My chances/suggestions

[hawaii]

Hello. I am 18 years old. Planning to apply as Metro Police Recruit in the state of Hawaii.
Here is what I am concerned about...... I have used marijuana numerous times(more than 10) as well as expiremented with the drug x and mushrooms in my earlier years( under 10 times for each). Yet I have stopped all substances entirely and when i am eligible to be an officer(20years old) I will have had no substances for nearly two years. I have never been arrested and have only got tickets for expired parking meter once and one parking in the grass ticket.

I am determined to become a police officer and will not touch a drop of alcohol until I am of age and most definitely wont try any drugs whatsoever.

I have made mistakes in my past yet I am certain of what I want to be in my future and am willing to make all sacrifices necessary in order to achieve my goal.

I appreciate any feedback I can get as well as any advice on planning for my application in under two years.

Thank you very much for your time.
God bless

[Johninaustin]

I suggest you check with the agency you want to apply for. Hard drug use, (even once) is a permanent disqualifier for many agencies.

[hawaii]

thank you for your advice
I will check on that

[DeltaV]

Most departments want three years between the last time you used marijuana and your application and ten years between any hard drug use (if they even allow a one-time use of hard drugs) and your application.

Depending on the competitiveness of hiring at HPD, you probably will need a lot more time between your drug use and your application. This is especially true if you have no other real qualifications (college degree, military, etc) to bring to the table.

[Citicop]

I have made mistakes in my past yet I am certain of what I want to be in my future and am willing to make all sacrifices necessary in order to achieve my goal.

I appreciate any feedback I can get as well as any advice on planning for my application in under two years.

If you want to be a police officer, and you are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve this, here is the one thing you can do better than any other thing.

Wait ten years.

There is no chance you will be able to get hired in two years with drug use that recent and extensive. Get a degree, get a job, show you have changed, and stay clean for ten years and THEN apply.

Citicop.

[hawaii]

Most departments want three years between the last time you used marijuana and your application and ten years between any hard drug use (if they even allow a one-time use of hard drugs) and your application.

Depending on the competitiveness of hiring at HPD, you probably will need a lot more time between your drug use and your application. This is especially true if you have no other real qualifications (college degree, military, etc) to bring to the table.

thank you for the information sir.
Even if I am required to wait until I am 27 or 28, so be it as long as I am hired in the future. I just might have to suffer the consequences and in the meantime I can gain knowledge about the force.

I greatly appreciate your time. Thank you

[hawaii]

If you want to be a police officer, and you are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve this, here is the one thing you can do better than any other thing.

Wait ten years.

There is no chance you will be able to get hired in two years with drug use that recent and extensive. Get a degree, get a job, show you have changed, and stay clean for ten years and THEN apply.

Citicop.

thank you sir. Hawaii is lax on a lot of situations and I have connections with superior officers. I dont expect this alone to get me in. If I need to remain clean for ten years then that is what I will do.
I WILL NOT BE DISCOURAGED, Infact the HPD allows a promotion to SGT. with three years of service instead of five years of service without a degree.
that is what I will work on.
Thanks a lot everyone it means a lot to me!

[Citicop]

You realize that ten clean years does not undo the damage you did, right?

Being hired as a police officer is a competitive process. Meeting the minimum requirements is not good enough. You have to be the BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE for the open position. Do you have any idea how much of your competition will not have approximately 30 instances of drug use, including hard drugs?

Even in 10 years, it is going to be an uphill battle for you, connections or not.

Citicop.

[hawaii]

You realize that ten clean years does not undo the damage you did, right?

Being hired as a police officer is a competitive process. Meeting the minimum requirements is not good enough. You have to be the BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE for the open position. Do you have any idea how much of your competition will not have approximately 30 instances of drug use, including hard drugs?

Even in 10 years, it is going to be an uphill battle for you, connections or not.

Citicop.

Hawaii is different than the mainland. I appreciate your concern though!
Im not easily discouraged. If it is God's will for me to become a police officer than so be it. If some bad decisions I made when I was a minor infringes my employment then it was God's will. All I can do is remain a good law abiding citizen who has a perfectly clean legal record. Once again, I WILL NOT BE DISCOURAGED!
thanks for the attempt to discourage me though. It only boosts moral.

[Citicop]

I don't want to discourage you.

I want to give you a reality check. You came here for our opinions about your chances and suggestions. You have only a slim chance to ever be a police officer given your previous choices.

I admire your tenacity, but just wanting it (even REALLY wanting it) is not enough.

And if you don't intend to value the advice and opinions that conflict with your desires, then asking was kind of pointless in the first place, wasn't it?

Citicop.

[hawaii]

I don't want to discourage you.

I want to give you a reality check. You came here for our opinions about your chances and suggestions. You have only a slim chance to ever be a police officer given your previous choices.

I admire your tenacity, but just wanting it (even REALLY wanting it) is not enough.

And if you don't intend to value the advice and opinions that conflict with your desires, then asking was kind of pointless in the first place, wasn't it?

Citicop.

I didnt really think you were attempting to discouraging me. I was being sarcastic. I thought you would catch it, being a cop and all. (TOTALLY JOKING) I do value your opinion immensely. I apologize if I have offended you. Thanks again citicop!
God bless

[mcsap]

If you are not yet 20 , how long ago were you " earlier years ?"

[SnapShawt]

That was my first thought as well. Earlier years? WHAT earliear years man!? You don't HAVE any "earlier years" yet - you're IN them.

The drug usage you stated would be a perm DQ at my agency, though I certainly can't speak for others.

You came here asking about your chances and were told what to do and equally told that this is no guarantee of anything either, and you keep coming back with Hawaii is "different" or Hawaii is "more lax", etc. So what was the point?

[hawaii]

If you are not yet 20 , how long ago were you " earlier years ?"

well to clarify, my earlier years(when i was trying ex and mush) was mostly when i was 16, a few times when i was 17

i know for most that seems irrelevant but it was before i was an adult. i know better now and im hoping the HPD realizes this and i have decided to go for a police officer reserve which means that i get paid nothing and need to report for duty one day of the week. wouldnt you agree that this would increase my chances...... once i establish that i am a responsible im hoping a full time job would not be a problem. as most know hawaii is very expensive to live at so being in the reserve might be better in the long run

I apologize for getting defensive. its just what i really want and I tell myself hawaii is more lax in hiring to reassure myself and not to fall off track of my goal

[mcsap]

How would you view yourself against someone who has the exact same background but ZERO drug use. ?

Would HPD view you as equals since they are so " lax" in their hiring procedures ?