Worried sick

[FutureCop16]

Ok heres the deal. Me being the stupid teenager that I am got busted for shopplifting at the age of 16. The arresting officer (who was extreamly kind) ask me what I wanted to do when I got older. Between sobs I told him I wanted to be a police officer, but now that this has happened maybe I should consider throwing my dream out the window. He smiled and told me that this incident would'nt stop me from being a LEO. But now reading some of these fourms im getting extreamly worried that it will prevent me from my career. Now it wasnt a felony and I didnt even get probation because the women who was supposed to be my Probation Officer told me that I seemed like such a nice girl who didnt hang out with the "bad" crowd that she was gonna let this go and throw away my file on my 17th birthday if I didnt have anymore run-ins with the law. She also said that the charge will be expunged when im 18. But reading some of the stories on here make me realize that expunged doesnt mean vanished. So heres my question. Will this show up in a backround check and is my minor infraction going to prevent me from becoming an LEO? :confused:

[chris2001]

Yes it will show up when you have a BI done on you. Should you be worried, not totally. You are right its a not a felony its a misdeamenor. When asked about it just simply explain that you were a stupid teenager and learned your lesson. They are not looking for perfect officers they are looking for ones that admit when they have done something wrong and do something to correct it.

The moral of it all is stay out of trouble till you are old enough to become a cop.

[mcsap]

In my state the first offense is a summary offense ( as long as the value is under $150. " Expunged , thrown away, probation , etc" does not mean that there is no record of such an offense and that you can factually state that you were never charged.

A Law Enforcement Agency has the ability to obtain such info. The general public does not.

Disclose exactly what you did. A lone offense of this nature with nothing else is a minor stumbling block that you can overcome.

Have you given your "competition" a little edge over you at the time of hiring ? Yes. Can you be the best candidiate that you can be showing that you are good person, that your attributes include ( although it may not be required) a degree, military , volunteer service, decent job history , good references etc ? You can but you will have to work at it.

What will make YOU a better candidiate than the typical person who applies to be a police officer ?

[Retired Trooper]

depends on the state. In SC at 16 you are a juvenile until your 17th birthday. Anything done at the age of 16 or younger as long as it wasnt very serious would be sealed with your juvenile record. So check to see when your state considers you an adult.

[phantasm]

depends on the state. In SC at 16 you are a juvenile until your 17th birthday. Anything done at the age of 16 or younger as long as it wasnt very serious would be sealed with your juvenile record. So check to see when your state considers you an adult.

But (at least in NY), juvenile records are not sealed to LE organizations.