pretty easy 'can i get hired Q'

[topcat]

at 19 got arrested for wet reckless (DUI).
at 21 i joined the army as an infantryman.
i'm finishing up my bachelors this year. i'm thinking about possibly starting the masters for my last year in the army.
had my license suspended twice. once for the dui (1 year) and then my auto insurance coverage ended while i was at basic training for the army and they suspended my license for not having insurance (3 months). i fixed that right away when i got out of training. i also have 1 speeding ticket (9 mph over) when i just turned 20.
i'm 24 now, no drug history, and have one more year until i get out of the army...SO, do i have the slightest chance?

thanks.

[Unit19]

Check this out. It should help.

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthread.php?t=45114

I will give you my 2 cents. Do you have a chance? Sure. Some departments are different on what they automatically DQ you for. Your biggest hurrdle will be the applicants who haven't had any of these issues. However, you are in the military, have shown you have matured,have put time in between now and the occurences,and have an extended education.

Just keep your head up and don't get discouraged if one department dq's you. I believe you will be fine. Good luck!!

[mcsap]

You have a reasonble shot but the DUI is and always will be there. You must disclose it and accept that it is a part of your personal history. The license suspension isn't wonderful but at least it wasn't for Reckless Driving or passing a school bus.

However, you aren't ruined for life. Your being accepted in the military and than ( apparently ) doing well is a plus. The degree you are working on is a plus. The fact that you were 19 and are now 24 is a plus. You need to keep on doing what you are doing and in addition , perhaps you can do some volunteer work , be in good physical condition , stay out of and away from trouble or those that might get you invloved in same.

Ultimately, you will be filling out a job application for a PD. Besides having to list the DUI/suspension/speeding , you will have ample space to list an unlimited number of things that you have done since all of this occurred that make you look like a desireable candidiate regardless of your history. What you do in the next year or two will be what you can use on that app.

Also, check into getting your record expunged. You need to contact a lawyer about this. Since this wasn't a crime of violence and you have completed all of your sentence etc. you should be able to do this. In my dept. you MUST have such an issue expunged to be hired.

There are many other applicants out there who never had a DUI or a suspension that you will be competing against. You need to work on making yourself look like a great candidiate agaist them by showing that you have learned your lesson ( please don't call it a mistake, DUI isn't a mistake but non-matching socks is) and by how you have improved yourself in life to be considered for the position of a police officer.