be an optimist, not a pessimist

Find a Job you love and you will never work a day in your life

Onedaysoon

[Drakor]

Honesty is aways the best policy. Guest something in your background cannot be overlooked and thusthe reason for your disqualification. It's a guessing game, if you know what the DQ is for because most departments won't tell you what it is. As far as laws go you follow the laws of that country. I don't think Prostitution is illegal in Amsterdam and as far as taking the purse it seems like it was part of a joke for your friends amusement. It's your call. Good Luck

[John Smith]

Wow thanks guys for the advice.
Also please don't be too hard on guest. Frankly his advice does have a ring of truth to it.

Well, I'm actually pretty sure that I won't get in when I mention all of my past mistakes. lets face it most people (especially police) have a very right/wrong perspective without always taking in the big picture. The petty theft, and the prostitute (by the way any one else considering doing this, don't bother it reall isn't very good. It's like eating at McDonald's, not very satisfying)-My reasons were completely wrong for doing this. IE being hassled by friends/anyone who found out that I was still a virgin at the time(Anytime someone feels the need to put you down, that was number one. Take a look at our society). I wanted to find out what I was missing. But..... as Drakor pointed out, what I did was not illegal. Do I feel guilt about it. No not really (unlike the thefts). However I know that the police don't view it this way. From what I've heard it's cut and dry. There is no differentation between how it is there and here even though it is legal, and governed (ie nothing like here) in Amsterdam. This is also where I tried pot (I believe it is not legal, but is decriminalized there).

In terms of education, physical fitness, aptitude, and ability to think in crisis situations or situations of conflict. Well I should do very well. Would they ever have to worry about me stealing/disgracing the force? No never. Hell I even declare all of my tips for taxes and I mean all of it. I've also had current police officers in the departments that I am applying offer to let me use them as a reference (which I did not ask for). No I will not be using them as a reference. They don't know the stuff I've done. I wouldn't want to make them look bad.

The polygraph: I could probably fool it. I do understand how it works. But so what. What the theft of my past taught me is that doing something dishonest will always haunt you, if you have morals. Then there is the guilt, worrying about someone finding out, getting fired if someone does, and worse of all the humiliation and shame of your family either finding out and or being fired from a police force.

So I will try it the honest way, if I'm not hired then so be it. Of course this probably means that I'll be working crappy dead end jobs for a long time but at least I'll sleep well at night.

Hey Cpl Mike thanks for the input. However I have to take your post to mean that there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of me getting in. Thanks anyways though.

[John Smith]

By the way Guest, you do offer a strong argument for not telling the truth. I'm frankly pretty sure that you are right. But if I'm wrong and I get disqualified for being a liar, then I'd only be getting what I deserved. Which for me is more humiliating than not getting the job because I came clean. Also for the above reasons in my last post, I do plan on telling the truth. I just hope I'm not being Naive. I really hope I'm not being Naive on this. Life has pretty much taught me that what guest is saying is correct. My only argument against that is do I really want to belong to an organization where only lying would get me in? I'll keep everyone posted on how this turns out. Any more advice and or comments would really be appreciated. Thanks to everyone who has offered advice so far.

[Cpl Mike]

John- you are not being naive,you're being "right".I DON'T CARE WHAT PEOPLE TELL YOU, "INTEGRITY" in life is the most important thing.Ever get something you really wanted? Did you do it the right way or the half-a_ _'ed way?the feeling is MUCH better the right way and you know it ! If the questionaire has items that will be found out later then admit it.period. I am sorry that individuals like" Guest" got a raw deal, but life is tough that way. I can only hope that anyone that can try (6) times to attain their goal is a person motivated enough to be successful anywhere!!! ( possibly try private investigations , corporate fraud ,probation Depts).Also,John, try and apply around your area(at least 5 seperate agencies)-never put your eggs in one basket and stay optimistic .I've said it once and I'll say it again; Cops come from society,when that society is judgemental of its cops,it sees the ugly truth about itself.No, John ,neither you nor anyother hopefuls on this site are the proverbial "snow balls" -let your skills/knowledge/abilities( and an honest reflection on your own personal life) guide you through to the goal of wearing the "badge".Hope to hear from you on this site as you apply. GOOD LUCK