Marijuana arrest (Please help!)

[Steven89]

Hello,everybody. I am posting this because I want to join the NYPD and I require insight as to whether or not this is even a possibility now. This seems like the best place to find advice about my situation so here goes:


First of all I feel it is important that I state the following:

I just turned 22.
I always wanted to be a cop but never persued it because my parents steered me away believing I could do something more lucrative. I started college with a liberal arts major and due to my lack of interest and lack of money I dropped out and took up working full time. In mid-2009 my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and while she was battling the disease, my father died of his own health problems in January, 2010. About a year and a half after her diagnosis and almost exactly a year after my father's death, my mom lost her battle with her disease and passed away in December, 2010. The loss of both my parents had me feeling alone, devastated and scared about my future as I suddenly became fully responsible for myself. The co-op my family owned became mine and in order to keep up with the bills I began working 60 hours a week (which I am lucky for) and I also began renting out one of my rooms to a friend. At this point I was doing fine financially but I had no future ahead of me as I didnt have time for school. So I told myself if no opportunities come up within a year, I would join the military and persue a secure career in law enforcement.

Now I am not going to lie, I've smoked weed prior to my misfortunes but it definitly became a heavy habit over the past year. Not only did I smoke but my roommate smoked and friends would come over and we would smoke together. For me, having a future was always more important than getting high so my plan was to stop smoking for the new year,wait three months in order to pass the drug test, and join the Air Force.

With all of that being said, here is where my legal troubles began:
Last week my apartment was raided by NYPD narcotics officers because they were under the impression that people were selling drugs out of my apartment. I did have about a half ounce of weed in the house which was for personal use and when the officers realized we werent drug lords they began to explain that my neighbors had been complaining about the pot smell and the fact that our friends were always coming in and out. They did have to arrest us for possession though. I spent the day in bookings and was given a one year ACD.

This was my first run-in with the law EVER (except for a speeding ticket.)

I know that an ACD wont keep me off the force but when I have to explain the entire situation during my psych exam, Im scared that being a suspected drug dealer will be a very big problem.

Am I screwed now or do I have a chance if I can join the military and prove myself as a serious individual?

I am very scared and feeling lost and any thoughts, comments, or advice will really mean alot to me and help me figure out my future.

Thank you

[greg72982]

If you were using marijuana to that extent along with being arrested for it, I dont see you having a chance, not even with a military background.

[retdetsgt]

Especially with the cutbacks coming in the military, I seriously doubt they will take you either. Not that they would have before. They have enough problems with drugs as it is.

Sorry, but you screwed the pooch on this one. You have no chance at all. It's not the psych you need to worry about, it's all the people they will interview in your background check who will say that you were a pothead for a year, not to mention the arrest that will still be there. You can bet all the neighbors who complained to the police aren't going to give you a sterling recommendation.

Sorry you lost your parents, that's tough, but that's no excuse for your behavior.

[mcsap]

Even if you did somehow meet the minimum standard , why would they be interested in someone who like you when thete are plenty of people that have a great background with no drug arrests ? And there is great competition for police jobs these days.

[Kimble]

Hello,everybody. I am posting this because I want to join the NYPD and I require insight as to whether or not this is even a possibility now. This seems like the best place to find advice about my situation so here goes:


First of all I feel it is important that I state the following:

I just turned 22.
I always wanted to be a cop but never persued it because my parents steered me away believing I could do something more lucrative. I started college with a liberal arts major and due to my lack of interest and lack of money I dropped out and took up working full time. In mid-2009 my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and while she was battling the disease, my father died of his own health problems in January, 2010. About a year and a half after her diagnosis and almost exactly a year after my father's death, my mom lost her battle with her disease and passed away in December, 2010. The loss of both my parents had me feeling alone, devastated and scared about my future as I suddenly became fully responsible for myself. The co-op my family owned became mine and in order to keep up with the bills I began working 60 hours a week (which I am lucky for) and I also began renting out one of my rooms to a friend. At this point I was doing fine financially but I had no future ahead of me as I didnt have time for school. So I told myself if no opportunities come up within a year, I would join the military and persue a secure career in law enforcement.

Now I am not going to lie, I've smoked weed prior to my misfortunes but it definitly became a heavy habit over the past year. Not only did I smoke but my roommate smoked and friends would come over and we would smoke together. For me, having a future was always more important than getting high so my plan was to stop smoking for the new year,wait three months in order to pass the drug test, and join the Air Force.

With all of that being said, here is where my legal troubles began:
Last week my apartment was raided by NYPD narcotics officers because they were under the impression that people were selling drugs out of my apartment. I did have about a half ounce of weed in the house which was for personal use and when the officers realized we werent drug lords they began to explain that my neighbors had been complaining about the pot smell and the fact that our friends were always coming in and out. They did have to arrest us for possession though. I spent the day in bookings and was given a one year ACD.

This was my first run-in with the law EVER (except for a speeding ticket.)

I know that an ACD wont keep me off the force but when I have to explain the entire situation during my psych exam, Im scared that being a suspected drug dealer will be a very big problem.

Am I screwed now or do I have a chance if I can join the military and prove myself as a serious individual?

I am very scared and feeling lost and any thoughts, comments, or advice will really mean alot to me and help me figure out my future.

Thank you

What annoys me is folks who make statements like "I did [fill in the blank with whatever crime would be disqualifying], please help!" There's nothing to help you with, you did what you did and now you have to live with the consequences. Life has consequences, and you're not "owed" any job. Apply if you wish, but if you're disqualified that's just the way it is. There's nothing anyone can do to "help" you undo your past, and I would seriously advise looking for another line of work. That's not saying you're a bad person or haven't learned from your past, but that also doesn't undo the consequences of your past actions.

Welcome to the world of being an adult. It sucks sometimes, but this is the world you'll live in for the rest of your life.

[ET109]

Sounds like you went through a tough period in life. Cops have tough times too; don't you think an agency would worry about you turning to drugs again, based on your previous habit? Maybe you wouldn't, but they can't know that.

Having smoked weed is one thing; having smoked it habitually is another, worse thing. Having drugs be such an important part of your life that you get raided and arrested because the neighbors think you must be a dealer is... well, let's just say that habitually smoking is bad enough to DQ you without the rest.

[txinvestigator1]

[Dr Phil] When you choose your behavior, you choose your consequence [/Dr Phil]

[Steven89]

Well I appreciate the responses even though its bad news. Would anyone know if the corrections department is more leanient?

[deputywave]

Well I appreciate the responses even though its bad news. Would anyone know if the corrections department is more leanient?

They are not.

[Kimble]

Well I appreciate the responses even though its bad news. Would anyone know if the corrections department is more leanient?

From what I've seen some are, but many are not. As I said befor apply if you wish, worst that can happen is they say "no" and you develop another path to pursue.

[dursty]

Getting any job in today's job market is going to be hard with a criminal record, even a simple misdemeanor nowadays can shut you out of the job market. Might try becoming self employed..

[Joeyd6]

I just turned 22.

In the eyes of NYS you have been an adult 5 years.

Now I am not going to lie, I've smoked weed prior to my misfortunes but it definitly became a heavy habit over the past year. Not only did I smoke but my roommate smoked and friends would come over and we would smoke together. For me, having a future was always more important than getting high so my plan was to stop smoking for the new year,wait three months in order to pass the drug test, and join the Air Force.

The part I underlined is the focus any BI will look at. You say one thing....but you completely do another. If "having a furture" was the most important thing, then you never woudl have started smokeing weed, allowing others in your house to do such, or even hang around others who do it. You are giving lip service to everyone since you got caught and now realize the plan you had is not going to work.


With all of that being said, here is where my legal troubles began:
Last week my apartment was raided by NYPD narcotics officers because they were under the impression that people were selling drugs out of my apartment. I did have about a half ounce of weed in the house which was for personal use and when the officers realized we werent drug lords they began to explain that my neighbors had been complaining about the pot smell and the fact that our friends were always coming in and out. They did have to arrest us for possession though.
So they cops notified hit up your co-p board for your info, had numerous complaints from neighbors, and went to a judge...got a search warrant and executed such. Your co-op board is definately working on booting you.....even if it was co-op city in the Bronx...they don't like the police executing search warrants.

I spent the day in bookings and was given a one year ACD.

I have an issue with this. Nobody in NYC gets arrested and has a sentence in within one week. You go from bookings to your arraignment. And by CPL, everyone pleads not guilty and gets a court date. I have sat in arraignmenst many days and never saw a judge in arraignment give out a sentence. Are your dates off? Did you plead guilty at arraignment?

I know that an ACD wont keep me off the force but when I have to explain the entire situation during my psych exam, Im scared that being a suspected drug dealer will be a very big problem.

The ACD is not going to keep you off the force.....but the totality of the situation will. The NYPD expects a certain level of maturity at age 22. You don't have it. You can't pass a neigbor check (as they all complain and called the police); a judge issued a search warrant on your address and you were arrested. The NYPD gives little weight to the conviction and more to the circumstances that led to teh arrest. You arrest paperwork has a search warrant attached. You won't make to your BI let alone a psych for the NYPD.

Am I screwed now or do I have a chance if I can join the military and prove myself as a serious individual?

You might want to go talk to the military recruiters and see what they say. With this President cutting the size of the military, they can start being picky on who they take in with fewer openings.

[Jack Boston]

During corrections orientation they weeded applicants out, One question was, if you were arrested in the last year step to the back, none of them ever came back to the room. They also say they don't care what you did 10 years ago as long as you tell them, your 22, that is a big deal and they would most likely tell you right there after your pre physq at orientation that you stand no chance....Sorry bro. At 22 you should know between right and wrong and if you were serious you should have stayed away from all of this. You should have put this all behind you once you sat down and took that test or any test.

[dvpikes]

Well I appreciate the responses even though its bad news. Would anyone know if the corrections department is more leanient?

Not in Tennessee, and i'm sure their not in anyother state being that you are considered an adult, oh and it happened a freaking week ago.

As far as the military, great idea prior to getting popped with dope, with the cutting back of at least 100,000 troups, your chances of getting on in any branch are going to be slim.

But, like one of my old instructors used to tell us at my academy, "Some people are meant to be dr's, some cops, others are nipple heads. We all gotta have each to make the world go round, because hospitals are always going to need dr's, the streets are always going to need cops, and someones gotta make my frys everyday."

[NYYNYG]

Most departments I have looked into have a max limit to the use of marijuana. In Arizona, 20+ times will probably disqualify you. Now while most people here have given you bad news (and honestly they are probably right) I however, will try and boost your spirit. If you really want to do this, and I mean REALLY then you may still be able to make this work. It will take some time though. You were 22 at the time of the raid? Wait a few years; I would think at least 4 or 5. During that time, get a good steady job that shows you can be a responsible adult. Be good at your job. Actually, be great at it. You will need all the help you can get. Next, call your local PD and go on a ride along once a month. After each ride along, take note of what you have learned. Maybe try and get to know the Chief and other officers in the department and explain to them your situation and that you do not care how long it takes you want to do this. Basically, get involved (volunteer). Also, ask yourself when the last time you have illegally used drugs. If you have used again since after the raid, forget it. If not, great. That shows a lot. Continue on that path. Your best shot- get in to the military. Do your 4 or 5 years as best as you can, while doing what I have mentioned above and I see your chances are no longer so bad. Maybe I am just crazy, but in my head, there is nothing that would keep me from making myself an eligible candidate, therefore if you want it bad enough, you may be able to make it happen. You basically have to change the way you live your life which is why many people say people are born to become police officers. I wish you the best and really feel for the loss of your parents. Use it to your advantage to make you a stronger person and know that you can see them again.