Need everyones opinion

[billyh]

I have been a member of this forum since 2006 and have always had a desire to be a police officer but certain things have held me back. Here is my story....
I am 25 (birthday was yesterday), 6'5" 280 lbs, I currently do sales for a local company. My job today does not give me the enjoyment I am wanting out of a career. I went to college with the idea of a criminal justice degree but due to several family illnesses I did not finish my degree. I live in St. Louis, MO.

My questions are as follows:

1. What is the best way to go about going to training? Our local city will pay for the schooling and such but unfortunately I do not want to work in the city.
2. When I was 18, I was pulled over after driving my grandma, mother, father and sister home from my cousins wedding and received a refusal to blow. I believe it was dropped to an illegal lane change. Will this hold me back?
3. 3 years ago I was walking out of a bar and some guy blind sided me in the jaw. I protected myself and fought back. Ended up with a bitten nipple. I wanted to press charges against him but instead they took us both in. The charges were dropped against me. Will this affect me being a police officer?
4. Does your juvenile record come into play?
5. I have a good friend who's mother is the mayor of a local municipality, would this help to use this card and ask for some assistance with the schooling aspect?
6. Any St. Louis officers please let me know what route you went, as far as schooling is concerned. It will be nearly impossible for me to survive without a job. I have several friends that are LEO but they all went through the city program. One did transfer out of the city, what happens when you do this?
7. I wear glasses and have slight hearing loss due to childhood surgery. Will this hurt me?
8. In October of 2006 I was drug by my ex-girlfriend in her Lexus, I fell and had hemorrhaging and was hospitalized for 2 weeks. I am fine now and no lasting injuries. I am taking suing her in court and our court date is in October. Due to the accident I lost the job I had at the time and fell behind on my credit cards. I have since paid everything off but my credit is damaged from it. Will this hurt me?

That should be all for now. I apologize for the long thread and appreciate any help and guidance you have to offer me.

-Bill

[Creeker]

You asked.

I'm not in MO, but IMHO, you've got too much drama and some incomplete and very glossy explanations, ie...

Refusal to blow? In my state that's an automatic suspension... and what became of the rest of the stop... because we know that you didn't get stopped for refusing to blow.

Ding.

3 years ago a guy clocks you out of thin air. :rolleyes: A fight ensues in which you became a willing participant, because your manhood was affronted.

Ding.

Apparent sloppy Juvie record you are concerned about.

Ding.

Going to use your "friend connection" to get "special" attention.

Ding.

You don't mention how bad your sight is, but by and large that's the least of your physical concerns. I can't speak to your hearing problems due to ignorance of how serious it is.

Last but not least, a year ago you got into a domestic dispute in which your ex- managed to injure you and put you into the hospital for 2 weeks. 2 weeks is a serious hospital stay in this day and age. I suspect you don't know how to back off and can't control your temper.

Ding.

I give you a total of 5 Dings outside of the Physical.

[billyh]

The refusal came when I was driving home I crossed over the shoulder white line and was stopped in a parking lot. I had no idea what to do as far as blow or refusal so I chose the worst option unfortunately. I had to go back to the station where they booked me for a refusal. It was extremely stupid for me to drive yes but I had just finished dropping off my parents, if I had been in bad shape there would be no way under the sun my family would trust me with their lives.

The guy in the bar... I ended up speaking to him the next morning and he said he thought I was another guy who slept with his girlfriend. He apologized and we went on our separate ways.

My "connection", I read in other posts that if you have a good relationship with someone within the department they could support your schooling. I never use the "connection" card and most likely wont use it this time, I was just throwing out the idea. I can see how it will probably be looked down upon from the other officers.

Juvenile- When I was 13 I did some water ballooning and egging, I was never charged but the police came.

My ex... I was leaving a friends house and she was also there, we were talking outside her vehicle; she was sitting in the drivers seat, I was bent over leaning in the vehicle. We had recently broke up due to her cheating and were talking about the situation, she got emotional and put the car in drive and took off. Meanwhile I lost my footing and grabbed the drivers door and ended up being drug 100 yards at 20 mph, when I let go I hit my head. Poliec and Paramedics came and took me to the hospital, I was released that night but ended up having slight hemorrhaging. They kept me there to monitor the bleeding and it ended up taking care of itself.

Could you elaborate on the physical concerns? Do you mean sight and hearing or height and weight?

I will admit when I was in junior high I got in some fights but I have since then realized it is not worth it. My temper is not a factor.

I appreciate all the input, what would you recommend me doing? Asking local departments and getting their insight when doing another ride along?

[TJMS81]

I'm going to speak to Creeker's dings #'s 2 & 5. If you can't control yourself (i.e. temper) in your personal dealings, how are you going to do that professionally? So the guy clocked you, take it, walk away and explain it to the PO that arrives on scene. What personal actions could have been done to avoid being drug by your ex? Sometimes, the bigger man is the one that will just walk away or let go in the case of the car. These are questions I would ask if your app came across my desk. Something to think about.