HELP! The anxiety is killing me... need some answers

[BChernyha]

About two months ago after getting out of the Marine Corps I registered and took the police entrance exam with the Garland Police Department (Texas). I scored a 98.65% to place me at #6 out of the 500+ people that took the exam. I was then called in for an "initial interview" which was basically a review of my personal history statement. After providing a full credit report and arrest record, (charged with distribution of alcohol to minors when I was 14...yea 14), along with every other document needed to make the "background investigator's life easier" I was called in for another interview with the background investigator. The background investigator told me he would start calling my contacts and past employers within a week. Well needless to say it has been well over a week and none of my contacts have, well, been contacted..... Should I be worried? Does apparent "preference" help speed the process (by "preference" I mean I placed #6 on the written test, did outstanding on the physical test, have 42 college credits, and four years of honorable service with the United States Marine Corps.) or am I placed right along with Joe shmo who just filled out an application to satisfy his weekly quota of applications for his unemployment check?

[marinepilot]

BChernyha, first off, Welcome to RP from the Florida Panhandle. Thanks for finding our site and for your service to our country in the Marine Corps. I myself did 21 years in our Beloved Corps, and retired some almost 5 years ago. As for your first post, usually we ask our newest members to go to the New Member Introductions forum and post a thread telling us a bit about themselves. It seems you've done that here in reference to your questions, although just for your info, coming into our internet home and hammering us with questions without introducing yourself is considered bad form here.

As for your question, two things. First off, you posted it in the Ask-A-Cop: Writers Questions. Since I don't believe your writing a novel from your question, I am moving to the regular Ask-A-Cop section.

Second, I don't think you should be worried. Law Enforcement is not exactly like the Marine Corps. Most of them are para-military type organizations. If they say a week, give them about 3 or more since the background investigator handling your case is probably also an active officer / investigator handling actual crimes which take precendence over your background. So, cut the guy some slack, sit back, relax, and get on with your life. I don't think you have a reason to worry. As for preference, or scoring high on the test, that probably is the order in which your background got started, but they don't go in strict order, again because on top of all the crimes he is probably investigating, he's probably got #'s 3, 5, 7, and 10 backgrounds to do as well as yours. Again, give the guy some time to do his job.

[BChernyha]

WOW! I really didn't think that I was going to get a response that quickly/late at night. Awesome. As for my apparent disrespect, I apologize. I have posted a quick blub about myself in the new join section though I just quickly reiterated what I had posted here so there is no need for you to read it. Moving on.... My Background Investigator did mention that he was an active Police Officer..... crap..... Oh well.... is there a time frame that I should start to worry? Also, from one Marine to another, on a complete different topic, did you find it hard to integrate back into the civilian life? I myself find the lack of competence/basic reasoning skills surrounding me almost unbearable. One more thing, does the PD offer the same sense of unit cohesion and structure that the military does? The reason I ask is I find myself strongly considering finishing my degree and getting commissioned as an officer....

[Kimble]

The background investigator told me he would start calling my contacts and past employers within a week. Well needless to say it has been well over a week and none of my contacts have, well, been contacted..... Should I be worried?

I've worked for 3 agencies and applied over the years to more than a dozen and a couple things seem to be in common at each agency: applicants often grow annoyed by the length of the application process (because what's important to them - their future employment - isn't as high a priority for the agency) and agencies often grown annoyed by applicants who are impatient with the processs (because what's important to them - performing the agency's mission and processing applications as time/budget permits - isn't as high a priority for the applicants).

Like marinepilot suggested, stay patient or you're going to go nuts. If a BI says he'll do something in a week, that's probably a best guess but not written in stone. You and every other applicant are a priority, but not the highest priority when compared to the full spectrum of what a police agency does. If you're betting the farm on a single agency I'd recommend applying to a few agencies that interest you and are hiring.