Question regarding Lateral Police Officer background investigation

[SamMurphy]

xxx

[Samuel]

Hello.
My name is Samantha. I wanted to ask a question regarding the background investigation that is implemented in the process of applying for a Lateral Police Officer position. I am asking for a friend of mine who is currently filling out this background questionnaire. The concern has arose with the question pertaining to any current criminal activity. He is currently a police officer in the town that we live...but he is only 20 years old. On occasion with friends and family he has consumed alcohol. This is not very often, but it has happened. We are aware that he must tell the complete truth because he will be questioned about this again. We are wondering if this consumption of alcohol underage will be an automatic disqualification to this job?

Thank you very much,
Samantha.

If he has been knowingly/intentionally breaking the law SINCE he's become an LEO, some people will legitimately view that as an ISSUE with possible DQ ramifications. YMMV.

[SamMurphy]

xxx

[Samuel]

Answer all questions completely and truthfully...

[marinepilot]

Samantha, first off, welcome to RP from the Florida Panhandle.

Secondly, as for your "friend," I can't answer it because I don't know where you live and have no idea what departments / agencies you're talking about. I doubt anyone will be able to tell you much more than just tell the absolute truth in the hiring process, as your "friend" should already know if he's already an LEO. As for judgement of your "friend," I would say it kinda goes out the window if he's a sworn officer and he's knowingly breaking the laws he's supposed to be upholding.

Lastly, and this is important here at RP, please do NOT post your questions in multiple areas of RP. You asked this very same question in the Writers' Questions area and I moved it, and then saw this thread that already has answers on it. I deleted that one, and am leaving this one open. Cross posting is considered VERY bad form here. Please attempt to be aware of where you are posting a thread and only posting it once.

[Kimble]

Thank you very much. Do you have any suggestions on how to state this information on his background questionnaire in a not so self incriminating manner? This has only occurred a few times and we don't want to make excuses for him and want to be completely truthful....I'm just a little concerned.
Thank you again.

Doesn't work that way, Samantha. You either be upfront and honest, accepting responsibility at the cost of a possible DQ, or gamble with not being forthcoming/covering it up at the risk of being DQ'ed at any agency for lying on an official background questionnaire. There's no magic way to state knowingly breaking the law while working as a cop to make it sound "better," your friend needs to be an adult and be completely upfront about it to avoid it being a bigger issue than it already is.

[greg72982]

IMO it's worse that he is a LEO and doing it then if he were just a college kid or something. With that at least time would help him out. Since he is already a LEO and doing it anyway it looks much worse.


That said it still may not be an auto-DQ but they may want to give him some time anyway. This is why it is rare to hire people prior to 21, and some agencies will wait even longer. He is not an abnormal 20 year old, but should know better due to his position. Not only is it illegal, it paints a bad image for his department as no doubt others see this.

[mcsap]

IMO it's worse that he is a LEO and doing it then if he were just a college kid or something. With that at least time would help him out. Since he is already a LEO and doing it anyway it looks much worse.


That said it still may not be an auto-DQ but they may want to give him some time anyway. This is why it is rare to hire people prior to 21, and some agencies will wait even longer. He is not an abnormal 20 year old, but should know better due to his position. Not only is it illegal, it paints a bad image for his department as no doubt others see this.

Agree 100%.

[marinepilot]

Obviously the OP has gotten either the answer or just had enough as he/she has edited out all his/her posts. No reason to keep this one open...