Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

I just want to start off by saying im glad i found this site. Just to jump right off into my questions. First question: I was arrested back in 07-08 for domestic abuse. When i later went to court for the charge, it was dismissed out of court because my girlfriend at the time lied. I was completely honest with the police and was told that i shouldnt have been the one arrested. Now im currently pursuing a career in criminal justice to be a police officer. Will the arrest alone disqualify me from pursuing my career? Second question: I was charged with a simple criminal mischief charge for breaking out the same girlfriends window at the time. It stemmed from catching her in the act of cheating. Will that charge keep me from becoming a police officer? These happen to be the only 2 things on my record. Im no longer with that woman who i will say assisted in these acts. I know moral turpitude plays a big part. Im just concerned that im pursuing criminal justice for nothing. I would love some feedback.

I just want to start off by saying im glad i found this site. Just to jump right off into my questions. First question: I was arrested back in 07-08 for domestic abuse. When i later went to court for the charge, it was dismissed out of court because my girlfriend at the time lied. I was completely honest with the police and was told that i shouldnt have been the one arrested. Now im currently pursuing a career in criminal justice to be a police officer. Will the arrest alone disqualify me from pursuing my career? Second question: I was charged with a simple criminal mischief charge for breaking out the same girlfriends window at the time. It stemmed from catching her in the act of cheating. Will that charge keep me from becoming a police officer? These happen to be the only 2 things on my record. Im no longer with that woman who i will say assisted in these acts. I know moral turpitude plays a big part. Im just concerned that im pursuing criminal justice for nothing. I would love some feedback.

First off, I'm moving your thread to the regular Ask-A-Cop section because you've posted in the Writers' Questions forum, and this most obviously does not have to do with writing a story of any kind.

Secondly, it would help to know what state you're coming from, because there are different laws for each and every state out there. Without knowing where this all occurred, it's pretty much impossible for us to answer for any state but our own.

Thirdly, welcome to RP from the Florida Panhandle.

I appreciate your response. I live in the state of Iowa. I sort of know most of the qualifications for my state, but kinda blury on all the qualifications. Ive talked to a few officers in the field but was unable to get a complete answer to my questions. Im glad i joined. Hopefully you can give me some enlitement. Thank you.

The charge bing dropped helps. Be honest about both arrests. The damage to property is not a felony so you would not be legally DQed. A conviction of domestic assault would bar you from carrying a firearm so you would be DQed for that, but since the charge was dropped I dont see you technically being DQed.

The department will find out about both incidents so be honest. It may be a longshot though, because there are going to be a lot of applicants that have never been charged with anything and you will need to show that you are a better candidate than them.

I am not an Iowa LEO, but I am from Iowa. I had a hard time finding a department that wanted me because I was not already certified. I was then hired by the first out of state department that I applied for. You can not put yourself through the academy in Iowa so with not being certified and having those things on your record you will be a long shot. If its what you want though, Im sure there is a smaller department looking for bodies that will give you a chance to get your foot in the door.

Even though several years have passed, you would have a problem getting hired with my agency because of the circumstances surrounding your vandalism conviction. They suggest an inability to control your temper during emotionally volatile situations, which officers face on a daily basis. Not only would this be a red flag on the background, but I suspect it would also be an issue getting past the psych exam as well.

Your conviction is a matter of public record. If a department hired you knowing about this potential for temper control and later during your career you were involved in an excessive force incident, any resulting lawsuits against the department would include damage requests for Negligent Hiring. This is something that would be hard for your department to defend against or explain to the public.

Even though several years have passed, you would have a problem getting hired with my agency because of the circumstances surrounding your vandalism conviction. They suggest an inability to control your temper during emotionally volatile situations, which officers face on a daily basis. Not only would this be a red flag on the background, but I suspect it would also be an issue getting past the psych exam as well.

Your conviction is a matter of public record. If a department hired you knowing about this potential for temper control and later during your career you were involved in an excessive force incident, any resulting lawsuits against the department would include damage requests for Negligent Hiring. This is something that would be hard for your department to defend against or explain to the public.

That's pretty much my assessment too. Most people go their whole lives and never get into two situations like that. We'd probably be a lot more inclined to hire from that pool.

Of course, arrests hurt law enforcement applications. Arrests for anything domestic really hurt law enforcement applications. You may want to consider other career options.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I appreciate the honesty. I have quite a few friends who are police officers and have told me that they would help anyway possible to get me in as an officer. Our police chief who is retired now was really good friends with my mom. Not sure how much weight his recommendation would hold using him as a reference which he 100% agreed to. Can anybody tell me if that would help my chances?

Thanks for the feedback guys. I appreciate the honesty. I have quite a few friends who are police officers and have told me that they would help anyway possible to get me in as an officer. Our police chief who is retired now was really good friends with my mom. Not sure how much weight his recommendation would hold using him as a reference which he 100% agreed to. Can anybody tell me if that would help my chances?

It wouldn't help with my agency. Again, it comes back to an issue of negligent hiring and if you wind up failing the psych, its an auto DQ.

By all means give it a try. The worst that can happen is they say no. But i wouldn't pay to send yourself through the academy.

So would it help if i tryed to get that charge expunged from my record? I know that too is a long shot but want to know what your thoughts are regarding this matter?

So would it help if i tryed to get that charge expunged from my record? I know that too is a long shot but want to know what your thoughts are regarding this matter?

No, it won't help. In most cases and depending on the state you live in, the background investigator will have access to expunged records. In addition, there will be questions on the background packet asking you to list and explain all contacts with the police of any nature.

And again we come back to the psych. Most states require that peace officer candidates be evaluated to determine if they are free from any emotional or mental condition that might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer, and to otherwise ensure that they are capable of withstanding the psychological demands of the position. As part of the psych process you will be administered a lengthy written and in person examination. If you have a problem controlling your temper in a volatile emotional situation it will first show up in the exam. When you get to the oral the shrink will push your buttons to see how you react. In the end (if this is a problem) you will get DQed on the psych, expunged or not.

Again, give it a shot. The worst that can happen is they say no.

Depends on the state. In Oregon, expunged is gone, no one has access to the record because it no longer exist. However, the incidents will no doubt come up during the background investigation. They talk to people other than the references you list and someone is likely to bring it up. You would be better off to disclose it.

But like L-1 said, it doesn't hurt to try.