Question past

[myfriend]

My friend is 25 and has done some of the things in the past that he is worried might DQ him from the RCMP. Although I think they are pretty standard for young people. Anyways I know he is going to be completely honest but is still worried about it.

Here are the "worst" things he has done:

1.) marajuana less than 20 time, shrooms twice and possible speed or caffeine pill once all more than 3 years ago and hash twice.
2.) Software piracy, as well as downloading movies and mp3s. Stopped the end of last year.
3.) took 3 cheap pens from work 2 years ago . As well walking out of a store with a pop when he was like 8 or less and didn't know better
4.) Driving under the influence before around 10 times. Probably over the limit only on a couple. never pulled over or anything. stopped drinking even one drink and then driving 1 year ago
5.) Drinking under the legal age. Going to a bar under the legal age with a fake id. obviously got older
6.) somewhat exaggerating hours when for a company where it was common practise by most employees

just wondering and seeking advice on whether it is worth it to still apply, so that he doesn't have to waste his time worrying. Pretty much everyone I know has done some or all of these things, so I am really wondering if any of these are show stoppers. I am also going to recommend he only disclose things directly as he is asked as well as to stop sweating the small stuff but his integrity and honesty is important to him and he wants the be the best he can be, and thus is worried

thanks for any answers

[lich]

I don't know RCMP standards, so you can't take my thoughts as the final word. Just ask a recruiter. They've heard it all and can tell you point blank whether you have a chance or not.

I know a lot of departments automatically disqualify for hallucinogenic use.

Nobody is perfect, and a lot of offenses can be accepted (if not forgiven) by a department. It's often a matter of distance, meaning how long it's been since the behaviors occured. This also varies by department.

I can appreciate your honesty and I know any police department you apply for will want you to be completely open about what you've done and accept responsibility for your mistakes. It's vastly more important to have an applicant who can admit to making mistakes than one who appears to have a perfectly clean criminal history. The reason is pretty simple, officers are going to make mistakes and will screw up sometimes. You don't need to be perfect to be a cop, you just need to be able to own up to what you've done.

I hope this helps.

[Rockstar]

I've heard that most departments automatically disqualify for LSD and shrooms as well as hard drugs ie. coke, heroin etc.

As far as the pens and drinking and driving go. Calgary Police Service requires absolutely no criminal behaviour in the last 3 years. Two pens from work two years ago, they will suggest you wait until later to apply. They'll defer on ANY criminal behaviour in the past 3 years no matter how minor.

As an additional note, I wouldn't suggest he try to mitigate any offences by suggesting it was accepted practice (lying on his time sheets). If you try to minimize the offence instead of taking full responsibility for your actions he'll get DQ'd.

just my thoughts

[journey2cps-redux]

1.) marajuana less than 20 time, shrooms twice and possible speed or caffeine pill once all more than 3 years ago and hash twice.

The MJ, shouldn't be a big deal, the shrooms a little more so but still not too bad, hash is same deal as MJ. this is however a larger amount of drug use than most applicants. It will depend on the interviewers POV.

2.) Software piracy, as well as downloading movies and mp3s. Stopped the end of last year.

LMAO! Don't worry about this one! (unless he was selling stuff he had downloaded)

3.) took 3 cheap pens from work 2 years ago . As well walking out of a store with a pop when he was like 8 or less and didn't know better

Once again, no big deal, as long as it wasn't intentional (pens example)

4.) Driving under the influence before around 10 times. Probably over the limit only on a couple. never pulled over or anything. stopped drinking even one drink and then driving 1 year ago

Believe it or not, this never came up on my security interview, but it will depend on the interviewer just like the drug use.

5.) Drinking under the legal age. Going to a bar under the legal age with a fake id. obviously got older

He did WHAT!!! don't worry about that, if you were ever a teen ager you did this at some point.

6.) somewhat exaggerating hours when for a company where it was common practise by most employees

This one is a little more serious, depending on the exageration...if it was adding on 5 or 10 minutes every once in a while, its not good, but its not a huge deal. If, it was adding on hours or days, very bad and don't mention it unless it is asked. (I know some disagree with my pov on that but...)

With the RCMP, unlike forces that have a disclosure and poly (CPS for example), EVERY security interview will be different. Some people will be grilled about some aspects, others may not even be asked about that subject. I have passed both RMSI and Security interviews, but was " deffered" (re-apply in 11 months : for a different reason. So if your "friend" has other questions let me know, I'll give you what info I can without violating the non-disclosure.