I'm new to this site, seeking an answer or opinion.

[Marine723]

When I was a teenager I worked at a full-service gas station. While working there I embezzeled money from the business. I would estimate $2,000 worth. (I was a stupid kid.) After the gas station closed I worked in a jail and went to college for Criminal Justice. I recieved two associates degrees and I worked as a Reserve-Officer for roughly 7 months. The last department I worked for I was hard on cash and did the same thing. Purchasing gasoline on the departments credit card so my truck would run. I would estimate $100. (Once again, I was a stupid kid.) I knew I needed discipline and a new start. I enlisted in the US Marine Corps and have successfully completed two combat deployments. I have not commited a crime higher than littering in my 4 years in the service. I am going to be Honorably Discharged in the Spring with hopes to pursue a law enforcement career, now that I am more mature. I am ready to be honest on all aspects of the employment process and to my Chief of Police, who is a friend of mine and is the new Chief of the department I wronged 4 years ago. I have a very extensive resume encompassing and directed toward law enforcement. My question is: Do I have a shot at the honor and priviledge to wear a badge on my chest again?

[mcsap]

You cannot undo what you have been done but since you have had this revelation about changing your
life.... why not

1. Pay back the owner of the gas station in full.

2. Pay back the former dept in full.

Theft even without being arrested is still an indication of you. The amount from the gas station would be a felony in PA and stealing from a Police Dept. is probably even worse. ( even though it was $100)

The passage of time and your honorable service are great but may not be enough to overcome your history of stealing.

Some departments may flat out DQ you , some may look at you but you are carrying " baggage."

[Gutwrench]

First, thank you for your service!

I have a lot of respect for Vets and most especially combat Vets. But being a kid or not you straight up sucker punched two employers, one of which is LE where you want to work now. That's going to be hard to ignore.

If things are exactly as you say, I'd bg you the best I could corroborating what I could, then pass it uphill...even possibly meet with the chief to get guidance. As a bg investigator I make recommendations but the final "pass or play" decision was always above me.

I won't pretend to know what the boss would do but as I said, it's hard to ignore. Keep living clean and good luck.

[Kimble]

When I was a teenager I worked at a full-service gas station. While working there I embezzeled money from the business. I would estimate $2,000 worth... and I worked as a Reserve-Officer for roughly 7 months. The last department I worked for I was hard on cash and did the same thing. Purchasing gasoline on the departments credit card so my truck would run. I would estimate $100.

I'll be blunt, Marine, you've got a very difficult hurdle to overcome. Embezzlement is no joke (especially at an amount that may be felony, depending on the state), embezzlement while in a sworn police job (even as a reserve) is much worse. Saying you were a "stupid kid" is only minimizing your responsibility, you weren't a kid as a teenager, and you especially weren't a kid while working as a reserve cop. You were a (young) adult, time to accept that responsibility fully if you want a department to take you seriously.

Your USMC time is commendable, and repaying these debts may help, but ultimately you still have to convince a hiring agency you won't do this again (a tough task since you have two prior incidents of doing so). Apply for police jobs if that's your desire, but a wise person would develop a Plan B in case that doesn't pan out.

[scott715us]

I'll be blunt, Marine, you've got a very difficult hurdle to overcome. Embezzlement is no joke (especially at an amount that may be felony, depending on the state), embezzlement while in a sworn police job (even as a reserve) is much worse. Saying you were a "stupid kid" is only minimizing your responsibility, you weren't a kid as a teenager, and you especially weren't a kid while working as a reserve cop. You were a (young) adult, time to accept that responsibility fully if you want a department to take you seriously.

Your USMC time is commendable, and repaying these debts may help, but ultimately you still have to convince a hiring agency you won't do this again (a tough task since you have two prior incidents of doing so). Apply for police jobs if that's your desire, but a wise person would develop a Plan B in case that doesn't pan out.

Agree 100% - Using the "dumb kid" excuse as a LEO is not going to win you any sympathy. Be brutally honest, you made a mistake and now you can't do anything else but learn from it. I think you have a steep uphill battle. Stealing from a LE agency is not the same as shoplifting from Walmart when you were 15. Put in with the agency you're interested in and let the cards fall where they may.

[L-1]

Just as a point of information, check the statute of limitations in your state on embezzlement of public funds. In my state (California) there is no time limit for prosecution, no matter how small the amount taken (and repayment is not a defense). If the laws are similar in your state, any admission of the theft while as a Reserve could lead to arrest and prosecution.

In short, you may be out of luck here,

[Citicop]

Agree 100% - Using the "dumb kid" excuse as a LEO is not going to win you any sympathy. Be brutally honest, you made a mistake and now you can't do anything else but learn from it. I think you have a steep uphill battle. Stealing from a LE agency is not the same as shoplifting from Walmart when you were 15. Put in with the agency you're interested in and let the cards fall where they may.

Scott-

I have to disagree with your phrasing.

This was not a "mistake." A mistake is when you try something and get an unintended outcome by accident.

Here, the OP intended to steal while working as an LEO. That was a conscious decision to break the law while sworn to uphold it. He would be guilty of fraud here as well as theft.

I think a strong "plan B" is in order here.

-Citicop.

[marinepilot]

I think a strong "plan B" is in order here.

-Citicop.

I think the strong plan B mentioned above should definitely become Plan A!!

[ChesCopPodz]

Here you would have committed a felony and would be unable to be hired. In addition, if they can find a victim, they can still prosecute you as you've been told.

[mcsap]

A mistake is when your socks don't match or when you go to the store for milk and bread and forget the milk.

[DeltaV]

You do not deserve to be a LEO. The fact that you would steal money from the department while you were working as a reserve LEO and then try to downplay the seriousness of what happened and rationalize it simply shows that you don't have ethics. I don't care how many degrees you have or how extensive your resume is, you simply don't have the morals that a LEO needs to have.

[scott715us]

Scott-

I have to disagree with your phrasing.

This was not a "mistake." A mistake is when you try something and get an unintended outcome by accident.

Here, the OP intended to steal while working as an LEO. That was a conscious decision to break the law while sworn to uphold it. He would be guilty of fraud here as well as theft.

I think a strong "plan B" is in order here.

-Citicop.

Now that I read it again, you're right, poor choice of words.