Starting the process, I'm praying it works out. Any input??

[Integraautox]

Hey everyone I am new to the board. I am 21 years old and a junior at Arizona State Universtiy. I am about a year out from graduating with a Bachelors in Justice Studies and a minor in Communications. Ever Since I have started college I have wanted nothing more then to become a police officer. I have a 3.1 GPA in my courses right now and have done numerous ride alongs with local departments around the Phoenix Area. I am going to try and get an internship this summer and for the fall semester working for the crime analysis lab at either the Mesa, Phoenix, or Tempe police department I have my interviews on March 7. I am also in the process of becoming a volunteer for the Tempe Police Department working in different fields every month so I can meet people within the department. I am currently in a fraternity and have been the social chair for 1 year(managing a budget of over $20,000 a semester). Now the Bad: I have smoked marijuana on 4 separate occasions back when I was a junior and senior in high school. I have 2 speeding tickets but I went to driving school for one of them. The really bad: At the age of 17 I was arrested for accompanying a theft which was a class A misdemeanor. I paid restitution and had 2 weeks probation. I have tried to turn my life around since starting college and hope it will all pay off. Any suggestions that anyone could give me to help me be more desirable to police departments would be greatly appreciated. Think I got a chance?

[tatersalad]

Sun Devils, Baby! I'm a Sun Devil myself. Too bad they suck at basketball this year. Sorry about that, but I had to rant. I really liked Tempe PD, everyone I met was first class, but Tempe is really hard to get into. Phoenix would probably be your best bet. Most of the departments in the Phoenix area require 3 years of being drug free, and no more than 15 uses of marijuana. So you'll be fine there. The theft is bad, but you were still a minor so it might not be held against you as much, and it is good to see that you did the honorable thing and paid. If you can volunteer and make some connections, that will be a plus. Just keep your grades up and your nose clean. Best of luck in the process. At times it can be a long and winding road, but don't ever give up if this is what you want.

[marinepilot]

Best advice I can give to you, as someone who is going through the process right now in the Florida Panhandle, is to echo TaterSalad's last comment -- DON'T GIVE UP! I've been through good times and some really BAD times, but I'm still plugging. Thought about giving up earlier, but thanks to the many awesome people on this site, I've kept my chin up and stuck it out there again and again, and it looks (with some luck) that it might just pay off in the not too distant future!

Best of luck to you and keep on keepin' on!

marinepilot

[tatersalad]

Just remember that most people will fail more times than they succeed with regard to getting hired, but it only takes that one special time to make it all worthwhile.

[Integraautox]

Well I got word that I start to Citizens Police Acadamy on Wed. I'm doing it with the Gilbert Police Department and I can't wait. I figured it's a good way to get my foot in the door. I also am talking to the volunteer cordinators with the Gilbert and Tempe police department and hope to get that started up in the next week or to. I just hope that one day there is going to be a place waiting for me because I know I would make a great officer someday and could really give a lot back to the community,

[mcsap]

Work to have MANY more positives than negatives and the past will continue to dim a little faster.

[joma]

if your fraternity is anything like the ones at my college, you are good at resisting the peer pressure of getting high and supporting underage drinking.

which is why i avoided them and their parties

unless of course you are in an honors society or criminal justice fraternity than good for u