I need a question answered by a REAL Officer-particularily one from Florida

[WannaBCop]

I have a question I hope someone can answer. I've always gotten the same response, this is my final attempt....


First let me tell you some things about myself. I am married & have 4 children. I am very happy with my family. I just got back from Iraq about 2months ago with everything the way I left. I want to become a Police Officer. This has been my dream for approximatley 10years now but, I'm always getting denied. I have never been arrested. Never in any trouble with the law other than speeding tickets. I think I've gotten maybe 2 or 3 in my lifetime. All well over 3 years now. I don't do drugs. I've smoked the green stuff 5 or 6 times in my lifetime & have put that down on the applications everytime I've applied. I've applied to several different places in Maryland but recently moved to Florida with my wife & kids. I did do something that seems to be something that is ever forbidding me to ever becomming a Police Officer anywhere. I was 18 at the time. I was raised by a single mother. I got into an argument with her one night & she kicked me out. I was seeing someone at the time so, I gathered my things & stayed with her. I was working at the time but I was only making around $7.00/hr. I had a $325.00 car payment & insurance to pay. I didn't know what to do. So, I did what has cursed me for over 10years now. I stood on the corner & sold crack so I could make ends meet. My girlfriend at the time wasn't working cause she was in school so, I had to provide for us since I was living with her. I only did it for a week. I quit only because I knew it was wrong & my girlfriend was worried. Tell you the truth, I didn't even make anything. It was a big waste of time not to mention wrong from the get go. Well, anyway, not knowing that, that would disqualify me from ever becomming a Police Officer, a year later I believe I applied for the Police Department. I took the written test, passed it & was told to comeback for an interview. I came to the interview & the Detective asked me to write down all the crimes that I've committed but never got arrested for. I figured I was comming clean. Just lay it all out on the table 1st time & everything will be fine. I wrote down what I used to do & handed her the paper & she asked a few more questions & that was that. A few weeks later, I get a letter saying they couldn't hire me. For years I never knew why I wasn't hired. And because I wasn't hired, If I wanted to re-apply, I had to write a letter to some Major & ask him If I could re-apply to that department. The answer was always no. So, I tried other departments....atleast those times I got to do the physical agility tests, but knowing they would find out because, I put down all the departments that I've applied for. I withdrew my application before they found out.


Anyway, thats the meat of my situation in a nutshell. I really want to become a Police Officer. I am hoping maybe my military status will help. I served honorably in Iraq & I'm still serving. I'm a SGT. in the National Guard. My question is....Is there anything that can be done so I can apply to a department in Florida & still not get penalized for the action that took place so long ago in a different state?

[txinvestigator1]

Anyway, thats the meat of my situation in a nutshell. I really want to become a Police Officer. I am hoping maybe my military status will help. I served honorably in Iraq & I'm still serving. I'm a SGT. in the National Guard. My question is....Is there anything that can be done so I can apply to a department in Florida & still not get penalized for the action that took place so long ago in a different state?

Why would being in a different state matter?

I recognize and thank you for your service to our great nation. That said, there are many people who get into tough time and don't resort to selling crack or violating other laws.

All actions have consequences. Some of those actions will cause you to pay a price for a lifetime. This appears to be one of those. Sad for you and sad for the community, because you probably would have made a fine LEO.

Good luck to you.

[manahmanah]

We don't accept drug dealers into our ranks. I am very surprised the Army did. You probably lied to the National Guard about having sold drugs too. I was in the Marines for 8 years and I seem to remember them asking if I ever sold drugs when I was in the enlisting process.

Your chances of ever becoming a cop are absolutely zero.

[Citicop]

I seriously think you have nearly no chance at getting hired.

How could you NOT KNOW that selling crack would limit your opportunities to be in Law Enforcement?

The fact that you keep getting the same answer should tell you something, don't you think?

Citicop.

[mcsap]

why Would Being In A Different State Matter?

I Recognize And Thank You For Your Service To Our Great Nation. That Said, There Are Many People Who Get Into Tough Time And Don't Resort To Selling Crack Or Violating Other Laws.

All Actions Have Consequences. Some Of Those Actions Will Cause You To Pay A Price For A Lifetime. This Appears To Be One Of Those. Sad For You And Sad For The Community, Because You Probably Would Have Made A Fine Leo.

Good Luck To You.

+ 1.

[MP_Steve]

I can't believe that you seriously thought that could be an intelligible question in the first place. :eek:

You're SOL, buddy. Drug use usually disqualifies a lot of applicants. Forget about applying as a drug dealer!

I still can't believe you posted that...

[Joeyd6]

I don't do drugs. I've smoked the green stuff 5 or 6 times in my lifetime & have put that down on the applications every time I've applied.

You need to stop lying to yourself. You say here, in two consecutive sentences, you don't do drugs yet you smoked the green stuff. Despite your personal opinion, federal, local and state law in the entire United States recognizes the green stuff, marijuana, as a illegal drug. So you HAVE DONE DRUGS!

I was 18 at the time. I was raised by a single mother. I got into an argument with her one night & she kicked me out. I was seeing someone at the time so, I gathered my things & stayed with her. I was working at the time but I was only making around $7.00/hr. I had a $325.00 car payment & insurance to pay. I didn't know what to do.

$7 x 40 hours = $280
$280 x 4 weeks = $1,120

So what you are saying is you were so financially irresponsible that you could not afford a $325 car payment and insurance payment with about a $800 a month. Additionally, there are more than 40 hours a week to work. If you worked your first job and went to McDonald's for another 20 hours at $5 an hour, you would of had another $400 a month. Or better yet, apologize to mom and move back home.

So, I did what has cursed me for over 10years now. I stood on the corner & sold crack so I could make ends meet. My girlfriend at the time wasn't working cause she was in school so, I had to provide for us since I was living with her. I only did it for a week. I quit only because I knew it was wrong & my girlfriend was worried. Tell you the truth, I didn't even make anything. It was a big waste of time not to mention wrong from the get go.

You sold crack. First stop trying to justify what you did as the right thing at the time. It is BS. There are and were plenty of places you could have made an honest buck. But you were not looking for that. You wanted the easy way out.

Second, if you were selling drugs, that means you knew where to get the drugs you were selling. So that means you had friends and associates who were drug dealers or users. As awe all know in LE, you don't just go up to a crack dealer and say "Hey, I am gonna sell drugs today, can you sell me a lot so I can resell it?" You obviously had those contacts previously.

Third, you knew who would buy those drugs, where you would find them, and you went there!!!!

Well, anyway, not knowing that, that would disqualify me from ever becoming a Police Officer, a year later I believe I applied for the Police Department.

Gee, you did not think doing a FELONY would prevent you from being a cop, just a year later? Are you that short sighted?

I took the written test, passed it & was told to comeback for an interview. I came to the interview & the Detective asked me to write down all the crimes that I've committed but never got arrested for. I figured I was coming clean. Just lay it all out on the table 1st time & everything will be fine. I wrote down what I used to do & handed her the paper & she asked a few more questions & that was that.

Finally, you seem to understand the value of morals and ethics in life. I commend you on that!

I am hoping maybe my military status will help.

It will not in this case.

I served honorably in Iraq & I'm still serving. I'm a SGT. in the National Guard.

I commend you for your service and thank you.

[Johninaustin]

This has GOT to be a joke. :eek:

[WannaBCop]

We don't accept drug dealers into our ranks. I am very surprised the Army did. You probably lied to the National Guard about having sold drugs too. I was in the Marines for 8 years and I seem to remember them asking if I ever sold drugs when I was in the enlisting process.

Your chances of ever becoming a cop are absolutely zero.

Maybe I probably was already in the Guard b4 any of this took place. Thanks.

[WannaBCop]

Why would being in a different state matter?

I recognize and thank you for your service to our great nation. That said, there are many people who get into tough time and don't resort to selling crack or violating other laws.

All actions have consequences. Some of those actions will cause you to pay a price for a lifetime. This appears to be one of those. Sad for you and sad for the community, because you probably would have made a fine LEO.

Good luck to you.

I was thinking different state maybe a little bit different rules. Some states/departments require college to apply, some don't.
Thanks anyway.

[WannaBCop]

I seriously think you have nearly no chance at getting hired.

How could you NOT KNOW that selling crack would limit your opportunities to be in Law Enforcement?

The fact that you keep getting the same answer should tell you something, don't you think?

Citicop.

Well, at the time, I didn't know it was a felony. There isn't like a drug dealers guide book on the consequences of selling drugs. I knew some of the obvious consequences. I just didn't know probably the most important consequence of them all. Thank you anyway.

[WannaBCop]

I can't believe that you seriously thought that could be an intelligible question in the first place. :eek:

You're SOL, buddy. Drug use usually disqualifies a lot of applicants. Forget about applying as a drug dealer!

I still can't believe you posted that...

According to the guidelines put out by some of the departments...some of the drug use has been lowered. By me using marijuana just a few times, wouldn't of disqualified me from any of the departments that I did apply for. I admitted to all the usage on my applications.
And yes, I did post this because this is something that I really want to do & was trying to see if anyone on here could help me of guide me in a different direction. Apparently after reading some of the comments, I am SOL.
Thank you anyway.

[Roger Dat]

If you were in the Guard before you SOLD crack then I'm sorry but that just makes it worse.

[WannaBCop]

You need to stop lying to yourself. You say here, in two consecutive sentences, you don't do drugs yet you smoked the green stuff. Despite your personal opinion, federal, local and state law in the entire United States recognizes the green stuff, marijuana, as a illegal drug. So you HAVE DONE DRUGS!

$7 x 40 hours = $280
$280 x 4 weeks = $1,120

So what you are saying is you were so financially irresponsible that you could not afford a $325 car payment and insurance payment with about a $800 a month. Additionally, there are more than 40 hours a week to work. If you worked your first job and went to McDonald's for another 20 hours at $5 an hour, you would of had another $400 a month. Or better yet, apologize to mom and move back home.




You sold crack. First stop trying to justify what you did as the right thing at the time. It is BS. There are and were plenty of places you could have made an honest buck. But you were not looking for that. You wanted the easy way out.

Second, if you were selling drugs, that means you knew where to get the drugs you were selling. So that means you had friends and associates who were drug dealers or users. As awe all know in LE, you don't just go up to a crack dealer and say "Hey, I am gonna sell drugs today, can you sell me a lot so I can resell it?" You obviously had those contacts previously.

Third, you knew who would buy those drugs, where you would find them, and you went there!!!!



Gee, you did not think doing a FELONY would prevent you from being a cop, just a year later? Are you that short sighted?



Finally, you seem to understand the value of morals and ethics in life. I commend you on that!


It will not in this case.



I commend you for your service and thank you.

No matter how good at the math you do up top, I was still struggling. I was still in my teens at the time. So, the gov't was eating alot of my check due to taxes. Grant it, I probably mismanaged alot of money. Those were'nt my only bills either. I had a credit card at the time, had to put gas in the vehicle(atleast it was way cheaper back then), I still wanted to go out with my girlfriend. Movies, dinner stuff like that. I wasn't as mature back then as I am now. I've learned alot from my mistakes. I was limited on overtime & just working anyplace for $5 an hour, wasn't gonna cut it. I've tried it. Yes, I looked for the quick buck. The easy way out. I wasn't thinking back then.
I'm not trying to justify anything. It's not like I lied about it then ended up getting hired & then later saying to myself that it was ok to lie about selling because you wanted this job & now you got it because you lied & fooled everyone in the hiring process. Thats just not me. Sorry.

I guess once a drug user always a drug user?
I guess once you get drunk, you always get drunk which then makes you an alcoholic.Right?

Yes, I knew where to get the drugs. I got them from the guys that I hung out on the corner with. Its not like I was a big time dealer with gold around my neck & Rolex watches or whatever. I was the lowest man on the totem pole. I was the dirt underneath the totem pole. I wasn't anybody. I was hardly even known around there. I was trying to learn how it all worked but I had to start at the bottom so, I'm sorry....I didn't have the money or knowledge to go up to a crack dealer so he could sell me alot of crack so I could make alot of money.Thanks for asking anyway.

Thank you.

[WannaBCop]

If you were in the Guard before you SOLD crack then I'm sorry but that just makes it worse.

Yes I was in the Guard b4 I did this. I guess it does make it worse. But, how many people in the uniformed services both military & law enforcment do you think have done things far worse than what I did & still got in?