Question About My Background

[TexRC]

My background is clear, except one part. My credit. 2 years ago I filed bankruptcy, and I was wondering how much of an effect that is going to have. I am in the process of rebuilding my credit now. Any advice, or coments are welcome!

[Guilty]

Everybody falls on hard times. Even happens to the most educated in society. I'm sure that wouldn't hurt you too bad as long as your criminal history is clean.

[dep214]

one of the things depts look at now is your credit. check first too see what the dept wants.all major depts require good credit. now what they call good credit is another thing

[michiganstud]

Everybody falls on hard times. Even happens to the most educated in society. I'm sure that wouldn't hurt you too bad as long as your criminal history is clean.

Do you know this for a fact? Do you have experience with hiring in Police Departments? Please do not steer people wrong in the ask a cop section.

Dep is right, check with the department, credit is very important to most police departments now. Just make sure you have no more credit mishaps after your bankruptcy. Collections after a bankruptcy would be very bad.

[BryGuy]

I'm sure there are exceptions but most depts would shy away from a candidate with heavily damaged credit, esp only a couple of years ago. Most major departments in the country are now very competitive and even just one area of your life blemished can be enough for them to call out "next!".

Best advice. Keep up the clean credit, stay out of trouble and in a few more years the credit problems will only be that much further in the past and increase your potential to get hired. If you're still young, and if you haven't already done so, consider getting a degree or going into the military. Showing you did something positive, self-improving and long term AFTER your credit problems COULD make a difference with a dept.

[Guilty]

Do you know this for a fact? Do you have experience with hiring in Police Departments? Please do not steer people wrong in the ask a cop section.

Dep is right, check with the department, credit is very important to most police departments now. Just make sure you have no more credit mishaps after your bankruptcy. Collections after a bankruptcy would be very bad.

It's obvious that he fell on hard times and is trying to get his life back together, and he is choosing a new career to start at. I understand that it is competitive in the larger departments, but somewhere small probably won't be as competitive.

[mcsap]

It's obvious that he fell on hard times and is trying to get his life back together, and he is choosing a new career to start at. I understand that it is competitive in the larger departments, but somewhere small probably won't be as competitive.

If you speak from personal or direct experience , fine. You are not an officer and do NOt know about hiring practices in 2004. Bad credit is a reflection on the person. It requires a GOOD looking over almost as though the person had been arrested.

Those who are not cops and post answers in the " Ask a Cop" or any other area that is LEO specific in nature will be closely scrutinized.

[hitnrun]

Those who are not cops and post answers in the " Ask a Cop" section will be closely scrutinized.

The One has spoken. His rath shall be endured by all non-cops. Sweet mcsap, I would be HONORED to receive a citation from you! :p

[txinvestigator1]

It's obvious that he fell on hard times and is trying to get his life back together, and he is choosing a new career to start at. I understand that it is competitive in the larger departments, but somewhere small probably won't be as competitive.

You are assuming that your compassion will be shared by the departments. That is not wise.

And from the info the original poster gave, their is NO WAY to determine he fell on hard times. He could have easily just be irresponsible.

[darrell]

You are assuming that your compassion will be shared by the departments. That is not wise.

And from the info the original poster gave, their is NO WAY to determine he fell on hard times. He could have easily just be irresponsible.

Here we go again ladies and gentlemen. Guilty if you don't aspire to be a Police Officer and have no knowledge or experience please leave, your presance isn't liked on here especially when you give bad information.

[Mike Romeo]

Bad credit is questionable because it could possibly reflect financial irresponsibility....regardless of any "unforeseen consequences" that contributed to a financial problem. That's all I'll say.

[TexRC]

Lots of good information here, thank you. I did fall on bad times, but I am in no way making that an excuse. I am responsible for myself, and will not blame other people or situations for the position that I am in. I do want to be a Police Officer, and I "WILL" do what it takes to get there. I am in the process of fixing my credit. My other question is this, do departments look only at the credit score, or do they go into complete detail? Based on the nature of my bankrupcy, the past debts have been cleared from my credit history!

[txinvestigator1]

Did you reorganize or erase?

[TexRC]

Erased!

[mcsap]

My dept will want to know the details of how you got in ( and how you got out) of the bankruptcy. Having cleared them up is a GOOD step.