Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

I'm going to add my introduction here as well as some info that pertains to my situation. I'm concerned about something in particular and I'm hoping a FL LEO can help.

I'm currently in the Navy, active duty. I'm a Master At Arms, our version of an MP. I have deployed to Afghanistan and provided training for and worked with their local Police and Border forces, conducted assesments of the Police forces within the province I worked in, did many missions as convoy security, and provided assistance to Civil Affairs units, and kenetic forces. Back in the U.S. I work in traditional LE (base Police) with our DoD Police counterparts. I am certified in Homeland Security levels 1 through 3 and nearly finished with my USMAP apprenticeship in LE and 5 classes away from my AS in Criminal Justice. I have an active secret security clearance. And by the time I get out of the active Navy I will be well on my way to a BS in Public Administation. I'm in the process of picking up some extra schools like Advanced Security Reaction Force (essentially our version of SWAT training) and Combat Coxswain.

The reason I stated what I have accomplished in the Navy and in my field of work is this....

I am currently 27 years old. When I was 22 I was pulled over and arrested for an active warrant that I did not know was out on me. It was for an incident that happened when I was 20 years old. Essentially what happened was I got into an arguement on the road and left with nothing happening. Later, the individual reported to the local Police that I had rammed my car into his causing a golf ball sized dent. The local Police contacted me took my report and I never heard of it again until I was arrested close to 1 1/2 years later. The charge was aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (the deadly weapon being the car) .. a felony! Never having been in trouble before (literally my record was spotless before this) I was very worried. I had never delt with any form of criminal charge or any kind of trouble with law and I was very fearful of what could happen so I hired a lawyer. I never did ram my car into another car and seeing that the claim of a "golf ball" size dent did not match the other persons story the prosecutor for the state wanted to drop the charges. That did not end up happening. What I was told by my attorney was that his boss was in hot water for being to lenient recently and did not allow him to do so. So he was told that if my ex girlfriends report (current girlfriend at the time of the incident) matched mine they would reduce the charge from aggravated assault with a deadly weapon to assault. They listened to her, the reports were the same, and they reduced the charge. My attorney advised me to plead no contest instead of going to trial being very scared of all that was going on, I did so. I did 3 months of probation and an 8 hour anger management class.

I joined the Navy at 25 and had no problem getting into Law Enforcement and getting a secret security clearance.

What I am concerned about is when I get out and I apply to a Police Department (particularly the FWC) that the past incident I explained above would pose a problem.

I feel I am more than qualified for a career in LE aswell as very passionate about the job and I would hate something like that to be the nail in the coffin for my future.

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Anyone?

What I am concerned about is when I get out and I apply to a Police Department (particularly the FWC) that the past incident I explained above would pose a problem.

It will give cause for concern.


Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

With your description of events that led to your arrest, I would not have plead no contest.

Honorable military service, achieving higher education and no additional derogatory activity since the event described above, will be of benefit to you.

Thank you for your military service.

It will give cause for concern.



With your description of events that led to your arrest, I would not have plead no contest.

Honorable military service, achieving higher education and no additional derogatory activity since the event described above, will be of benefit to you.

Thank you for your military service.

Thanks for the reply. I just hope it doesn't tun out to be a automatic DQ.

Probably will be an auto-dq at most places. Most places around here don't touch applicants with felony arrests on their record. If you were convicted of the felony, it's an auto DQ everywhere. I would just consult with the agency you are applying with, tell them of the circumstances around it, and let the chips fall where they may.

Probably will be an auto-dq at most places. Most places around here don't touch applicants with felony arrests on their record. If you were convicted of the felony, it's an auto DQ everywhere. I would just consult with the agency you are applying with, tell them of the circumstances around it, and let the chips fall where they may.

I would certainly lean towards this line of thinking too... The felony charge and arrest is going to be a huge hurdle to overcome - even if the state attorney agreed to lessen the charge to a misdemeanor assualt. Just by filing the felony charge they felt there was probable cause to support that case - and apparently got a judge to agree by issuing a warrant.

The misdemeanor plea and sentence imposed certainly doesn't help - it shows some culpability on your part.

The FWC has a large pool of applicant to choose from, not too many of them are going to have a felony arrest in their history, and a sentence including probation and anger management.

You are really going to have an uphill battle because of that criminal charge. Not impossible - just VERY difficult.

Thats very disappointing to hear. However it just means I need to try that much harder. The FWC's site says auto DQ for felony convictions so I hope that they stick to that statement. Hopefully they see my accomplishments as out weighing that 1 blemish. I really want this job when I get out.