Cast your stones at my background!

[Movementarian]

I am going to be applying to Police Departments when I return from my current location, though I have some doubts as to whether I can be a competitive candidate. I work as a police officer now, but the department hiring process is not exactly thorough. My worries are:

1. In 2000, I was a Military Policeman in the Army and I witnessed a fellow
MP take some cash from the wallet of a person being processed for DWI. I think it was about $30-$40, but I did not report it. I did tell him that if it happened again I would let the supervisor know and to my knowledge it did not occur again.

2. In 2001 I received an Article 15 (non-judicial punishment) for violating the unit’s fraternization policy (Art. 92 UCMJ, Failing to obey a lawful order or regulation) and as a result was reduced in rank. I received no other action in regards to the incident and it was not placed in my OMPF (personnel file).

On the plus side, I served 9 years in the Army and received an honourable discharge. In the time since leaving the Army in 2005, I have been a police officer at an Army base overseas and I am in charge of a geographically separated site. My credit is good and I have never used illegal drugs.

The only other potential minus I can think of is that I received a traffic ticket in 1999 for an accident (only my car and a fence were involved).

Thanks in advance for your opinions and please be gentle...

[hitnrun]

The reason for the article 15 will be scrutinized.

It will depend on what the citation was issued for.

Watching a cop committ a robbery under the color of authority and not doing anything about it is going to be a problem...a big one. Especially since you were a cop too.

[mobrien316]

For what it's worth, I received an Article 15 from my company commander when I was an MP in the 101st. It was also for Article 92 and it was for holding a cup of water in my left hand as I waved cars through the gate with my right hand. It didn't seem to be a problem during my hiring process. I think a decent number of prior service people in law enforcement have a company-grade Article 15 and it is generally looked at as a minor event.

However, standing by and watching a fellow LEO commit larceny under those circumstances would be troubling to me if I was doing your background. No one likes ratting on their mates but you can't stand idly by while your mates commit crimes, either.

[Movementarian]

It will depend on what the citation was issued for.

Failure to maintain lane control.

Watching a cop committ a robbery under the color of authority and not doing anything about it is going to be a problem...a big one. Especially since you were a cop too.

However, standing by and watching a fellow LEO commit larceny under those circumstances would be troubling to me if I was doing your background. No one likes ratting on their mates but you can't stand idly by while your mates commit crimes, either.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wish I had done things differently. I guess that goes for all of life's mistakes. It is because of that incident that I don't hold very high hopes during the hiring process.

[H.R. Cufnstuf]

For what it's worth, I received an Article 15 from my company commander when I was an MP in the 101st. It was also for Article 92 and it was for holding a cup of water in my left hand as I waved cars through the gate with my right hand. It didn't seem to be a problem during my hiring process. I think a decent number of prior service people in law enforcement have a company-grade Article 15 and it is generally looked at as a minor event.

However, standing by and watching a fellow LEO commit larceny under those circumstances would be troubling to me if I was doing your background. No one likes ratting on their mates but you can't stand idly by while your mates commit crimes, either.

That has to be the stupidest reason for an NJP, ever.