Can all my hope be throw out the window?

[wanna_do_right]

Hi my name is Travis,
I have many questions on becoming a Police Officer and I figured what better place then realpolice.net. I have read many post's by what seems to be very intelligent people and others not so much. I hope the responses I get are from the more intelligent of the two. Ive wanted to be a police officer for a couple of years now stemming from a local officer in my town after some not so good freinds and I were caught stoned in town. He was extremly tolerent and nice but also very stern in the fact that we broke the law. I got a citation for being drunk in public and thats all ive ever been in trouble for. Thats not saying that I stopped smoking weed right then, see in my town every one I knew did it and it didnt seem bad. There was so much pressure and I was stupid and not independent.Ive tried
speed as well I was at a party and I was 15 and the guys who had the drugs were all 21 and older I did it twice and I felt so scared about doing it and not doing it. It was the worst feeling I ever had in my life at that moment I looked at my freinds who had just gotten into and I told them this is horrible this stuff is going to kill you and destroy your life. They wanted nothing to do with my realization so i walked away from them. I still smoked marijuana till I turned 18 then it was like train hit me I was still doing something that was not ever gonna help me or the people I wanna help. So I stopped and It has been one of the best decision of my life I feel like there is a whole new world out there some many people I can help so many things I can do and more than ever I want the privilege to become a police officer. Ive read so many posts were people say "you'll never have a chance" but how can anyone be cop if they think that so many of the kids they arrest or ticket can never learn from mistakes and grow to be great people just like them. Im in the process of getting to college for criminal justice and helping local volunteer groups but I so hope that my dream is still valid. Thanks for your time and I hope my post wasnt to long. P.S. To all the Police Officers that read this thanks for everything you do and have done and I hope you can help kids that are lost just like I was.

[Plazoo]

Good job on dumping your loser friends and trying to do something with yourself.

While I'm not saying it's a total lost cause, you're going to be facing some MAJOR hurdles with the marijuana and, especially, the speed issue. You need to keep in mind that this field is one of the most, if not THE MOST, competitive career field out there and there are a lot of candidates that don't have a history of drugs.

[wanna_do_right]

Thanks Plazoo for the post and yes I understand fully the hurdles I face and I hope there is a need for a police officer with a different perspective on life and mistakes in general and yes there are many candidates that have no history of drugs but does that mean they are a better person im sure there are many more mistakes worst then drugs that many current police officers over came before and during there duty as a peace officer. Humans make mistakes and Police are human just like rest of us. I am completly honest about who I am and what ive done and I hope that is a quality every offcer and human has or learns.

[InTheEnd]

Good luck. Get your college degree.

[636ninja]

I have read many post's by what seems to be very intelligent people and others not so much. I hope the responses I get are from the more intelligent of the two.

You know Travis, in this line of work you need to learn when it is appropriate to express your thoughts and opinions, and when to keep them to yourself. This would be an example of the latter.

However, to answer your question: as Plazoo stated, the drug use will be a major hurdle. No, we are not perfect by any means. But many of us have never (not even once) used drugs. Agencies can afford to be very selective...not saying that you wouldn't make a good police officer, but all things being equal, those who have never used drugs will be seen as more desirable candidates. That's just the way it is.

[wanna_do_right]

636ninja I understand what you said and I appreciate you takeing your time to read my post and reply. I apologize if my statement "I have read many post's by what seems to be very intelligent people and others not so much. I hope the responses I get are from the more intelligent of the two." offended anyone its just an obsevation I made. Also I do understand that Police have the ability to be very selective in the candidates they choose. I guess I would like to know if most Police Departments want every cop to think and be the same or do they want and or need variety in such work when there is so much variety they deal with? thanks again to all who take the time to read this and reply.