Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

Hi I live in Spokane, Wa. I have a class c drug felony (3 years since conviction), and I was wondering what the laws Were on felons owning and/or carrying any kind of weapon (tasers, stun guns, knives, etc) in Washington state???

Side Q: if I decided I want to become a cop or join the military, is there a program where I can expunge my felony so I can do so (without having to wait 5-10 years)???


Thank you

In California, any person convicted of a felony (or of a crime in another jurisdiction that would be a felony in California) is prohibited from employment as a California peace officer [Government Code §1029(a)]. This prohibition holds even if the conviction was sealed, expunged, or set aside. It may also apply to any convictions that were subsequently reduced to a misdemeanor occurring on or after January 1, 2004.

Federal law 18 U.S.C. 922(g) prohibits anyone convicted of any felony to possess any firearm either inside or outside of his home. The federal punishment for felon gun possession is up to 10 years in prison.

That pretty much keep you from being hired as a cop in any state.

I can't help you as to Washington laws regarding possession of other weapons that are not firearms or the military issue.

Just FYI, records never "disapear, go away, etc. Even "sealed" records are not actually "sealed" per say.

A felony is just that a felony, making you a convicted FELON.

FELONS can't carry or have access to firearms. So even if a LE Agency did hire FELONS (No LE Agency in the USA would), you still could'nt carry a firearm, or be around felow Cops (cause they have guns).

You may have "changed" and want to and are being a law abiding citizen but you can forget a LOT of carreers, for example due to insurance guidines you can't work at a bank with a Felony. I only mention this because I just arrested a "important employee of over 20 years" of a "Financial Establishment", this person is on suicide watch at the jail because it was a Felony and they will now loose the job, brokerage license etc. Due to one stupid choice this person made. And in all honesty, I had respect for this person, with no past record (not even a ticket) and now "this person's" life is in the gutter.

All it takes is ONE bad choice and your future is ruined.

Talk to a lawyer to see what Washington laws are regarding expungment. You might be able to get it expunged and be eligible to carry a firearm, etc. Being a cop is still out of the question.