Background Investigation

[Derryn7]

Hello all,

I have a question regarding the background examination required by police departments.

Let's say that I (a Hawaii resident) wanted to become a police officer in another state (i.e. California), and had all my references, family members, friends, teachers, et al. located in Hawaii. Would the background investigators travel to Hawaii? Or would they simply call?

A more pertinent question is; would they hold it against me that all of my above contacts were located out of state? Or would the prefer another candidate simply because all his contacts were located in state? (Let's assume I hold residency in the state I'm applying in).

Thank you very much for you replies.

[retdetsgt]

Call and write letters with attached forms to fill out and send back. They wouldn't send anyone there although I'm sure many would volunteer. And no, it shouldn't affect your chances.

[L-1]

I once had to do a background on an applicant who grew up in Rabat, Morocco. I asked for plane tickets, a travel advance and was ready to pack my bags. My department said no and I wound up asking the National Police over there to do that portion of the background for me.

[G35 Mass]

In my state, the State Police will do background investigations for agencies in other states.

[retdetsgt]

I once had to do a background on an applicant who grew up in Rabat, Morocco. I asked for plane tickets, a travel advance and was ready to pack my bags. My department said no and I wound up asking the National Police over there to do that portion of the background for me.

Heh, one of our robbery detectives tried to convince the establishment that he needed to go to Germany to interview a suspect in a robbery that moved there. I thought for a while he might pull it off, but they put the whammy on it. He even got himself a passport.

[MikeG]

Heh, one of our robbery detectives tried to convince the establishment that he needed to go to Germany to interview a suspect in a robbery that moved there. I thought for a while he might pull it off, but they put the whammy on it. He even got himself a passport.

I hope he got a passport out of it. A company I used to work for wanted more U.S. representation at a training session in Eilat, Israel. I volunteered but my passport was going to expire in 6 months. I would have renewed it myself but then the company had the travel agency rush it through and I got it back within a week with all the fees paid for (even came to where I was for the picture). Then they cancelled the training as it was too expensive. But I got a 10 year passport out of it .

[mcsap]

I did one on a guy in the USAF and called all over the country to AF bases.

[DeltaV]

One of our retiring officers applied to a small department from an affluent area in Washington State. They flew a detective all the way to Florida to interview people here. I've never heard of that before from a local agency. I know we don't fly people out of state to conduct interviews and instead use the phone and mailed questionnaires.

[mcsap]

I am hoping we get some applicants from the Bahamas and other island nations so that I can fly all over and do background interviews on the beach.