Becoming A Police Officer?

[12Bravo]

Hi,

My name is Chad I’m 28 and currently in the United States Army Active Duty. I've been in now for 8 years and have aproximently 5 years left on my present contract. I am also a Combat Engineer and have 3 deployments with another one on the way. My question is how good are my chances at becoming a Police Officer? In my past before I joined the Army I did a lot of stupid things nothing that got me arrested but messed around with drugs some hallucinogenic. I have been on the right path since I joined and plan on staying that way. I have a clean record minus a couple speeding tickets but other than that I’ve been pretty good. I really want to become a police officer at the end of my tour. I am getting ready to go for my degree in criminal justice but would not be doing that if I have no chances of becoming a Police Officer. Any input would be really appreciated. The 2 places that I would be interested in becoming a Police Officer are FL and TN. Thanks

SSG Maggie
Aco 4BSTB 101st Airborne Division
Ft. Campbell KY, 42223

[pac201]

Welcome to the site.

Thank you for your service.

There are a lot of departments that will automatically dq on the hallucenogenic drugs (probably most if not all)
It's good that you have been clean for 8 years and by the time you are out 5 more. The question that begs to be asked, why would you not stay in for the full 20 and get your retirement from the military. At this rate you won't be but 40 years old when you retire; not too late to start a second career.

[retdetsgt]

I agree totally with pac201. Don't waste the 13 years you'll have put in. That retirement check will be nice to have in your back pocket when you're looking around for something else to do. Hopefully, this next deployment will be your last to a combat zone.

Also, as was said, most if not all departments automatically DQ hallucinogenic drug use of any kind, any time.

Thanks for your service. You are appreciated!

[12Bravo]

I would love to do a full 20 years but its putting way to much stress on myself and the family. I am about to hit my 8 year mark and I've spent have of my career over in the middle east. I love the military but hate the deployments and plus I wanted to be a police officer before I joined the army. So what everybody is saying is that my chances are not very good? Even if I am very truthfully during questioning?

[12Bravo]

"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
— G.K. Chesterton

[retdetsgt]

So what everybody is saying is that my chances are not very good? Even if I am very truthfully during questioning?

Pretty much. Hallucinogenic drugs always carry the possibility of a flashback. Though not common, it happens enough that police departments don't want the liability. Especially when there are too many candidates that have never done them.

We all make mistakes in judgment, but not all are reversible.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Thank you for your service. As others have stated, you really should consider staying in until retirement. I know deployments are stressful, but once you are done, you will have that paycheck from Uncle Sam in addition to double dipping on a second career. Maybe you could change branches. Move to USAF or USCG?

So what everybody is saying is that my chances are not very good? Even if I am very truthfully during questioning?

Your chances are not very good. One thing is certain, though. They would worsen considerably should you not be very truthful during pre-hire questioning. Law enforcement applicants should never should never ask themselves "how much" of the truth they should tell.