College Major-Please Read

[JoeG]

Hi. I was wondering if you were previously convicted of a crime (possesion of a marijuana pipe) at the age of 19, will that elimate you from ever being a border patrol agent? I am studying Criminology in college and was planning to go Police Academy at the age of 22 or so. Will this charge destory my chance.

By the way, I was given a "conditional" charge...after a year without any problems, the charge is removed (not sure if in part or full...) from my record.

Please tell me if this means I will pretty much never be able to become a police officer.

Thank you very much,
JG

[zander_zye]

I doubt anything would exclude you from the BP. There was even one guy who they later found out had been convicted of murderer out of NTY. (the backgrounds were conducted by a private company- I doubt that is happening now)

I applied for the BP and found the test and the quality of the people taking the test to be dismal at best (I know - there are the exceptions). I was unimpressed and decided that this was NOT what I wanted to do. But - to each his own -

Explain the the BP recruiter your background and they will be able to tell you right there. If you don't like their answer, find someone else to ask the question to. As far as other departments, I know that the ACSD would probably not hire you, but other departments might (CDOC is one that comes to mind).

With a college degree, why not look at becoming a Customs Inspector or Agent - or something with the Treasury. There are many federal LE job catagories.

Good luck...

[richjorg]

Zander,

Based upon your comments, do you think some federal positions are easier to get into than local?

[zander_zye]

No - absolutely not. I have taken a few tests for the Marshals, FBI, and other agencies. Most are pretty competetive. (the FBI/DEA are among the most complex).

I am just stating in my opinion that the standards for the BP are much more lax than for other government LE agencies. (having worked with BP Agents in the past, I am thoroughly unimpressed - I guess this proves that there is a place for almost everyone - lol)


Different agencies have different hiring practices. Usually depts. like LAPD, Oakland, CHP, and others will have higher standards because of the type of work they perform as well as the higher pay and amount of quality applicants. Smaller SO's and community colleges in CA (where they have fewer applicants because of lower pay) will have somewhat lower hiring standards.

I know of one department in Sac county where a majority of their officers were washouts (usually probabtionary washouts) from other departments (of course they only pay $2200 a month which is not enough to rent a small apartment in the BA)