Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

So I have turned in my PHS to a local Sheriff's Department and I will be submitting it again to LAPD next month. I was wondering if any current LEs could chime in on my background and let me know what you think:

27 years old.

Positives:
No history of drug use.
No alcohol related incidents. I waited until I was 21 before my first drink.
Never been arrested.
8 years of military service between the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Reserves. Still currently serving in the Army Reserves.
All of my evaluations from the military are really good.
I have 97.5 quarter units combined from three different community colleges.

Negatives:
Got into a fight with a co-worker in the Navy in 08/2006. My only punishment was to attend one stress relief class.

In 04/2010 I got a fix it ticket for not having a license plate on the front of my vehicle.

Filed for divorce in 02/2011

Filed for bankruptcy in 05/2011 due to debt incurred from my divorce. I have been using a credit card with a low limit to help raise my credit score. I was in the low 400s during the bankruptcy but am now at a 600.

Unemployed since 04/2012 due to my civilian employer reducing my position to part time and if I stayed I wouldn't be allowed to take time off to go to any Law Enforcement hiring events or any job interviews for that matter. I was also offered a four week severance package if I resigned. I resigned because for one I couldn't live off of 20 hours a week and I thought it was terrible that I wouldn't be allowed to take time off to find full time employment. I certainly wasn't going to miss out on any LE hiring events either. I am however still enlisted in the Army Reserves and my Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant really enjoy having me in the unit.

Just found out about a 2 week false penalty claim from California EDD stemming from 09/2011. I didn't know about this until now because my unemployment claim seems to be severely delayed. I emailed EDD asking about my payment and they told me about the penalty. My first two weeks of benefits went to the penalty and it is now zeroed out and all is fine. I was in Army Training in 2011 and I asked my family to fill out my forms for me because I wouldn't of been able to where I was training at. I think they messed up on my forms but after returning from training I didn't receive any notice about the penalty.

In 12/2011 my brother and I went to a bar. Once we got in we went our separate ways. Upon leaving I suggested a taxi or a hotel room. He said he was fine, that he didn't have much to drink, and didn't appear to be drunk. He wouldn't hand over the keys and I certainly wasn't going to let him drive off alone so I went with him. We got pulled over for a crack in the windshield. They also gave him a field sobriety test which he passed and they still arrested him. His BAC was at the legal limit but was eventually convicted of a wet and reckless. On the report it just says that I was the passenger and I that I was offered a ride to the nearest pay phone to call a cab. To which I declined and walked home.

Second question:

I forgot to add the 2010 fix it ticket on my PHS for the Sheriff's Department.

The 2 week penalty from EDD isn't on there either because I didn't know about it until after turning in the PHS.

Do I just wait until I am assigned a BI and then tell the BI right away about both items?

It all looks ok, the credit issues could be a negative. It will depend on the Departments requirements for your credit/finance issues.

I personally don't see any issues with your background. The traffic stop incident should not be an issue, you were the passenger, period. If the person you were with was arrested for something else it could be an issue on your judgement and who you associate with but thats not the case.

The fight with the co-worker may be something they would want more clarity about but I still dont see it as a big deal.

I know thing are a lot different nowadays but in the 90's when I was hired I was unemployed (full time academy student) and only 19 with little work history and no credit.

Due to some extensive surgeries etc. I am in debt over 100k myself and my agency is fully aware and it hasnt been a issue.

You have a military background and no drug use or arrests, etc. So I personally see no "red flags" or ither reasons why would not be hired. The only thing that would make you even more "desirable" would be a
degree.

Goof Luck and let us know how it goes.

I most definitely will. I have my initial background interview with LAPD next month. I'm very excited about Law Enforcement and hope to cross over to the Military Police field if I get an LE position.

While I do not have a degree I do have 97.5 quarter units which is actually more than you need for an AA however the units are from three separate colleges due to moving around and what not and most colleges will not take 100% of your units from other colleges.

Hopefully you can get your foot in the door with th "smaller" local Sheriffs Department, gain some "road time" and experience and then go for LAPD. I am on the east coast so I cant give you accurate info on how strict or lax The Department(s) you are looking at are. As a general rule, the larger the Department the "stricter" rewuirements etc. are.

I have bo clue what the "EDD" you talk about is.

Also a degree is not mandatory, it just helps and more Departments are iether requiring one or prefer one.

And EVERYBODY knows that going through a Divorce can easily put you in bankruptsy. Same with being
laid off, in this economy even LEO's are being laid off. And speaking of the economy, you have to realize many LEO's are looking for new jobs as well as folks in general so Departments are able to be VERY picky whey when it comes to applicants.

Your background may not be an issue, you just have to "WOW" the Department you go through the "oral boards" etc. That guy before or after you may have a "perfect" background etc. and then screw up when they get further into the hiring process!

I can explain the EDD thing further and please let me know if it will be an issue. EDD is what California
calls it's unemployment department:

I was unemployed from 03/10/2011 to 08/2011 due to moving back to Southern California in connection with the cost of living in the San Francisco area, my then employer slashing hours, and my bankruptcy.

In 08/2011 I had to go through Army Basic Training for the Reserves and I wouldn't of been able to fill out my unemployment forms. My parents offered to fill out the forms for me and I showed them how and told them how much my wages were going to be so everything could be accurately reported. When I got home from Army Basic I found full time employment with a civilian employer.

Fast forward to now. As I stated in my original post I am once again unemployed and everything with the unemployment office has been delayed. I emailed them to ask where my payment was and they replied back saying that I was assessed a two week false statement penalty from 09/2011 for not filling out my forms correctly. I was at Army Basic at that time and I think my parents messed up on the forms that I asked them to fill out. I was not assessed any money to pay back, I only had to go my first two weeks without unemployment benefits. I have documentation of the email they sent me and a letter showing that the penalty has been taken care of. I also called and they verified that the penalty has been satisfied.

I dont know what to tell you about the EDD issue, Fortunatley Ive never been in it and am unfamiliar. As said with the economy in the gutter, you being on unemployment shouldnt be an issue. If your worried abou the "false statement" accusations I am sure you will have some explaining to due if they ask you about it. Also most agencies have some sort of question in the application along the lines of "have you ever been accused of or charged with giving false information etc?"

If your parents filled out the form, if you explain this and it can be "verified" that they filled out the form and it was not an intentional act of "lying" or "fraud" then it should not be an issue.

Its best to be upfront about anything questionable because it will eventually be discover and it will show deciet during the polygraph.

Just FYI, any "undisclosed" information will cone out and I have personally seen good cops get fored months and even years after being hired because new info that wasnt disclosed eventually was discovered.

Just be upfront and honest. No agency will knowingly employ a known "liar" . Honesty or "credibilty" is one if not the most important thing for LEO's. If your credibilty is ever questioned then your career is iver and no other agency will touch you.

Thank you CPL1897 for responding to my posts and giving me some good information. Hopefully I'll be able to update this soon to tell whether or not I made it to the next stage with the Sheriff's Department or LAPD.

I'm not passing any judgement but the unemployment, 'penalty', gap in employment would be examined closely. The recency of the BK and the circumstances surrounding the accumulation of debt would/should have their attention. Be well prepared for that area. Was the BK a chapter 7, 11, 13? The BK's current dispo (filed, dismissed, converted, closed, discharged, or discharged with reaffirmation) will be of interest I would say.

(They let your brother plead to a "wet reckless"? Our jurisdiction took DUIs to trial...it was a political thing, I think.)

Edit: I just realized I asked the BK filing, but treat it as rhetorical...I wouldn't put too specific of history on a public forum. I should have just said the circumstances surrounding the BK and its current dispo would be a major area of interest with us, particularly since the case filing was in 2011.

You seem to have enough history that a bg investigator will be able to assemble a good view of these circumstances and put them into perspective. You are an example of real life. No one is perfect.

Do they take other things into account too? Like before the BK and the penalty my background was very clean. So I don't really have a history of these things continually happening. I have shown improvement in my credit, all of my bills are currently paid on time. Do they take into account the recession and how tough the job market is when it comes to people's finances and unemployment? Also the Sheriff's Department that I applied to told us that they are conducting unlimited hiring right now, would they tend to be a bit more lenient and understanding?

Do they take other things into account too? Like before the BK and the penalty my background was very clean. So I don't really have a history of these things continually happening. I have shown improvement in my credit, all of my bills are currently paid on time. Do they take into account the recession and how tough the job market is when it comes to people's finances and unemployment? Also the Sheriff's Department that I applied to told us that they are conducting unlimited hiring right now, would they tend to be a bit more lenient and understanding?

Hello thatarmyguy:

I'm sure they would look at the whole picture. You have some real positives!

Rarely did I see a candidate without a questionable issue. So it boiled down to the severity of the issues and how they were explained and if the explanation made sense. There are other candidates vying for the same position though too.

There are certain job traits we compare conduct against and if there is a pattern of behavior casting question of a few of those traits we would pass on them. My goal when doing bgs was to conduct thorough, complete and LEGALLY defensible investigations and reports. (Actually the same thing a cop does every day on the job.)

Some departments will pass on a candidate while another department will keep them in the process. I recommend to candidates to be open and forthcoming with any and all info. If I suspected a candidate was attempting to hide or withhold or even slightly frustrate my ability to investigate an area of concern they'd go to the bottom of the pile or I might write an executive summary and close it out. I told them this in the initial bg interview. The sad thing is that in some cases the issue might have been something that could have been overcome, but the candidate panics and tries to minimize or conceal it or see if I can figure it out. You know the old adage, "don't cop to anything." That didn't bode well for them with us.

As crazy as it sounds I forgot to file Federal taxes one year. Since I was to rcv a refund there was no legal consequence but it was still a reflection on me. I filed the taxes much later. Anyway, it didn't interfere with my bg as I was still offered and accepted the position. But I went to great lengths to open my past up to the investigators and let the chips fall where they may.

You know what? Real people have real pasts. I think a lot of cops working the street today would be surprised just how colorful of history some of their partners have.

Being open and forthright with the investigator(s) is the best approach.

Good luck.

I can't speak for any department other than my own, but Portland, OR wouldn't take you because of the bankruptcy. I know that because a friend of mine was with the local transit police for about 7 years until his wife convinced him to quit and go to work at a bank. Two years later, they divorced and he had to file for bankruptcy too. He applied with us a year later and I thought because of his experience and other background they would overlook it, but they didn't. They turned him down.

Otherwise, you would be a good candidate, I think.

Interesting information, thank you to all for giving me a heads up on what I may have to explain or clear up if I make it to that stage.

Well I just wanted to say that I took my medical screening and psych test/oral this week on Monday and Tuesday. Now I'm just waiting with my fingers crossed hoping that I made it.