Can you have a record and become a police officer?

[NicolleYee]

I am very intrested in becoming a police officer... Problem is that I have a record. I have been arrested a couple times with drug charges when I was young. I have a couple CWF's on my record and one guilty charge of possesion of class A and being present where herion was kept. Now I know it is a felony charge but they changed it to a mistermeaner. I have no volient charges... Just that one guilty mistermeaner which was years ago. I had a drug problem but have been clean for years now. I was just wondering if it is even possible with the record I have to become a police officer. And if so what steps should I take to become a officer. Please get back to me soon! Thank you.

[mobrien316]

I am very intrested in becoming a police officer... Problem is that I have a record. I have been arrested a couple times with drug charges when I was young. I have a couple CWF's on my record and one guilty charge of possesion of class A and being present where herion was kept. Now I know it is a felony charge but they changed it to a mistermeaner. I have no volient charges... Just that one guilty mistermeaner which was years ago. I had a drug problem but have been clean for years now. I was just wondering if it is even possible with the record I have to become a police officer. And if so what steps should I take to become a officer. Please get back to me soon! Thank you.

It is highly unlikely that anyone with a drug conviction on their record would be able to get hired as an LEO.

It's not entirely impossible, I suppose. But I would think it is very unlikely. You certainly couldn't get hired at my department or any others with which I am familiar.

[Big Sexy]

With us the drug conviction alone would make you ineligible. Add a drug problem to the mix and to betray BIG's northeastern roots, "Fuggit about it".

[Joeyd6]

Nicolle...have you been here before with a different name?

[Citicop]

Being a police officer is all about being able to make good decisions on your own, quickly and under pressure in many cases.

Nicolle, would you say that your history shows GOOD decision making, or BAD decision making?

[mcsap]

Drug use is a CHOICE , not a mistake. The choices you have made are quite damaging to someone who wants to get into Law Enforcement. Why should we take a chance on a person who has been arrested ( more than once ) for drugs when their are plenty of applicants who have NEVER been arrested ?

[NicolleYee]

Yes I know drugs are a choice but it is also a sickness. I had got injured and was on pain medication for a while and hard a hard time stopping. The charge I have as a guilty was being in a car with someone who had the drug on them. Regardless that was my past. Yes I know wrong from right and was very immature and have changed my life completely. I have never been on this site before this was the first time I had ever asked. So not impossible but very unlikely?

[NicolleYee]

Yes I have made bad decisions in my past but have completely changed my life and everything it. It's sad that because of my past I still get treated the way I did back then when I am not even close to the person I am now. I think also because of my past I know a lot about the streets and the way things run there... I think I would do great undercover work. I just really wanted to know if it was even possible its a dream I have always had.

[NicolleYee]

No sir. This is my first time

[Citicop]

Yes I have made bad decisions in my past but have completely changed my life and everything it. It's sad that because of my past I still get treated the way I did back then when I am not even close to the person I am now. I think also because of my past I know a lot about the streets and the way things run there... I think I would do great undercover work. I just really wanted to know if it was even possible its a dream I have always had.

This is going to sound a little mean, but was it a dream you had while you were using illegal drugs?

Because that doesn't say a lot about you.

And there are plenty of full blown heroin addicts, gang bangers, and crackheads who "know a lot about the streets and the way things run there." That does not mean that they would be good choices for police officers.

Undercover work, especially, requires someone who can make good decisions in very screwed up situations while unsupervised. No department I am aware of is going to take an addict, give them a badge and a gun, and put them into an undercover drug role.

I applaud the fact that you turned your life around, but Law Enforcement is not in your future, I'm afraid. Actions have consequences, and I fear that being a former addict with drug charges is too much to overcome in a hiring process.

There are still a lot of ways you can contribute to society; Law Enforcement will not be one of those ways, though.

[Samuel]

^ +1...

[Big Sexy]

I think also because of my past I know a lot about the streets and the way things run there... I think I would do great undercover work.

Why O' why does everyone who's been convicted of some crime thinks said conviction or previous life of crime makes them the perfect undercover or a better suited LEO?

BIG thinks one would be better served making better judgement in ones reality, than to spout something they've seen happen on television or the movies. Only in Hollywood can the theif, bank robber, drug dealer, embellezer get redemption and show us stupid LEO's how crime "really" works and how to catch criminals.

[mcsap]

Yes I have made bad decisions in my past but have completely changed my life and everything it. It's sad that because of my past I still get treated the way I did back then when I am not even close to the person I am now. I think also because of my past I know a lot about the streets and the way things run there... I think I would do great undercover work. I just really wanted to know if it was even possible its a dream I have always had.

You still can be a good productive member of society but very unlikely in LE.

A lot of we do is based on honesty and credibility. A convicted drug user will ALWAYS have that held over their head by ANY defense attorney.

__________________________________________________ _______________________

Here is a courtroom scenario for you.

Officer NicoleYee. You arrested my client for possession of drugs. Isn't it true that you yourself were convicted of the same crimes ?

Officer NicoleYee. Yes your honor but I am a changed person now and don't use drugs anymore.

Defense Attorney Smith. Your honor , the officer's credibility is in serious question as to the situation with my client. The officer has a couple of convictions for drug offenses and that alone causes reasonable doubt as to the authenticity and credibility of her statement.

Court. Attorney Smith , I have to agree.

Court. Mr. DA , the defense raises some issues over credibility with your affiant / witness. Is it the practice of the police dept, to hire convicted drug offenders as police officers ? Can you see Mr DA where the issue of credibility is now coming back to haunt the officer ?

Court. " Case dismissed with prejuduice".

[Kimble]

I think also because of my past I know a lot about the streets and the way things run there... I think I would do great undercover work.

Well, you're entitled to your opinion, but that doesn't help your case with getting hired in the real world as a cop. You may think a drug history makes you a natural for undercover LE work, but in the real world that would be a defense attorney's dream and a prosecutors worst nightmare as far as your testimony going belly-up in court.

[ET109]

Getting caught doing drugs is a good way to be disqualified from LE jobs I've seen. I specify 'getting caught' because if you've been arrested for drugs, it's a good indication that you've done plenty of other stuff that you didn't get caught at. Having had a drug problem, do you think a law enforcement agency would want to put you in a position where you'll be handling drugs and have constant opportunities to relapse and blow up cases? I'm no undercover or narcotics officer, but even just walking a foot beat I would hate to be working with someone I had to wonder about.

I've heard the idea of criminals becoming cops a lot, especially in fiction, but I have yet to hear it from someone on a hiring board.