If any vets out there have any advice....

[YungBuk]

Well I'll make it as short as possible and very much to the point. My family life in my younger days was fair. My father provided as best he could with his workers compensation check. My mother was in prison for since before I could remember. My dad stayed sick or sore from the seven ruptured disks in his lower lumbar and the medication they had him on so I never got to really do the things with my dad everyone else did with thiers (play catch, throw a football, and every so often we might go fishing) Needless to say I was confused and severly depressed in that stage in my life, no fault of anyones but my own. I turned to weed and alcohol. After he died I sat in the hospital parking lot and watched my then 14 yo brother literally have a nervous break down as he idolized our father and pretty much thought he was invincible. It didn't help our Grandmother making us stay in the room as our only "real" parent took his last breathes. After that is when I experimented with the LSD. No after my father died I did not associate with the "Bangers" just pot heads, alcoholics, graffiti artist, and whomever else I could find exeptance with. I did run with a click in my hometown when I was 14 yo to answer CODEREDs question. But the only illegal thing I ever did with them was smoke weed. As I stated earlier my only arrest ever came from a simple posession when I was a juvenile.

[YungBuk]

SORRY CODERED NO NAMES OR STATEMENTS WILL BE GIVIN TODAY ON MY PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH MY OFF DUTY BUDDY! Sorry but I do have some since of honor and loyalty, though my past may not reflect it.

[Citicop]

SORRY CODERED NO NAMES OR STATEMENTS WILL BE GIVIN TODAY ON MY PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH MY OFF DUTY BUDDY! Sorry but I do have some since of honor and loyalty, though my past may not reflect it.

Yungbuk-

Codered didn't ask you to give up your "cop buddy" or to betray his confidence...he simply asked what he told you. I find it hard to find any disloyalty in answering his question.

Citicop.

[YungBuk]

Sincere appologies I read that wrong. Well I've had one tell me he wasn't 100% sure on how the LSD thing might effect my application and I had a conversation with another LEO about the parties he used to go to when he was younger so I'm not sure of any prior use of narcotics on his part other than marijuana but were he grew up is where I used to party up north so it's quite possible he did experiment a little. It doesn't really mater if he did I guess I'd like to know if he had just to maybe ease my mind as I really haven't eaten since I found out that my past might literally come back to bite me in the ***. Well I'm gonna call the local DPS office and inquire about the prior drug use regulations, as of right now my hopes are far from up so being told I'm DQ will be a little less than devistating but I will be extremely disapointed. I'll keep you guys and gals posted on how everything play out. WISH ME LUCK?!

[YungBuk]

Well ladies and gents looks like my past did come back around to bite me in the ***. As a result of a search on the website to one of the PDs I'm applying to I found this:

PRIOR DRUG ABUSE

A. An applicant who is a former drug abuser has, by his/her prior contact, manifested character traits, judgment and/or illegal activity which may be considered unacceptable for hiring and employment with this department.



B. Identification of present use and/or addiction to any illicit drug (cocaine, PCP, marijuana, LSD, etc.) by and applicant is grounds for permanent rejection. Should the use of a substance identified be supported by the proper medical documentation, the completed investigation will be forwarded to the city physician for evaluation and recommendation. The purpose of this evaluation shall be to ensure the substance, although properly obtained, is not subject to abuse and/or the individual is medically fit to fill the assigned position.



C. Evidence demonstrating repeated use of any drug or chemical substance (marijuana, alcohol, etc.) with such frequency that it appears the individual has or had accepted the use and/or reliance upon the substance as part of a pattern or behavior, shall be reason for permanent rejection.



D. Any applicant found to be involved (at any time) in the illegal sale, manufacture or distribution of any controlled dangerous substance will be permanently rejected. Any improper use of any narcotic/drug by an applicant after application will be grounds for permanent rejection.



E. Consideration for experimentation/use will be based on the following criteria:



1. Opiates- There will be no exceptions for any use of heroin or opium. Opiates in this form have no medical use, are typically related to a criminal atmosphere and are not usually a drug of first use. Other opiates (morphine, codeine, etc,) having medical value, may be considered in the context of their application, where these drugs are abused; in experimentation situations, taken without proper authorization, illegally obtained, etc., should be considered. The limits for experimentation are:



a. One time ingestion in the lifetime; no intravenous applications



b. One year period of abstinence prior to application



c. Must submit to additional psychological evaluation



2. Depressants-Drugs in this class (barbiturates, benzodiazopines, methaqualone, etc.) have a medical use and are readily available, both legally and illegally. The limits of experimentation are:

a. Two ingestions in the lifetime; no intravenous applications



b. One year period of abstinence prior to application.



c. May be required to submit to an additional psychological evaluation



3. Stimulants-Drugs of this class (amphetamines, methamphetamine, etc.) have a medical use and are readily available, both legally and illegally. The limits of experimentation are:



a. Two ingestions in the lifetime; no intravenous applications



b. One year period of abstinence prior to application



c. May be required to submit to additional psychiatric/ psychological evaluation.



4. Cocaine-Cocaine may be used medicinally as a local topical anesthetic; however, the predominate use of cocaine is in abuse situations. Because of its rapid psychological addictive nature, experimentation limits are:



a. One ingestion in the lifetime; no intravenous application



b. One year period of abstinence prior to application.



c. Must submit to additional psychiatric/ psychological evaluation.



5. Hallucinogenics-These drugs (LSD, PCP, Mescaline) have no medical value. Because of the research concerning the residual side effects from even small quantities of these drugs, no exemptions for experimentation are to be made for any use. The applicant will be permanently rejected.



6. Inhalants-(solvents, glue, aerosols, paint, amylinintrates) have no medical value. Documented medical information identifies significant medical complications associated with the use of small quantities of inhalants. The limits of experimentation are:

a. Two ingestions in a lifetime



b. One year period of abstinence prior to application.



c. May be required to submit to additional psychiatric/ psychological evaluation.

7. Cannabis-Cannabis (marijuana, hashish, any substance containing THC) has no medical value. Prevailing attitudes, availability and the lack of significant conclusive evidence supporting health or psychological hazards continues to the widespread use of this substance. The limits of experimentation are:



a. Fifteen (15) ingestions in the lifetime



b. One year period of abstinence prior to application



c. May be required to submit to additional psychiatric/psychological evaluation



F. An ingestion is a single application. (one marijuana cigarette, one dosage of pills, liquid, etc.) Indications of cross experimentation, while meeting individual drug exemption criteria will, in all cases, require participation in psychiatric/ psychological evaluation. All periods of abstinence must be positively verified by polygraph examination. Results of psychiatric/ psychological evaluation must support a negative propensity toward drug abuse and a lack of residual side effects associated with drug abuse. Cross experimentation indicating experimentation with more than two controlled dangerous substances will result in permanent rejection.



G. An applicant who has been permanently rejected has no re-application right.



H. An application will not be accepted from any individual who has been previously rejected on two occasions for substance abuse. Re-application will be accepted if:



1. An individual has abstained from usage for the period specified and;



2. The indicated frequency requirements are met.



I. The above information is provided as a basic guide. To attempt to list all circumstances and a provision for each would be impossible. A final decision will be based on the above information in addition to that developed through any counseling, testing, investigation, etc. The Director of Public Safety shall have the latitude to impose additional requirements based upon demonstrated need.



Well it looks like I might just end up being your average Joe Schmoe inspite of my attempts to better myself. This type of thing should have been expected because for some reason I allways end up getting the shaft. It's noones fault but my own and I know I should have known better but I was young and dumb and noone could tell me anything. Well I guess I still have a few options like my local Sheriffs dept. or maybe I could try some of the smaller depts. Anyway thanks for all the great advise and who knows maybe someone will give me a chance but if not what can I do. Lifes a ***** huh..... :( :(

[Valor55]

5. Hallucinogenics-These drugs (LSD, PCP, Mescaline) have no medical value. Because of the research concerning the residual side effects from even small quantities of these drugs, no exemptions for experimentation are to be made for any use. The applicant will be permanently rejected.

Unfortunately I think you'll find this is common and I would be surprised if not universal.

Keep in mind like DC Law said there are plenty of other professions you can better yourself in and not be a cop. Thought of college and law school? Our prosecutors make a lot more than we do. There is dispatching as well as other LE involved areas like bail bonds/enforcement (just make sure you get good professional training, the yahoos make them look bad and get in lots of trouble.) Good luck!

[YungBuk]

I have thought of bail enforcement but the only bad thing is if you don't catch your skip you don't get paid. Plus you gotta go from town to town and out of state to find them and this can sometimes take monthes or on rare occasions even years. It would be pretty cool but like you said I'd need the training and I have no clue of how to go about getting GOOD training and the proper equipment, I assume I can go to a website or a store that supplied police equipment or something. If you know how I could go about getting trained for this let me know and maybe I'll look into that as one of my chioces.

[Valor55]

Find a reputable bail bondsman in your city (they typically enforce their own bonds) and try and get a job. Learn the industry and how it works. Save your money for training and equipment. A guy I work with was into that before he was a cop. His brother (a retired cop) became a bondsman in our city and made a lot of money doing it. He made some really bad business decisions that led to closing the business but that was his fault not the business' fault. He did not work for an insurance company so he had to put up his own money and get it back when they skipped on him. When they were up and running well they were making lots of money.

[YungBuk]

Thanks I think I'll check into that.