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I live in Seattle and I am interested in looking into the possibility of becoming a police officer. However, I have a couple DUI's and a Misdemeanor on my record. I don't believe I would be able to become a cop here in Seattle but maybe there are other cities out there that are more lenient towards your record and past. I would have to think that a city like Baltimore for example would be more desperate to hire cops and would be more lenient towards your record based on them having a higher crime rate.
Do any of you who are knowledgeable about law enforcement have any advice for me? I was just curious about becoming a cop but am concerned that my past mistakes will keep me from having any chance of ever becoming a cop.
It's a department by department policy with the answer strongly inclining towards no.
How departments handle things like expungements, etc is again a department by department thing but again, for serious offenses, the answer will trend no.
I read something in Dear Abby many years ago about a guy who actually did time in Federal prison, got a Presidential pardon and became a cop but I have a feeling that was a 'back in the day' sort of thing and wouldn't ever happen now.
In an city like Baltimore, a cop is a great-paying job, starting at around $50,000 a year with potential to reach $100,000 or more with great benefits, a union, and a pension with fully paid healthcare after 20 or 25 years, and I think they are desirable jobs even with the danger factor. Not even counting the perks of free meals and being able to attract a lot of women. I think you'd have a better chance in a very low population area, South Dakota or someplace like that where there aren't enough people applying. I would think a big city will have far more candidates than jobs, especially now when cities are broke and under pressure to cut their budgets and cops are even being laid off in some cases.
Here in NJ, the state dismantled Camden's police force (very poor area and several times had the honor of murder capital of the U.S.) and replaced it with a county force to save money. A "couple" DUI's probably will make it quite difficult. Of course it also depends on your other qualifications, how long ago they were, did you go through rehab, things like that.
I live in Seattle and I am interested in looking into the possibility of becoming a police officer. However, I have a couple DUI's and a Misdemeanor on my record. I don't believe I would be able to become a cop here in Seattle but maybe there are other cities out there that are more lenient towards your record and past. I would have to think that a city like Baltimore for example would be more desperate to hire cops and would be more lenient towards your record based on them having a higher crime rate.
Do any of you who are knowledgeable about law enforcement have any advice for me? I was just curious about becoming a cop but am concerned that my past mistakes will keep me from having any chance of ever becoming a cop.
Unfortunately you did it backwards. You should have become a cop first than drove drunk, you would have gotten a ride home, and even if you injured someone your cop friends would have covered it for you.
It's hard to get jobs as police officers because the competition is rather stiff. Someone in another forum here told me that even though jobs are listed on village and town websites, there are seldom job openings in the department.
Your record is going to make it almost impossible to get a job, given the competition. Nobody is going to risk hiring someone who may have another lapse of judgement, putting a black eye on the whole department. One DUI is bad enough, but two is inexcusable. Plus a misdemeanor. You can sometimes explain one issue, but not three.
I live in Seattle and I am interested in looking into the possibility of becoming a police officer. However, I have a couple DUI's and a Misdemeanor on my record. I don't believe I would be able to become a cop here in Seattle but maybe there are other cities out there that are more lenient towards your record and past. I would have to think that a city like Baltimore for example would be more desperate to hire cops and would be more lenient towards your record based on them having a higher crime rate.
Do any of you who are knowledgeable about law enforcement have any advice for me? I was just curious about becoming a cop but am concerned that my past mistakes will keep me from having any chance of ever becoming a cop.
How long ago were your "mistakes"?
What steps did you take to overcome them?
What was going on in your life at the time you made the "mistakes"?
What were the charges and what were you found guilty of and what did you plea down to?
Exactly how many "mistakes" did you make?
What other "mistakes" did you make that did not involve alcohol?
These things are important and will have a significant impact.
Unfortunately you did it backwards. You should have become a cop first than drove drunk, you would have gotten a ride home, and even if you injured someone your cop friends would have covered it for you.
Uh, maybe in small town nowhere or once in a blue moon. Where I'm from cops caught driving drunk are suspended without pay by the department and usually fired afterwards. Everyone hates crooked cops, and cops breaking the law aren't looked upon favorably by the overwhelming majority of other cops. Your view is such a rare stereotype.
Uh, maybe in small town nowhere or once in a blue moon. Where I'm from cops caught driving drunk are suspended without pay by the department and usually fired afterwards. Everyone hates crooked cops, and cops breaking the law aren't looked upon favorably by the overwhelming majority of other cops. Your view is such a rare stereotype.
Sorry, not small town. Try Suffolk County, NY( suburbs of NYC). It has happened more than once where the "officer" is given a ride home.
Apparently you're not aware of the "Blue Code of Silence".
Sorry, not small town. Try Suffolk County, NY( suburbs of NYC). It has happened more than once where the "officer" is given a ride home.
Apparently you're not aware of the "Blue Code of Silence".
It is not rare at all.
Yes, in those instances someone who has been on the force for some time becomes part of the boys club and as such is protected by the others. That doesn't mean anyone would hire someone with problems going in.
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