Mistakes you made before being hired

[Keenman]

I was just wondering for those of you that are officers. When you were going through the process what were some things you worried about being a big deal that ended up being nothing. It seems like everytime someone puts in their application they always have those questions about if something they did in there past is a big deal or not, but you never hear much from them after they are hired. Was there anything you guys did when you were younger that you worried was going to be a problem (got fired from a job, suspended from school, smashed neighbors pumpkins at halloween :D ect.). The stuff you look back now and go why in the world was I so worried about that. Please refrain from the "I never did anything wrong cause I always knew I wanted to be in law enforcement". My Parents are both officer and I have heard many stories of stupid things they did when they were younger. I'm just curious. It might be fun letting your childhood demons out.

[acreature]

Everything.

But the honesty is what matters most. Your integrity will gain more trust than your dishonesty about the things you think will work against you.

Some things cannot be overlooked, but a lot can be accepted when your 100% honest about them.

[Keenman]

Ohh I completely agree, I could not of been more honest on my background. I don't think there is anything I have done that is DQ worthy, but there is always the anxiety about what others will think no matter how small or dumb or how young you were. Im only asking because my father (an officer) and stepmother (an officer) were sitting talking about all the dumb stuff they did when they were younger, and was just wondering the things others may have done or worried about when they turned in there backgroud that ended up being nothing

[acreature]

That basically entails, "Tell me your personal stuff", and well.... I don't know you, yo! :D

[Keenman]

I never asked for you to tell me "personal" things (you cheated on your wife ect.), you can leave out what you want, just funny dumb stuff you may have done in high school that you were worried were going to trip you up, and ended up being you worried about nothing. For example my Father told of how he almost got kicked out of college (christian school) for going to a bar and was put on probation, or when he was a teenager he used to go smash other people pumpkins during halloween and accidently (so he says) smashed a ceramic one and unpluged the phone so the police couldn't call his Mom. Geez, you don't have to tell your deep dark secrets.

[Samuel]

Relax dude. If you look closely, you'll see a smiley face at the end of his post...

[North Patrol]

If that is what you consider doing something "bad" I don't think I want to say anything. :rolleyes:

[Creeker]

I was a little worried about my driving and accident record. Turned out it wasn't as big a deal back in those days, and the only accidents I ever had after I started working were on the receiving end....oops, I forgot about that fender bender in the S.O. parking lot in my last year.

When I was a teenager, my Grand Dad had a garage and sold Pontiac's & GMC's. I had a habit of "rewarding myself" fairly often with a cold one whenever I refilled my Grand Dad's soda machine. He'd have given it to me if I'd asked, but it was a cheap thrill, just the same.

I was forthright about it on the Poly.

When I was 13, my Grand dad taught me how to drive a straight shift (manual transmission) around his garage. I kind of "adopted" a POS '68 MG Midget (convertible) that was pretty rusted out, but still ran...no tags, etc... and used it to mess around with when I had nothing else to do. There was a few times that I took it off his property and had it on a road for all of about 50 yards or so... I just wanted to see what 4th gear was like... I don't think that ever came to light.

I also broke some car windows in my Grand Dad's junkyard before I found out that he re-sold parts off of wrecks when he got mad. I was something like 9 at that time.

I also accidentally dented a used car he had for sale while I was mowing too fast and found out the John Deere wasn't designed to corner well in wet grass at 10mph. I think he thought that the guy who broke into some cars later that week and stole some stereo's did that...(I didn't steal any stereo's )... but I'd had to rub that "John Deere Green" off that fender pretty damn hard.

I could pretty well write a book about the crap I did around my Grandparents while I was growing up... all of which I regret now...

[Cat_Doc]

I had adverse contact with the police for engaging in a neighborhood BB gun fight that scared the crap out of the old fogies. There were about 15 of us and all 15 BB guns were confiscated and never returned.

My brother and I had another adverse contact with police when we tied fishing wire around the tail of a snake we killed, then threw the line over a light pole extension, got on the roof of the house, hid behind the air conditioner and dropped the snake in front of people walking down the sidewalk. My Lord, there was a few great reactions on that caper. :D

I remember the cop trying his best to keep from laughing at us, but it still was a traumatic experience for all involved.

There are other things I did as a little critter that are none of your business. ;)

[greg72982]

none I'm perfect...

[mcsap]

Everyone one of us did some dumb stuff. But not dumb enough to kill a career. You already know if you did something real dumb by now.

So all of your worrying and concern is pretty much , for nothing. There is no perfect angel candidate and if there was one even close, they would not likely make a good cop.

[Keenman]

I thought I was the only one that called my grandfather "Grand dad"

[Creeker]

I thought I was the only one that called my grandfather "Grand dad"

To his face he was always "Granddaddy".. ;)