Can I still become a Law Enforcement Officer?

[jbadoef0607]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post and I wanted to address something that has been eating at me for quite some time. A little bit of a background on me. I have been in the Oregon Army National Guard for nearly 8 years now, have two overseas combat tours under my belt as an infantryman (Afghanistan in 2006 and Iraq in 2009). However, it took a huge fight for me to even get into the military. I am deaf in my left ear, something I've had since childhood, and because of that it took me nearly 2 full years to join. Had to have a waiver, but eventually I was able to join. Two things I've wanted to do since I was little was to become "an army man and a police man", my uncle was a cop for a long time and played a huge part in my desires. I am also attending college pursuing a degree in criminal justice and currently a part of the regional police reserve academy.

So onto the question at hand, would I be able to accomplish my dream of becoming a law enforcement officer in Oregon? despite being deaf in my left ear? and would an agency put my military training and experience into consideration despite that deficiency?

any and all comments and suggestions are welcome.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post and I wanted to address something that has been eating at me for quite some time. A little bit of a background on me. I have been in the Oregon Army National Guard for nearly 8 years now, have two overseas combat tours under my belt as an infantryman (Afghanistan in 2006 and Iraq in 2009). However, it took a huge fight for me to even get into the military. I am deaf in my left ear, something I've had since childhood, and because of that it took me nearly 2 full years to join. Had to have a waiver, but eventually I was able to join. Two things I've wanted to do since I was little was to become "an army man and a police man", my uncle was a cop for a long time and played a huge part in my desires. I am also attending college pursuing a degree in criminal justice and currently a part of the regional police reserve academy.

So onto the question at hand, would I be able to accomplish my dream of becoming a law enforcement officer in Oregon? despite being deaf in my left ear? and would an agency put my military training and experience into consideration despite that deficiency?

any and all comments and suggestions are welcome.

Thank you for your service. As to your question, no - no police agency will consider your military training and experience when making a hiring decision based on a medical deficiency. You would have to be evaluated by the department physician, and and deemed physically capable of performing the duties of the job. Each department sets those requirements, but most (if not all) that I've ever seen state a certain threshold of hearing capability in both ears. Your mileage may vary, and it's best to inquire with the specific department you are interested in, but to be realistic - your getting hired is a long shot at best with that issue. It's just too much of a liability to a department.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

As to your education, if you can, change your major to something other than criminal justice. A CJ degree is so specific, it carries little practical value outside of the profession (and not that much within it, to be honest). So if you have doubts about being employable in policing, change it to a major that interests you that is useful outside of LE. Business, Accounting, Public Relations, etc degrees all have a wide wange of uses both within law enforcement and elsewhere.

[mcsap]

A LOT of departments have minimum standards ( hearing , eyesight etc) and do not do waivers like the military does. You would not be able to get hired at my department.

[Gutwrench]

jbadoef0607,

First off welcome home and thank you for your service.

The state and individual department sets the minimum standards. Decisions vary between departments but all act within the peace officer standards and training set down by the state.

Before retiring from a department in northern California I conducted many backgrounds and can not tell you for certain what our department would do. There are very specific laws controlling the evaluation of a medical condition. I do know, however, you would not be eliminated from any portion of the hiring process until you were given a medical examination, and a medical examination could only happen after a conditional job offer has been extended. Now I have been retired for a few years but I highly doubt this area has changed, and keep in mind my opinion is insofar as California is concerned.

Also, a "law enforcement officer" is not always only a street cop for a police department. If you find your disability eliminates you from a police department, and I hope it doesn't, you might find other options available such as probation, parole, or a DA investigator, etc.

If you want something, fight for it. If you run into a wall find a way to go over it, under it, around it or through it. A very smart man, Randy Pausch, once said that walls in life are there for a purpose, they are there to stop people who don't want it badly enough. Walls are not there to keep you out but to give you the opportunity to show how badly you want something.

Good luck and give us some updates.

[mcsap]

Go kick at some walls, maybe they'll crumble

[jbadoef0607]

Thank you all very much for your input and advice. I cannot stress enough the amount of respect I have for police officers and the profession as a whole. Now for some updates. I have had gone through the testing phases for a few agencies so far. One I failed due to lack of sleep the night before. A lesson well learned. But others I have passed with flying colors from what im told and have interviews scheduled.for.sometime next month. I am currently attending the regional reserve academy at the local community college that is taught by some of the local police officers in the local area. I have identified to them about my condition and they looked at me like I didn't have a hearing condition based on my performance so far and have been told that I may fail the health img portion but since I've already proven that I can do the job that the physician may pass me based on the fact that I can provide that proof. That's all theory though. Any advice on how I may prepare myself for.the coming interviews? And this is just curiosity but what in your experience has been the craziest things you've seen on someones background and still.got hired with your respective agencies? Again im just curious cause some of my yellow classmates have some colorful backgrounds from what they've told me. Lol. And yes I am gonna kick on some walls with both feet. Lol.

[L-1]

I am currently attending the regional reserve academy at the local community college that is taught by some of the local police officers in the local area. I have identified to them about my condition and they looked at me like I didn't have a hearing condition based on my performance so far and have been told that I may fail the health img portion but since I've already proven that I can do the job that the physician may pass me based on the fact that I can provide that proof.

Ability to do the job is a lot more complicated than you may think. Take a look at http://lib.post.ca.gov/Publications/Hearing.pdf

They are the peace officer hearing standards for California. They contain an in depth explanation of what the standards are and why they are necessary. There is a lot more to it than meets the eye (or ear, in this case).

While these are the California standards, the principles behind them are universal for most of law enforcement throughout the country.

Nonetheless, don't let this stop you from trying. You may wind up applying with an agency that doesn't share in these standards, or where the doctor hasn't read them, or they just don't care (I've worked for a couple of agencies like that.) But bear in mind, that this is what you may be up against.

[jbadoef0607]

*L-1; thank you very much for the info. I read through it and my chances seem slim bit im still going to try hard. This is a career I want very badly so im gonna fight hard for it.

Thank you all for your input and advice. Although agencies will very bit what are some typical questions that I may be asked during the interview process? What can I do to prepare myself and make myself a strong candidate? And what are some questions that are typically asked in the second interview should i pass the first one?

And finally this is just curiosity. What are some of the craziest things you've seen on someones background and still got hired by your respective agencies?

[Piggy]

There are many jobs out there that are not street law enforcement but that may still be workable for you. Have you considered jobs such as Probation Officer, Parole Officer, etc? I have never looked into them personally but they may have something that may peak your interest.

[L-1]

*L-1; thank you very much for the info. I read through it and my chances seem slim bit im still going to try hard. This is a career I want very badly so im gonna fight hard for it.

Thank you all for your input and advice. Although agencies will very bit what are some typical questions that I may be asked during the interview process? What can I do to prepare myself and make myself a strong candidate? And what are some questions that are typically asked in the second interview should i pass the first one?

And finally this is just curiosity. What are some of the craziest things you've seen on someones background and still got hired by your respective agencies?

It's hard to give you an answer as to oral board questions because each agency has different idea as to what is important to them and questions will vary accordingly.

Tare a look at http://lib.post.ca.gov/Publications/...guide_0809.pdf It is California's guidelines for oral interviews. While it does not contain specific questions, it outlines areas of interest to many oral panels.

Please note that this is a "how to do it" manual for oral board members and is a long read. Nonetheless, it will give you an excellent education on what goes into an oral board, how candidates are evaluated, what is of importance to the board and what is of little consequence. While it does not give you the questions, it gives you a heads up on what to expect. I have no problems disclosing this because it is a public document available to all applicants ambitious enough to spend an entire afternoon studying it.

The issue of your hearing ability should not come up during the oral or the background. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits an employer from inquiring about medical issues except in connection with a bona fide offer of employment. Even then, those conversations are supposed to be held with a licensed physician who has the medical expertise and training necessary to evaluate your ability to perform the duties of the job. Unless you volunteer it, I doubt anyone will address medical issues with you until you get a letter in the mail offering you employment subject to your passing a medical.

As far as craziness on the background, I once had an applicant who was a bona fide rapist. However, due to a search and seizure error, the blood and semen evidence establishing his guilt was thrown out in court, it became a he said - she said case and he was acquitted. At the time, state law said an employer was prohibited from denying anyone employment based solely on an arrest that did not result in a conviction. The State Personnel Board reaffirmed that we could not use the rape to DQ him. We DQed him charging that minor errors in his Personnel History Questionnaire were falsifications and reflected dishonesty. When he claimed he was not dishonest and that they were simple mistakes, we accepted that and said his admitted mistakes reflected a lack of ability to follow simple written instructions. Either one was a disqualifier.

[mcsap]

We had an applicant that was a pastor of a church. He stated on his app that he couldn't work Sunday mornings and evenings or Wed. evenings.

[greg72982]

We had an applicant that was a pastor of a church. He stated on his app that he couldn't work Sunday mornings and evenings or Wed. evenings.

So I take it he is still a pastor.

[jbadoef0607]

We DQed him charging that minor errors in his Personnel History Questionnaire were falsifications and reflected dishonesty. When he claimed he was not dishonest and that they were simple mistakes, we accepted that and said his admitted mistakes reflected a lack of ability to follow simple written instructions. Either one was a disqualifier.

I have done a couple of Statement of Personal History's for a couple of county sheriff departments up in the northern portion of my state, one was a little more daunting than the other. But I did the best job that I could and answered the questions to the best of my ability and knowledge, especially regarding my driving record, which is not the greatest to put it lightly. I've never been charged with a DUI or any other felony or misdemeanor crime, otherwise I would most certainly be immediately be disqualified if that was the case. I'm a little worried because I do not want the same thing to happen to me, I do not want to be dishonest for any reason and be as forthright and as blunt as possible. Nor do I want to be viewed as having a lack of following simple written instructions. I have found out the other day, was told by a background investigator who was screening me, that I have some additional traffic data was placed on my record, but those were placed during the time I was deployed to Afghanistan back in 2006. So I honestly had no way of knowing those were on there when my SPH's were turned in. Should I be worried or do I notify the agencies of my recent discovery right away? Again I want to present myself as the strongest candidate for the position and show that I am always going to be completely honest no matter what. But I don't want to be made a liar because some minor errors.

My instructor gave me probably the two best quotes I've ever heard in my life.
"In this profession, if you lie, you die. Dishonesty will not only kill your career, it can kill your partners."--Officer Trevor Aslin, Winston Police Department

"If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything." --Mark Twain

[lawduck]

As to your education, if you can, change your major to something other than criminal justice. A CJ degree is so specific, it carries little practical value outside of the profession (and not that much within it, to be honest). So if you have doubts about being employable in policing, change it to a major that interests you that is useful outside of LE. Business, Accounting, Public Relations, etc degrees all have a wide wange of uses both within law enforcement and elsewhere.

This