What to do or not to do...

[JULROSA]

Hello everyone! This is the first time I am posting a message here but I have been reading all threads for the past few months. You guys are extremely helpful.

This is my dilemma. I submitted applications to a couple of departments. In all of the applications I answered “NO” when it asked if I have ever done drugs. Truth is that I tried pot a couple of times during my H.S. years. Now I don’t know what to do if I get to the polygraph test. Should I stick with my answer, or should I tell someone the truth now that I am still in my first phase? I have received notices from two departments saying I have successfully completed the first part, which was simply submitting the app. Please advice, that is the only thing I fear right now, everything else is okay, I’m clean all the way around.

Your help would greatly appreciated.

[Drakor]

You should aways be honest and thats what being a policeman is about....honesty. I can tell you that if you go back and tell them that you misled your application and failed to mention your drug usage they will disqualify you peramantly. This will disqualify you in the future for these department also.
If you honest to another department and tell them you applied to those departments and they inquire with these departments then they will also disqualify you.
You can on the other hand visit the many sites here on the web regarding the polygraph(ins and outs) and learn everything about the poly exam. This may help you and if you do get pass the poly and finally get hired you'll have this little secret in the back of your mind for the rest of your carreer.
So your hired and spend ten years on the force and arrest one of your buddies from high school whom you use to smoke pot. He's going to say and do anything he can to get off including offering your head on a stick.
You should have been honest from the start. It's your decision as to where you go from here. Good luck

[JULROSA]

Thanks for your thoughts on this Drakor.

I really regret putting that down.
I have been studying the book, "Polygraphy Exposed". I hope it helps. There's nothing I want more than to become an LEO.

I don't have to worry about my friends. Where I applied is in a totally different state. I hope it all works out.

Thanks again. I will try to update my statis as soon as I go through the next few steps.

[sporto]

Everyone makes these mistakes and I don't think for one minute that you are dishonest, you just made a bad desicion while filling out the application. The police aren't going to defer you for experimenting with soft drugs in HS however Drakor nailed it on the head. If you disclose now you are deferred for life for lying and every other force you apply to will contact these places and defer you too. If you can you might want to figure out some way or excuse to go back to these departments and tell them you think you made a mistake filling out the application. You will have to somehow make it look like you misread the application or something along that line. Say you were talking to other applicants about the process and you thought the application asked for drug use in the last three years yet the other applicants thought it was during ones entire past. If you continue down this road you will have to continue in this lie and it may screw you later in the process. I wouldn't want to go through the process with something like that hanging over my head. You sound fairly mormal and honest and you may come back deceptive during the poly or the interviewer might notice some body launguage when you are asked about drug use during the interview and lable you deceptive. I would try to get it out in the open now without making it look like you were trying to withhold it in the first place. The longer you wait the worse it will get and I don't think the cops would believe you for one minute if you say you have never tried drugs before! What normal person hasn't at least once?! Good luck.

Sporto

[Drakor]

You know thats not a bad idea. Sporto is right on. You can use the pass 5 years excuse and say you rushed to fill out application and didn't read the directions clearly and concisely. This may be the answer if you tried MJ once in HS but if you experiemented for the four years you spent in HS then it won't. I would say you rushed it. If your dead set against drugs like I am then the answer is hell no I don't do drugs. Either way your going to have some heavy explanations in your future.

[sporto]

I know it sounds dishonest and deceptive to "lie" and tell them you mistakenly filled out the appliation wrong but you have to fight for this LE thing. If you want LE as bad as the rest of us you will have to do some damage control and hope things turn out OK. Little things like this will stick with you for life. The departments will keep everything on file and share it with any future deprtments you apply for. On every aplication they usually ask if you have ever applied at any other LE departments. Then they call them seeing why you weren't hired there. Nip it in the bud ASAP without looking like you purposely withheld the info.

[JULROSA]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, Sporto.

After I completed the apps. I made copies before I sent them out. I will go over I them and see exactly how the applications presented these questions so that I can apply your way of making it right. I have to give this a shot. I think it’s the best way to go, making it right now before it gets worst. I want to be an LEO so bad that for that past few months, since I started this process, all I can do is dream, eat, talk, walk and breath the possibility of becoming and LEO.

I have a pre-screening phone call soon, would you guys say that’s as good time as any, or should I wait and do it in person when they send me a date for an interview if the phone conversation goes well?

[sporto]

As soon as you go over the verbiage in the questionaire I would contact them. Be proactive not reactive waiting for them to call. I hope they worded the questions in a manner you can work with! Good luck. I also think that if it is at all posssible you should show up in person. Face to face meetings go a long way as opposed to the recruiter just talking to a voice over the phone. Dress well, almost one step below the attire you would wear to an actual interview.

Sporto

[Bob]

The truth. I told the truth on my appplication and said i did do the pot in high school 4 or 5 times and another person i know who did said they did not. We dont have a poly test where i am from and for my honesty i was not hired and for his lye he was. So its up to u to decide.

[Drakor]

Honesty is always the best policy. Voluntary information is all up to you. It's best if they don't ask you something then don't just throw it in your conversation. Example I know I'll make a good policeman and my first arrest is going to be Joe Smo the crack dealer because he was my best friend all thru school.
As far as honesty good for you Bob that you were honest. But as far as why you weren't hired and your friend was, it's no telling why they didn't hire you. On the other hand I can say by your post that it upset you that you friend was hired after he lied on his application. You know he lied and thats one too many people that knows he lied. If I was that friend I 'd be very concern at this point. This is why honesty is best because you never know when or where your lie will be told and by whom.

[Bob]

To be honest with you, I highly doubt a police agency will fire you even after only a year of service if they find out you have lied about simple drug use, if you have been in good standing as an officer that far.

[JULROSA]

What’s up guys? I wanted to update my status as I promised.

I took your advice Drakor and Sporto.
Fortunately only two of the applications asked me about drugs, the other one didn’t. Therefore, I called both departments and told them that I had misunderstood the question as far as whether it was five years or ever. Both departments understood and were happy that was cleared up before any further process would have taken place. I was lucky they worded the questions in a fashion I could work with. All is well and both departments took advantage that I was on the phone to set me up for my fitness test, psych test, poly and interview with the psychologist next month. ;D

I can’t thank you enough for the good advice. I am totally at peace knowing I have nothing to worry about as far as that goes. Now I can concentrate on my physical fitness and my other studies.

Thanks again.

[Drakor]

Thats great news Jul, glad everything going that well.
Bob your fooling yourself if you think that lying won't get yourself fired from being a policemen.

[sporto]

Good news Julrosa,

Now you can sleep at nights and go through your interviews and such with no worries or concerns! Honesty is definitely the best policy. I think you are wrong Bob. Here with the RCMP they constantly let you know that regardless of your status or length of employment, they can and will terminate you if discrepencies are found at any time with your application. Good luck.

[marcusinmb]

JULROSA - Glad to hear the news, no doubt you feel 100% better about your 'dilemma.'

Just a note to you and all others who ask for advice on this forum. This forum has hundreds of members, most of whom have a lot of experience, know-how, and intelligence. When a number of them offer the same advice on a certain item, you really can't go wrong. While everyone's '2 cents' is always welcome, the majority of them know what their talking about but not everyone. That's what it's all about. Good job and thanks to those who offer the truly helpful tips and guidance, keep it up, and good luck the rest of the way.