Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

Hello,
I graduate in two years from college with my bs in criminal justice. I have always wanted to be a police officer and have been around many my whole life. That aside I haven't exactly been perfect and have gotten a range of different answers every time I ask it.

In high school I dated a girl who was one year younger than me. We had sex even in to my Sr year but broke up before I went off to college. Also in college I under age drank and drove two times with alcohol in my system but I was not 21. I realize this was stupid and not only regret it because of it potentially harming my chance at my dream career but of how irresponsible it was in general. Lastly I tended to dd a lot in college, since drinking although I did it occasionally was not my big thing, but people I drove somehow managed to always drink while I was driving. I was not happy about it but didn't want to just drop drunk people off in the middle of nowhere. I have a clean record never did drugs, have a clean driving record except for two parking tickets for touching boundary lines, and not exactly sure about my credit but I always pay my credit cards off in full every month.

Despite these bad choices do I stand a chance for becoming a police officer?

You're in much better shape than a lot of applicants.

I see no issues. This post I made in another thread directly applies to you too...


Keep on the right track. Stay clean, out of trouble, and study your a$$ off in (college). One speeding ticket now will keep you out of LE for years, but graduating top of your class may help you get a job a lot faster.

Your future lies completely in your hands right now.

Good luck!

The drinking and driving isn't great, though I don't think it's a DQ if you are forthcoming (in my limited experience applying). The rest of stuff seems to be penny-ante stuff, depending on the laws in your jurisdiction. The open container in a car thing is a civil cite here, no big deal, and the age of consent laws wouldn't pose a problem either with 1 year difference. Again, might depend on where you apply.

I always see people put this, and it bears repeating... though there's nothing too bad in your background from what you've written, you've got to also worry about the other candidate's experience. I know people who have gone through academies, have military experience with some limited L.E. work who are still having trouble finding a full-time job.

Thank you both for your responses. I have heard that my history isn't terrible compared to most from other recruiters and officers, but I do understand that as of now the competition for law enforcement jobs is fierce. I am looking in starting an internship and some more community service.

The difference between you and many is that you: (1) are not lying or hiding it; (2) matured enough to know what you did was wrong; and (3) have since changed your behavior. I think you are fine.

The difference between you and many is that you: (1) are not lying or hiding it; (2) matured enough to know what you did was wrong; and (3) have since changed your behavior. I think you are fine.

I second this.

The difference between you and many is that you: (1) are not lying or hiding it; (2) matured enough to know what you did was wrong; and (3) have since changed your behavior. I think you are fine.

Absolutely, I agree. From what I've been told so far, is that honesty is held as a virtue; and that they expect you to be human. As long as you haven't done anything really... immoral or illegal, you are good to go. (Ad-libbed from my Cousin-in-Law Deb, Retired CSP)

From my experience as a recently graduated high-school student, and current college attendant... you didn't do anything that bad in comparison to people in my age group that I've known for some time now. Compared the the people I'm going to school with (who actually WANT to enlist as L.E. in some form or another), it would be a cakewalk for you. :)

Integrity cannot be taught. You have it or you don't. Anyone with integrity can get on this job if they want and make the effort.

Integrity cannot be taught. You have it or you don't. Anyone with integrity can get on this job if they want and make the effort.

Agreed as well. BE an honest person, if that makes sense.

Thanks for all the input guys. Hopefully police departments will be hiring in a couple years or at least the two in california that are, will still be.