College Questions and Drug use?

[Anthony1986]

hi. I am 18 years old and i am heading to college this fall. I have 2 questions for you all.

1. What is needed in college to become a police officer? I was thinking that i would minor in criminal justice and major in something else, maybe Business. Because i want to become a Police Officer and then after retirement open my own business. Is my plan suitable for me to get hired?

2. In the past i have smoked marijuana and i did cocaine one time. I regret doing those things but they did happen and theres nothing i can do about it. they happened over a year ago though. I just want to make sure that this isnt an issue?

[txinvestigator1]

hi. I am 18 years old and i am heading to college this fall. I have 2 questions for you all.

1. What is needed in college to become a police officer? I was thinking that i would minor in criminal justice and major in something else, maybe Business. Because i want to become a Police Officer and then after retirement open my own business. Is my plan suitable for me to get hired?

2. In the past i have smoked marijuana and i did cocaine one time. I regret doing those things but they did happen and theres nothing i can do about it. they happened over a year ago though. I just want to make sure that this isnt an issue?

The coke could be. It will depend on the department. Just remember, everything you do has consequences and you WILL be judged by your past. Take that forward with you and keep it clean from now on.

That means staying away from parties with underage drinking, drugs, etc. Be honest and trustworthy.

[Kimble]

2. In the past i have smoked marijuana and i did cocaine one time. I regret doing those things but they did happen and theres nothing i can do about it. they happened over a year ago though. I just want to make sure that this isnt an issue?

Let me correct you, because they are absolutely an issue. Experimentation a few times with MJ may be overlooked by some departments, but cocaine is viewed by hiring policies with nearly all departments I know of as a hard drug, and as such is an automatic disqualification, even if you only tried in once. The fact that it was only a year ago is even more serious. Some departments may overlook this if a number of years (much higher than one) have passed since the time of the drug use and you can show that you've matured since that time, but you should be aware that the cocaine usage will DQ you from some agencies, and will require you to prove yourself to others.

[scott715us]

hi. I am 18 years old and i am heading to college this fall. I have 2 questions for you all.

1. What is needed in college to become a police officer? I was thinking that i would minor in criminal justice and major in something else, maybe Business. Because i want to become a Police Officer and then after retirement open my own business. Is my plan suitable for me to get hired?

2. In the past i have smoked marijuana and i did cocaine one time. I regret doing those things but they did happen and theres nothing i can do about it. they happened over a year ago though. I just want to make sure that this isnt an issue?

You are on the right track with #1. A minor in CJ would not hurt at all, and a lot of officers encourage college students to major in something else to fall back on. Most, if not all depts, like to see college degrees. It doesn't really matter of the major.

#2 - This may cause some trouble. Although MJ use is not huge with some depts if you have a decent length between the use and the time of application, but cocaine use can be an automatic DQ'er with most depts. I believe with Metro Nashville PD (for example), last time I checked, no cocaine use within 5 or 10 yrs minimum. I'm not sure about my particular dept. I've read alot of other posts since being a member that cocaine use was an automatic DQ'er with their dept(s).

Good luck either way, but I will have to say that you will have to put a lot more time between the drug use and the time you put in an application. Get your college done first and then find out from local departments what drug use (if any) will keep you from getting hired.

[Citicop]

And don't forget that even if you do find an agency that will overlook cocaine use, you will still be competing against other candidates who have never tried hard drugs. It is going to be an uphill battle.

Hope that helps-

Citicop.

[mcsap]

For those who just barely meet the minimum hiring standards there are PLENTY that greatly EXCEED them.

[Anthony1986]

I was just wondering how they go about finding this info about drug use?

[ChesCopPodz]

You tell them. And if you lie, and they find out that you lied, you will be finished in this business forever.

[Anthony1986]

What if you just dont tell them?

I mean seriously i am a hard worker And would be a damn good cop and its what i really want to do. I dont think that a "youthful indiscretion" should keep me out of being a police officer. Do you guys agree or not?

[Anthony1986]

does everyone get a polygraph test? I mean i only did coke 1 time so as far as i know only 2 people even know that i did it.

[Group9]

does everyone get a polygraph test? I mean i only did coke 1 time so as far as i know only 2 people even know that i did it.

Integrity is a big part of the job as a law enforcement officer. If you are willing to lie about something like prior cocaine use, law enforcement, and the general public, are better off without you. No matter how high your opinion of yourself.

[mcsap]

Admit to what you did and go from there. You may well find an agency that does not consider a single use of a hard drug as an indicator of a lifelong DQ. Then you can get on with knowing you did the RIGHT thing and that you will NEVER have to worry about them finding out that you LIED to become a LEO.

As you said there are at LEAST 2 others who know , maybe more that they have told. All it takes it ONE willful lie to any dept and you are DONE from ever getting a job anywhere in this field.

[TheDoghandler]

does everyone get a polygraph test? I mean i only did coke 1 time so as far as i know only 2 people even know that i did it.

You could apply over here we don't have the Poly test, but then again now you have said I would have to tell them anyway. :rolleyes: Commuting might be a pain in the *** though.

[ChesCopPodz]

What if you just dont tell them?

I mean seriously i am a hard worker And would be a damn good cop and its what i really want to do. I dont think that a "youthful indiscretion" should keep me out of being a police officer. Do you guys agree or not?

Unfortunately, no you would not be a "damn good cop". You are willing to not tell a hiring agency that you used cocaine so you won't be DQ'd. You are willing to compromise your integrity, which means you should never put on a badge.

[txinvestigator1]

What if you just dont tell them?

I mean seriously i am a hard worker And would be a damn good cop and its what i really want to do. I dont think that a "youthful indiscretion" should keep me out of being a police officer. Do you guys agree or not?

To be a cop you have to be willing to sacrifice YOUR best interests and desires for those of others.

Your schools and parents may not have taught you that " when you choose the behavior, you choose the consequence" but it IS a fact of life.