Shoplifting Charge Dismissed

[buffs94]

Hello. Thank you all for reading and responding. Anyway, I'm applying at the San Diego PD. A few years ago, I was accused of shoplifting by an over-zealous security guard at a grocery store. Here was the scenario; I was a sales rep servicing some merchandise that we carried in the store. I was swapping out some old stuff that was not selling and replacing it with new items. I was going to credit the store for the merchandise I was taking. I was using a shopping cart as a place to keep my things. Anyway, my father was sick in the hospital at the time and my brother had paged me. Without thinking, I wheeled the cart containing the merchandise just outside the entrance to use the payphone. I was stopped by security and issued a citation by a cop. The case was dismissed in court. I had absolutely nothing to gain by stealing a few .99 key chains. Can simply being accused of shoplifting kill my chances, even though the case was dismissed? Should I even disclose the situation? I know the answer to the latter. Thanks.

[NYPDPride]

Hello. Thank you all for reading and responding. Anyway, I'm applying at the San Diego PD. A few years ago, I was accused of shoplifting by an over-zealous security guard at a grocery store. Here was the scenario; I was a sales rep servicing some merchandise that we carried in the store. I was swapping out some old stuff that was not selling and replacing it with new items. I was going to credit the store for the merchandise I was taking. I was using a shopping cart as a place to keep my things. Anyway, my father was sick in the hospital at the time and my brother had paged me. Without thinking, I wheeled the cart containing the merchandise just outside the entrance to use the payphone. I was stopped by security and issued a citation by a cop. The case was dismissed in court. I had absolutely nothing to gain by stealing a few .99 key chains. Can simply being accused of shoplifting kill my chances, even though the case was dismissed? Should I even disclose the situation? I know the answer to the latter. Thanks.

Depends on the department, and their stance on the situation.....ABSOLUTELY disclose the info.......tell the truth.....and hope for the best.

[buffs94]

Thank you, sir for your reply.

[mxwelch]

If that is the only thing along those lines and not within the last several years I would doubt it, IMO.

[DeltaV]

Actually, you weren't 'accused' of shoplifting, you were arrested for shoplifting. By giving you the misdemeanor citation, the officer released you on your own recognizance and let you go. It's technically considered an arrest and will appear on your record as such. You definitely have to disclose it.

Given the circumstances, it probably will not hurt you. Just be open and straightforward about the whole thing.

[mcsap]

You MUST dicslose the arrest because you were arrested and you CANNOT say you weren't. HOWEVER , you obviously should follow up with the rest of the story indicating that the charges were dropped and WHY.

Simply saying the charges were dropped does not necessarily exonerate you in the eyes of the police. It could indicate that a witness failed yo show or some other legal loophole was used to accomplish the finding. You need to briefly state how and why the charges were dropped and of course the reasoning.

[Valor55]

They'll use the polygraph to help determine if you're being truthful about the story.