Am i still able to be a police officer in ca, if i have a misdemeanor on my record?

[Al123]

when i turned 18, i was with a group of kids and we all got in trouble for tampering with vehicles. it was a stupid mistake and i regret it to this day. will this aiding and aibing to the misdemeanor affect my chances with my life long dream on becoming a police officer? thanks!

[patchcop]

No chance here! But maybe in liberal CA.

[Al123]

why no chance? its going to be expunged off my record, and ive never been in trouble before.

[Curt581]

To many agencies, it's an automatic disqualifier.

In agencies were it isn't, you'll be ranked on an eligiblity list with other qualified people... and more than a few of them won't have those kind of blemishes on their records.

I'll give you one guess which people get hired, and which people stay on the eligbility list until it expires...

[PapaBear]

A lot will be dependant on how old you are now, how much you have done to improve your life and so on.

As a rule, CA agencies automatically disqualify persons with felony convictions. A number of midemeanor convictions are forgivable; but, a great many raise questions about common sense, comportment, personal habits, etc. Suffice it to say, you may not be on the top of the list of candidates.

Talk with a recruiter with an agency that you are interested in and see what they have to say. They are better sounding boards than an open forum where answers will vary.

Good luck!

[mythoss]

Even though it may be "expunged," you would still have to disclose it during the hiring process, and explain it thoroughly with explicate detail.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Your *ADULT* misdemeanor conviction would make me take a very hard look at your competitiveness as a candidate. Athough it would not be an auto-DQ, it's not like it was a youthful indiscretion - you were 18 for goodness sakes.

So in a nutshell, you would meet the minimum requirements, but would be ranked near (or at) the bottom of the list of all the candidates we would consider.

Also, a "dream" is not the same as a "daydream". Playing cops and robbers as a kid is NOT the same thing as having a life long dream to become a police officer. People with a true dream about something work very hard to make it become a reality, including not putting themselves in positions like being charged with crimes.

Not trying to be harsh, but you need to hear the truth.

[Al123]

thank you everybody, i will call and find out. but it has been 3 years now, so i hope that gives me some leeway. all of your answers were helpful, thank you once again.

[Legoate]

. will this aiding and aibing to the misdemeanor affect my chances

WTH does this mean?

"Tampering" with a vehicle isn't illegal in CA, so what charge were you actually CHARGED with. Was the original charge a misdemeanor or did you plea down a felony vandalism charge?

I'd also like to know what makes you think you are going to get this charge "expunged". Have you already spoken to a lawyer and gone to court to get this done?

Despite any of the above, your chances of being hired with this charge as an ADULT severely limits the chances of you being hired. If police work was your "lifelong dream" you would have known the difference between right and wrong at 18 years of age and not been involved in crime.

[PapaBear]

WTH does this mean?

"Tampering" with a vehicle isn't illegal in CA, so what charge were you actually CHARGED with. Was the original charge a misdemeanor or did you plea down a felony vandalism charge?

I'd also like to know what makes you think you are going to get this charge "expunged". Have you already spoken to a lawyer and gone to court to get this done?

Despite any of the above, your chances of being hired with this charge as an ADULT severely limits the chances of you being hired. If police work was your "lifelong dream" you would have known the difference between right and wrong at 18 years of age and not been involved in crime.

Ahem...

Application of Chapter

10850. The provisions of this chapter apply to vehicles upon the highways and elsewhere throughout the State.

Breaking or Removing Vehicle Parts

10852. No person shall either individually or in association with one or more other persons, wilfully injure or tamper with any vehicle or the contents thereof or break or remove any part of a vehicle without the consent of the owner.

(Misdemeanor: 10852 Injuring or tampering, with vehicle or contents.)

Malicious Mischief to Vehicle

10853. No person shall with intent to commit any malicious mischief, injury, or other crime, climb into or upon a vehicle whether it is in motion or at rest, nor shall any person attempt to manipulate any of the levers, starting mechanism, brakes, or other mechanism or device of a vehicle while the same is at rest and unattended, nor shall any person set in motion any vehicle while the same is at rest and unattended.

(Misdemeanor: 10853 Unattended vehicle, tampering with mechanism or setting in motion.)