Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

I am a school teacher, and I recently received a letter from the NYPD to begin the tentative July 2012 hire. I took the test a little over two years ago. I am excited but I have a few concerns. Over the years I had a few arrests that were domestic related and ended with misdemeanor convictions, and I have tickets that are preventing my driving privileges. My college buddy who was recently hired, told me to go through the process and try. These charges are over 5 years old and, there was no violence involved. It's a long story but, my ex really did me in. I have worked several jobs and have had some rough patches in my life. I would like to hear from a VERIFIED police officer on my chances on being accepted into the academy with my past issues. Thanks!

What specifically were you convicted of? I was never a police officer in New York, so I don't know how their laws work, but what is "domestic related" that isn't domestic violence? If you have a DV conviction, I'm sure that will automatically bar you from employment as a police officer, as you won't legally be able to possess a firearm. Additionally, although this pales in comparison to your domestic issues, how would you expect to be appointed as a police officer without a valid license? I'm sure a valid driver's license is a condition of employment with NYPD.

I'm more concerned with how you're able to be a teacher with a criminal record.

Hello and thanks for your response. My charges are contempt of court in the second degree. The entire issue started as a custody case in family court. everything was going fine ad eventually I was arrested for an incident with my ex's sister ( my child's aunt). My child's mother and I were having a lot of problems each time I came to pick up my child. We went to court and, the magistrate made arraignments to meet with the sister of my ex. One weekend, I was denied my visit from the aunt ( my ex told her to do this) on a scheduled visit. My ex and I was going back and forth with serving each other for violating our family court order of protection and, she gave papers to her sister to serve me. This was her rational for not allowing me to visit on my weekend. I had moved out of my apartment after my ex and I split, and my child still lived there. I was emotional and stupid. I called the precient and asked for a police escort and explained the situation. I did not have my court ordered visitation schedule on me and that proved to be a mistake. The police I spoke with told me they could not help me & that I would have to go to court. I choose not to and went to my apartment any and acted like I was there to get served by the aunt. When the aunt opened the door to my apartment, I pushed my way in to my place, got my son dressed and took the new set of keys of of my dresser because the locks were changed.
I left with my girlfriend and had a great time with my child. However, later that evening I had several messages from detectives informing me to come in and speak with them regarding the incident at my apartment. I was told to bring my child in or there was going to an Amber Alert put out for my child. The girl I was dating at the time is an MTA police officer and suggested that I go in and talk to them. I had never been arrested before that. the detective was very friendly and cordial and read me my Miranda Rights before I spoke and asked me what happened. I explained the everything exactly how it happened, and was arrested. I now know that I could have kept my mouth shut and asked for an attorney. I was so shocked and I asked what my charges were. I was told "we'll figure it out" I was so embarrassed and ashamed. I spent 23 hours in the central booking for Manhattan and nearly lost my mind when I found out the charges I was charged with. I was shocked that none of my charges had anything to do with assult because I did push by the aunt, I mean I did not push her down but we had contact, she told the detectives I pushed her down and snatched my son from her. But the charges were far worse thatn I could imagine. I really forgot what they were, but I do remember "robbery" being one of them. I nearly jumped out of my skin when the public defender read the charges to me. I was released and the judge was made aware of my current custody battle and court ordered visitation. The judge issued TWO temporary order of protections, one for my ex and one for her sister with a special condition that the order was subjected to a family court order that was already in place for family court involving my ex my attorney explained that if a visit had to be cancelled or one of the parties was running late, that had to be communicated plus I had phone contact with my child.
After that day, my life was never the same. The next time I went to family court I asked to have my pick up drop off location changed to a local preicent. Granted. My ex had changed the number to my apartment's phone. I managed to get the new number from the provider called my home to speak to my child and was cussed out by my ex for calling and questioned on how I got the number. At the time it was funny to me because she knew that I had the right to call and it pissed her off I think she thought changing the number would stop the communication with my child. Anyway, she contacted the police 30 minutes before our scheduled visit, and I walked right into cuffs. I explained that the order that she showed him had subject to family court order on it, and of course I did not have my family court order on me to prove what the conditions were. The detective, whom I build a rapport with eventually, told me to let the judge figure it out. in a nutshell I was arrested several times there after for violation of the order. I would get released the next day, but one judge did not let me go home once and I spent 45 days in the can. The bail was too high for me to pay while I was in school. so I took a plea just to get out and handle my responsibilities. As a result, there was an order of protection that lasted for 3 years. I gave up on the visits because I was scared and I had enough of the whole jail experience.
As far as my Teaching License, I completed school and earned my BA. I took the Praxis exam's and applied to the school board. I got in with no problems, I always heard that that once you have a record your choices are limited, I still believe that to a degree but, I learned that if your charges conflict with your job description then your SOL. The DL has to be fixed before the appointment. Thanks!

I don't work for NYPD, so I'm not saying this with any authority, but you need to stick with teaching. You have too much chaos in your life to be a police officer.

Former NYPD.....and you have 0 chance. You MUST have a valid license for the NYPD...and if you had one in the past 60 months, it can't have been suspended. You are a DQ on those grounds right now.

Second, if there was a NY State Domestic Violence Report (DVR) filed, you have zero shot. The laws of NY and the feds prevent convticted DV's from having a gun. Though you were not charged with a DV crime, the mere fact a DVR was filed (and it usually is in an any domestic dispute), is looked upon by the NYPD that you will likely take the next small step and escalate from a incident to a crime (aka assault).

McNulty is right....you should stick to the classroom.

Cornholio,

Welcome to Real Police. As I read the new threads this morning, I find many threads updated by you. Threads that were last commented on for the most part, a year or more ago. We like to leave the old alone here. If you have something you want to talk about, please start a new thread. Please see our forum rules and familarize yourself.


In addtion, some of your posts and comments imply you are a LEO, such as stating the NYPD "is not my department" and giving advice on what is a DQ or not. Our forum does not allow non-LEO's to imply such without getting verified. Please see our forum verification section if you are verified.

Forum rules: http://www.realpolice.net/forums/forum-rules-65/91718-forum-rules.html

Verification: http://www.realpolice.net/forums/restricted-areas-supporting-members-96/96880-supporting-member-leo-verification.html

You may also want to stop by Rap Sheets and introduce yourself.

Thank you!