Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

Hi. I'm 25 and live in Florida. I have always been interested in law enforcement. When i was 20 I was working as a heavy equipment operator and really enjoyed my job. And the law enforcment went on. The back burner. Well a guy I worked with who really tought me alot and was a good mentor was a major pot head. Now I have only smoked pot a few time but I did get high with this guy once and about a week later I was asked to take a drug test. I was not too worried and hoped that it had past. Well I failed and was fired. I now work as a maintenance director in a nursing home and want to go to school and am re opening the law enforcment door and will probably go with it even if people say I got no chance. But what do ya think anyway?

Hi. I'm 25 and live in Florida. I have always been interested in law enforcement. When i was 20 I was working as a heavy equipment operator and really enjoyed my job. And the law enforcment went on. The back burner. Well a guy I worked with who really tought me alot and was a good mentor was a major pot head. Now I have only smoked pot a few time but I did get high with this guy once and about a week later I was asked to take a drug test. I was not too worried and hoped that it had past. Well I failed and was fired. I now work as a maintenance director in a nursing home and want to go to school and am re opening the law enforcment door and will probably go with it even if people say I got no chance. But what do ya think anyway?


Ok so when i was 21 I failed a drug test and lost my job for marijuana. It was the 4th time smoking pot but anyway. I'm 25 now and have held a manager position in building maintenance for the last 2 years and have been with the company for 3. I wanted to become a police officer when i was nineteen but it went on the back burner because I got a job running heavy equipment making good money. Point is I made a big mistake and am re opening the door to law enforcement. Do you think i will find an agency that will look at it as i am not the same young dumb kid I was when i was 21 and hire me?

So which was it, 20 or 21? It'll make a difference. Most agencies that I know of want to see at least 5 years since the last time you smoked (notice, not since the last time you were caught). Also, the fact that you lost your job over a bad decision made as an obvious adult will haunt you in your quest, since it will not be dismissed as youthful experimentation.

I'd say if you've been clean since then, go ahead and give it a shot, but don't expect too much because you'll be going up against people who have never smoked pot, and definitely never been caught and suffered consequences for it. Worst they can say is no.

Yeah sorry for the 2 posts. I didn't see the hiring question unfilled after I posted in ask a cop. Ok so I was 21 when i got fired. 20 when i got the job. Thanks for the info.

And also this is something that i really want. I am currently going to school for physical therapy assistant. I am putting that on hold because i have a pasion to do this. That being said. Those guys with clean records ect. Can be gone up against by someone with a passion and drive. And if i show that in the academy and make top scores I feel like i can stand out despite my past. Would you say that to be true? I also understand that in the eyes of the law when you turn 18 you are an adult but some people don't grow up and the light dose not come on right away. I also feel like there are agencies who might look at that as well. Anyway. I'm registering to take my bat and pat the end of the month

And also this is something that i really want. It's something a lot of people want, but want doesn't have much to do with it. I am currently going to school for physical therapy assistant. I am putting that on hold because i have a pasion to do this. I'd keep going to that school and finish up as a plan B. That being said. Those guys with clean records ect. Can be gone up against by someone with a passion and drive. And if i show that in the academy and make top scores I feel like i can stand out despite my past. Would you say that to be true? I've not seen it to be true. What I have seen to be true more times than I can recall, is guys like you that suddenly have this passion and drive but have made career killing bad choices in the past and they can't be overcome. I also understand that in the eyes of the law when you turn 18 you are an adult but some people don't grow up and the light dose not come on right away. I also feel like there are agencies who might look at that as well. There may very well be some agencies that look at your passion and drive, but your prior bad choices open any agency that hires you to a liability. Most agencies don't care when you grew up or the light came on, as long as you didn't break the law, which you did. If they hire someone who has knowingly broken the law as an adult, they are opening themselves to a huge waste of $$ because if (when) it comes to light in the courtroom, your credibility will most likely be shot, and you're as good as a paper weight at that time. Anyway. I'm registering to take my bat and pat the end of the month
That's about all you can do right now, is take those tests and give it a whirl. Like I said, the worst they can say is no. Thing is, this isn't the type of job where they hire someone based on their drive and passion. They hire based on a set of standards that list out the minimum qualifications. One of those is that you have been a law-abiding, good moraled, good decision making citizen in the past.

The actual cannabis use may not be a big deal, but the firing might and that is assuming you have no other negative background history or illegal activity or employement problems in the past.

In Florida, how well you do in the academy has no effect when you go to get hired. Not many agencies "sponsor" or pay for the academy so all they actually see is that you passed the academy.

As for your "drive to be in Law Enforcement", I can bet every applicant claims to be "driven" just as much as the guy (you).

I say, get the school done so you have a "back up plan" and then go through and pass the academy and apply.

I think what we are trying to tell you is, you have a chance just like the next guy, but you have to be more desirable then the next guy.

Generally speaking, out of every 100 academy graduates roughly 10 or less actually get hired by a department.

Do the math.

Ok. Well any other advice like things I can do to stand out. Like do you think the national guard will have anything to do with me with mp and also finishing up my plan b will give me an associate degree.
Any other ideas. Thanks guys.

Start an exercise program and continue it for the rest of your life! Thats's my two cents.



Be Safe.

Yeah I do that already.....

Ok. Well any other advice like things I can do to stand out. Like do you think the national guard will have anything to do with me with mp and also finishing up my plan b will give me an associate degree.
Any other ideas. Thanks guys.

Join the military because you truly want to, not because you think it will look good when you apply for police jobs. If you don't truly want to be in the military then you will not have a happy enlistment. And no matter what a degree is in, a college degree is better than no degree. Having an associates degree will put you ahead of similarly qualified candidates without a degree.

Join the military because you truly want to, not because you think it will look good when you apply for police jobs. If you don't truly want to be in the military then you will not have a happy enlistment. And no matter what a degree is in, a college degree is better than no degree. Having an associates degree will put you ahead of similarly qualified candidates without a degree.

I echo this advice 100%, particularly the motive for enlisting in the NG. If you feel commited to the country that you wish to do this I fully commend you but it should be that personal interest and desire that motivates you to enlist. I served four years active.

But, now I want to say this as carefully as possible, as I recall a NG enlistment is a 6, 7 or 8 year obligation, isn't it? Some entities, private and public, may not see active NG commitments as fully positive. While you're drilling, one weekend a month and a couple weeks a summer, your position will need to be covered. A public or private entity cannot lawfully exclude you from being hired for your commitment, but unfortunately in the real world no one knows exactly why one person is placed ahead of another on a ranking list or a chief, who has final say, will or will not extend an offer especially if it's a smaller department or private company. I have never had personal knowledge where a person's NG duty played against them, but I have heard sergeants and LTs b**thing about having to cover an officer absence and I don't know if that sentiment has ever purculated upstairs and affected any decision. I'd like to think it hasn't.

Another school of thought is that if NG duty would have any negative influence on hiring, you wouldn't want to work for that department or company anyway. But in my opinion, as competitive as LE is, you want to get on almost any department first then lateral away if the it isn't exactly a good fit. But try to pick the right dept so you don't waste your time or that dept's time and money.

So enlist for your personal reasons of wanting to serve your country, not to build your resume.

Thank you everyone. So I talked to the capt at a local jail. She told me if it is what i want to do I am crazy not to and that I will find work. She also said to try corrections and get some time in there as it is easier to get hired.. so anyway. I will keep updating on my progress if you guys will allow it or if you even care. And would welcome any support.

Thank you everyone. So I talked to the capt at a local jail. She told me if it is what i want to do I am crazy not to and that I will find work. She also said to try corrections and get some time in there as it is easier to get hired.. so anyway. I will keep updating on my progress if you guys will allow it or if you even care. And would welcome any support.

Good Luck, and going into corrections may not only help "open the door" but you may find it tobe rewarding and enjoyable.

And we enjoy hearing updates, expecially good ones. We also NEED to hear negative updates, not so we can "ridicule" or say "we told you so" but becuse it gives us more of an idea on what advice etc to give others in your situation.

Just FYI, I don't know if you meant it sarcastically by your wording of "if you guys even care" but it sounded negative, condecending and sarcastic.

Just FYI, I don't know if you meant it sarcastically by your wording of "if you guys even care" but it sounded negative, condecending and sarcastic.

Just threw that in there because I'm sure you have heard it all before about the guy with the shaky past wakes up on day and wants to be a cop. It was geared more to myself.

Just threw that in there because I'm sure you have heard it all before about the guy with the shaky past wakes up on day and wants to be a cop. It was geared more to myself.

Trust me I have seen a few folks hired over the years with SEVERE past criminal behavior! Granted, all but 1 ended up getting arrested and/or fired for committing similar activity as a LEO. The one that is still in LE has not changed and is still "dirty" but appearantly he
knows someone "up top" dirtier because he has documented issues and instead of being terminated he keeps getting promoted. EVERYONE (civilian and LEO) that knows him has no respect for him and only resentment.

My point is, nobody here has said "you won't make it" or "you have no chance". We have only told you the honest truth of how it will be more difficult for you then it will be for others with no past issues.

That's not to say if you get hired you will "relapse" back to your past, you very well could be a Chief one day. You will just have to work harder to get hired is all. People that made bad choices in their past often NEVER do them again as LEO's and LEO's that have no past history make bad choices after being hired, its not often but WE ARE ALL HUMAN.