Background Question/ Need Advice!!!

[tde1980]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for a little insight. I'll be 28 in a few days and I haven't yet been able to attain a position in the law enforcement field. I've applied with the Hillsborough Co Sheriff's Dept and Manatee Co. Sheriff's Dept in Florida and have been denied. I am in the process of applying with the Florida Highway Patrol and curious about if my background is holding me back. When I was 16 years old I made a stupid decision to go ahead and fudge my timecard at the company I was working at. I fessed up and payed back the money in the end and they gave me the option to resign. I ended up working for them the two summers following the incident. Stealing has not been an option for me since then. I have also received two citations for Minor in Possession of Alcohol when I was 18/19. I ended up taking diversion for both citations and, to my understanding, were dropped subsequent to me finishing my diversion courses. I have tried marijuana, but the last time I smoked was when I was 20 years old. (keep in mind that I am 28 yrs old now).

Now with that out of the way, I can tell the better side of myself. I have a 4 year degree in Criminal Justice (grad. 2003), I completed an intership with the State Patrol in another state while in school, and have 2 years work experience in child protection and juvenile parole.

Will these things in my past keep me from getting a job within law enforcement? WILL MY CHANCES LOOK BETTER IF I PUT MYSELF THROUGH LEO CERTIFICATION or will that be a waste of time/money???? I have been honest with all the departments that I have applied for because I feel that they are looking for that kind of person. If anyone has any comments or advice on how to better my chances on the upcoming application process with FHP that would be great. Thanks everyone!!!

[acreature]

Considering the field these days, you're background looks good.

I would imagine those Agencies have a large number of applicants and you're just in the group. FHP would be more stringent on their hiring standards, I would imagine.

Putting yourself through can only help, if you can afford to do so.

Keep plugging away.

[tde1980]

Thanks for the reply!! In what way do you think that FHP will be more stringent?

[acreature]

Thanks for the reply!! In what way do you think that FHP will be more stringent?

State agencies are always MORE strict... and more Political, unless you're the perfect candidate.

[DeltaV]

I'd wait until you go through the process with FHP before putting yourself through the academy. Troopers are leaving FHP in droves because of low pay and low morale. They can't hire troopers fast enough to keep up with attrition.

Keep in mind that Florida is different from many other states. Almost all agencies in Florida require an applicant to be LE certifiable before they will seriously consider their application. HCSO is a bit different since they have started their Integrity Scholarship program, but most other agencies only sponsor a very small number of cadets through the academy. My department used to put a limited amount of cadets through the academy every year, however that has ended and we now focus on hiring applicants with prior LE experience at other agencies.

You can also try applying through PASS in Pinellas County, which is basically an applicant clearinghouse that makes your application available to all agencies in the county. Some agencies in Pinellas County (like St. Pete) will put you through the academy. If you're dead set on an agency putting you through the academy on their dime, you're going to either have to look at the state agencies or go to Dade or Broward Counties and apply to the agencies there.

It is exponentially harder to get hired down here in Florida if you aren't a certifiable applicant. Also keep in mind that there's no such thing as a free lunch. There's a reason that agencies like FHP and St. Pete put applicants through the academy while most other departments don't--they would have an even harder time getting applicants than they already have because of their internal agency problems.

[tde1980]

Thanks again for the input everyone! DeltaV, in your opinion, do you think that my background issues (listed above) are going to keep me from getting hired on somewhere? In other words, in your experiences as an LEO, have you seen anybody have their past overlooked and get hired on, with bigger issues than mine?

Thanks again for your time! Also, if there is anybody else that wants to weigh in on my original post your comments and time would be appreciated!! Have a great day!

[DeltaV]

I seriously doubt that it's your background that's hurting you. I think what's hurting you is the fact that you haven't been through the academy like most of the other applicants. Most agencies don't want to wait six months for a new hire to start, they want them to start as soon as the application process is done.

If you test well and those are the only issues in your background, I don't think you're going to have a problem getting hired by FHP. I also don't think you'd have a problem getting hired if you put yourself through the academy. That said, you may not get hired by the premier agencies in the area like Tampa PD or HCSO. Those are places that pay so well and have such good benefits that there are tons of applicants, most of whom come from other agencies. You also have to consider that with the budget problems down here, lots of agencies are scaling back (some even freezing) hiring.

[tde1980]

Thanks for your opinion DeltaV. I'm going to give FHP a shot. If I need to I think that I'll look into getting certified after December because Hillsborough Co. Community College will not give me in-state tuition til I've lived here for a year. Tuition is a difference of roughly 5,000. Sucks to have to wait!!!!