Question for recruiting officials

[jamroz3]

Ok, I am wondering if my past driving record and criminal histoy will disqualify me as a qualified candidate for a traffic patrol officer. Since i was 16, I have 15+ moving violations on my record for speeding, disobeying traffic control devices, improper lane usage, driving on suspended/revoked license. I have a dui from 6 years ago along with a marajuana posession charge. A seperate marajuana charge from when i was 18 or 19 y.o. I do not have any domestic violence charges, or felonies of any kind. This question sounds a bit ridiculous considering the position, but i figured id asked the professionals. I am aware that this will surely not make it easy to become a police officer for any city or county in illinois. But i am 30 years old, and realize this would be a job i would truly love. Have i screwed up in my past too much or should i get my degree and throw it up against the wall and see what sticks? Thanks you in advance for your professional opinions.

[Citicop]

Apply if you want to, but I would not hold my breath. Your record shows a lack of regard for obeying the laws and rules, which does not bode well for you to be able to effectively enforce them (or obey the rules once you become a Law Enforcement Officer).

But it depends. If 6 years ago (when you got the DWI) was the last time you had a ticket of any kind, then maybe your odds are not so bad. But if the pattern continued past that, I would not recommend your hire.

-Citicop.

[kendral77]

Get a degree, but do not get on in criminal justice. I'm not saying that you don't have a chance in law enforcement, but you will be going against people that have much cleaner records. The adult drug charge and DUI will be major hurdles. I would think that with most departments that DUI might be an auto DQ. If you get a degree that will be useful for another line of work, say accounting, then if you are not able to get on with any department, you will still have something to help you with another career. A criminal justice degree will not give you a better shot at being an officer than any other degree, and would be a waste if you were unable to get onto a department. For what it is worth, the above is just my $.02 worth.

[Piggy]

If the economy was good, you would have a better chance. Right now there are Police Officers being laid off around the nation. The quality of applicant is very high. You are going to be competing against applicants that do not have any history of alcohol or driving offenses. The hiring process is much more competitive.

[pac201]

No.

Don't waste time or money. Too much baggage.

[mcsap]

You may meet the minimum standards but thats all you will meet. You will have a tough time competing against those who were in the military , have a degree or have a clean background. You have none of these attributes.

Why would a PD want to hire you ?

[GoDirectly2Jail]

With that kind of driving history, do you really expect a locality to plop you in one of their police cars to go tootling around the jurisdiction? And under their insurance to boot?

[DeltaV]

You have absolutely no chance. In addition to the times you were caught with marijuana, there's all the times that you weren't caught that are going to come up in a background investigation and on a polygraph. I think it's safe to say that if you were actually caught with it twice you were a lot more than just an "experimental" user.

The same logic goes with DUI. Considering that only about one in 100 DUI drivers get caught on average, you probably made it a point to drive while intoxicated quite a few times. Again, this will all come out during the hiring process. The same goes for driving with a suspended license.

I doubt you have any chance at all, especially with today's qualified applicant pool.

[Legoate]

So you bring with you a bag full of criminal violations of the law.....and nothing else.

No secondary education? No military time?

Ask yourself, what is so great about you that an agency would be willing to overlook all of the bad things you've done in order to add you to their team.

I'm really not seeing any positives, only negatives.

I'm sure you are a "great guy", but there are plenty of nice folks out there that have no place in law enforcement.