Will this affect future applications?

[maximustoday]

In October 2006, I applied to a local police department and got a conditional offer, which obviously I accepted. I passed everything, which included a written, physical, oral, multiple long interrogations, background, 2 polygraphs, drug test, and medical, so I was told I had the job and to quit my 2 jobs and school and prepare to start within the week. Then they called the day I was supposed to report and said that they just got my psychological review back and he did not recommed me for hire so they are not going to hire me.

Being very dissappointed, I called and pleaded for a retest but they wouldn't give me one. They told me to call the psychologist to find out why i didn't pass and I did, only to be rudely brushed off and hungup on by the psychologist (private firm). So I went back to one employer and got my job back, and continued going to classes at school. Then I went to my other employer and let them know of the news, and they were estatic and thought I would be coming back, but here's what happened.

During the background investigation, I learned someone was trying to sabotage my investigation (more on how I found out later). Such things as "just doing this to be in the police club", "only for the police status benefits", "cannot see as a peace officer", "does 180+mph with nitrous on his motorcycle" were all said. These did not affect my investigation, and I passed regardless of these comments. I found this information out because most of my references/managers called me immediately after and told me what was asked and what they said...except for 2 people. Also, knowing the order everyone was interviewed, I knew exactly who said what. These 2 people were my managers from the last job I was talking about.

Also, during the interrogations and meeting with the chief, information was leaked, which I picked up on while putting this puzzle together. I was going to keep my mouth shut about this, but when they expected me to return to my job, I declined the offer without a reason. They kept pressing me, but then I told them that I knew what they did and asked why. They kept denying, but the more information I admitted to knowing, the more they confessed. I dropped all communication with them after this, and they forwarded me a letter that they sent to the police investigator requesting them to "erase" all of the companies comments on me. I haven't really burnt the bridge with this company, but I haven't contacted them since.

I am planning on applying to state police this spring, and was wondering if this situation will affect me in any way. I am a little worried that they might still want to pull the same stunt, but I want to avoid this as much as possible. I was thinking of bringing this situation up even before they contact them, but then in a way I am giving them a negative aspect to focus on. I was thinking of calling the 2 managers, or stopping by the office for some catching-up and letting them know my plans with police. What do you think I should do?

Thanks, and sorry about such a long post.

[smcc360]

The status of prior LE applications will affect pending LE applications, yes.

[vengeance05]

In October 2006, I applied to a local police department and got a conditional offer, which obviously I accepted. I passed everything, which included a written, physical, oral, multiple long interrogations, background, 2 polygraphs, drug test, and medical, so I was told I had the job and to quit my 2 jobs and school and prepare to start within the week. Then they called the day I was supposed to report and said that they just got my psychological review back and he did not recommed me for hire so they are not going to hire me...I was thinking of calling the 2 managers, or stopping by the office for some catching-up and letting them know my plans with police. What do you think I should do?

Thanks, and sorry about such a long post.

It appears you failed your PSYCH test. You failed the psychological... not the background. Your entire post seems like you're paranoid that someone was trying to sabotage your background investigation. I'm sure everyone has a person in their life that will say something negative - you claim you passed your background so this is all irrelevant. A conditional offer of employment is CONDITIONAL. You did not meet the conditions of employment (did not pass psych). You should not quit your job until you are hired and sworn in.

Why would your boss care what your other plans for employment are? You either work there or you don't.

Other departments will know you failed your psych test at that department and it may or may not affect your outcome in the future.

[maximustoday]

Thanks all. I know it sounds like I'm being paranoid but I'm not. The two managers were actually trying to sabatoge my background so that I would not leave the company. I had three managers there, all of whom I was really good friends with. The two that said those things actually admitted to the third manager right after the interviews, and he told me after I no longer worked there so he would not jeopardize his job. The reason they didn't want me to leave was because I was a programmer and had a lot of custom work done on their software, and no one else was employed that could replace my position smoothly or efficiently. I still keep everyday contact with the other manager to discuss ideas, problems, etc...but the other two managers do not know about this.

I did indeed fail the psych, not the background...I thought I made that clear, but I guess not. Is there anything I could do to minimize the effect this might have on future processes? I was never given a reason why I failed the psych, and when I called, the psychologist didn't even want to hear from me at all. I'm not sure if it was just something he didn't like about me or something relevant that I should know about. I would have figured the "patient confidentiality" would have come into play here, but it seemed like I was getting a cold shoulder and doesn't want to tell me the real reason i didn't pass.

Also, regarding quitting in advance...my background investigator told me with "certainty" 1 week prior to when they wanted me to start. I had to quit because of the quick time frame they gave me.

[Nole795]

My old roommate failed a psych test at one department then passed a psych test on another department and was subsequently hired. It is not a death touch, so keep applying. If your psych is not willing to discuss your case then move on.

Just be open and honest about the DQ on your application and interview if requested. I would also leave out the "sabotage" verbage from any Q&A because it makes you look paranoid.

Good luck.

[maximustoday]

Thanks. Is this something I should volunteerly mention to them? I won't make it sound like they were trying to sabotage, but if they ask why I left (which I know they will), I was going to tell them there was a conflict of interests and I thought it would be best to end my business affiliation with them.

[K-9MALY]

If we all had the same route in the hiring process, we could just post a sticky on it and be done with it. Since that is not the case, I can tell you that it is partly subjective to the human factor of which we are all at the mercy of someone else in the outcome.

I did the shotgun approach when I was preparing to get out of the military, and tested with several different agencies. I made it to various levels in the procession with them, and let each BI know exactly where I was at. Not getting hired with one agency isn't going to mean a whole lot, providing you don't fail the psych again.

That could be a tell tell sign to a department that your not a good candidate for this profession. Keep trying and good luck.

[USAMP1980]

Wow. I would be interested to know what they didn't like in the Psychological also. If you find out, let me know if you don't mind.

[maximustoday]

I have no idea, not even a hint. I don't think I ever will know either, which is kind of screwed up in a way since the psychological was on me. I just don't understand why they couldn't have just told me the reason why I didn't pass; it's not like it's going to affect the results anyway. The test was 2 written tests (1000+ questions), and a brief interview. The writtens were MMPI, and the interview focused on my background and why i wanted to become an officer, and what i thought about the job. I thought everything went OK, until I heard that I didn't pass.

My theory would be because he may have thought I was too young. I was 20 at the time, and you have to be 21 to be a cop. The department said I was the youngest to ever get this far. I remember a lot of the questions were like "do you go out to bars or clubs" ... which the obvious answer was no since I wasn't old enough at the time.