Can I be a cop with a Class A misdemeanor

[samantha4]

If you miraculously passed through the initial application process, you will be washed out by the psych exam. There is too great a risk of transference and you've already shown an inability to physically control yourself.

I will be able to pass the psych exam. I was drinking at the moment I was arrested. I'm not using that as an excuse but it's the reason I was not able to control myself and since then I learned to control my anger so much. I have already been in situations where I was drinking and someone provoked me but I walked away rather than getting in trouble again. Like I said before, lesson learned.

[retdetsgt]

Samantha, the question was, would that cause problems in you being hired. Bottom line, yes, it would. Domestic violence of any kind is a hot button issue in this country and I seriously doubt that any department would want to take a chance with you when there are hundreds of other applicants w/o that background.

I'm sorry that you don't like the answer to your question, but that's based on a lot of accumulative years of experience. That being said, go apply and see what happens. That's all you can do.

[Kimble]

I'm sorry that you don't like the answer to your question, but that's based on a lot of accumulative years of experience. That being said, go apply and see what happens. That's all you can do.

This pretty much sums it up, Samantha. You've asked our opinions - which are based on our experiences as being cops, having been hired as cops, and working the application process to hire new cops - and you can take the advice given or leave it. However, none of us are saying you can not apply if that's your wish, we're just telling you what the likely outcome will be based on our experiences and our agencies' hiring policies.

Apply for police jobs if that's your wish, but the smart person in your situation will at least develop a "Plan B." If it works out, great, if not, good luck in another field that allows you to get the same fulfillment.

[mcsap]

You have a proven history of domestic violence and you have admitted that you couldn't take the pressure and that you " snapped".

You have also told us that you would never do that again and that you would protect the citizens.

The first sentence is fact. The second we have NO way of knowing if it's true. Why should we take a chance on you when there are plenty of applicants who havn't " snapped " and assaulted someone ?

We need to minimize every risk we can when we hire someone. You as recently as 7 months ago got locked up for domestic violence. You need to have a few good years of problem free living and probably ABOVE average living to begin to convince us that you are worth taking a chance on.

We always have a lot of people applying who have wanted to be a cop since they were little. We NEED to take the best people for a good reason.

[Legoate]

It was a mistake because of the circumstances. I didn't just randomly hit him, there was a history behind everything. So like I said, a mistake.

My department wouldn't care about the "history", domestic violence isn't a "mistake" and we wouldn't touch you. Most departments will want at LEAST 5 years between any arrest before they even consider looking at your application.

[TEXASCOP]

The first obstacle is finding out what the final disposition is (guilty, held, disposed, dissmissed....). If you the final disposition shows guilty of any assault family violence even Class C then you can not hold a peace officers license in the state of Texas. The TCLEOSE rules regarding this are listed below. Also if you have been convicted of any domestic violence per ATF regulations you are considered a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Side note, I know most other states call it domestic violence but for some reason in Texas it's called Family violence this may help if you have been googling anything.

(6) conviction history:

(A) has not ever been convicted of an offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years; but

(B) the commission may approve the application of a person who was convicted for a Class B misdemeanor at least five (5) years prior to application if an agency administrator sufficiently demonstrates in writing with supporting documentation that mitigating circumstances exist with the case and with the individual applying for licensure, and that the public interest would be served by reducing the waiting period;

(7) has never been convicted of any family violence offense;