Can Background Check Cause Issues?

[Maria80386]

First off, thanks all for the excellent website and excellent X2 information on the forums. It's helped answer several questions.

I got thrown a curve ball by a friend walking my resume in for a peace officer position. It's more of a forest ranger/fire-spotter type deal than a beat cop, but it's still subject to the state's peace officer background check. One of the volunteer positions I held in the past required a "law enforcement secret" security clearance. I chose not to renew it and left the organization shortly thereafter, my promotion at my paying job reduced my time available for the volunteer organization. I've also passed two other background checks in recent years, both jointly conducted by FBI and TSA, but I've never dealt with one for an actual law enforcement position. Can I be any less nervous for this process having passed the previous background checks? I know I'm not the most perfect person out there, but I'm not Billy the Kid, either.

Can things found during a background check cause problems with current clearances? I had a medical issue that was mis-diagnosed over 20 years ago, got resolved 19 years ago, and haven't had a problem since. It was properly reported to the DOT for a commercial driver's license 13 years ago, DOT accepted it, and I've been driving ever since. Could that mis-diagnosis pop up without the correction a year later, DQ me from the peace officer position, then cause DOT to revoke my CDL without an appeal process?

How should you approach answering the "any tickets" question when you do know you had one, attended traffic school, but can't remember the exact detail, nor can the DMV or local court provide any details? I know the exact stretch of road, the possible years which range from 8-10 years ago, know the overage range (limit plus 2-5 mph) but that's it. I wasn't driving commercial that day or it'd be in my logs.

Is every time I've been through a DOT checkpoint considered being questioned or "detained for investigation"? I was once stopped by Canadian Authorities at an airport checkpoint as I'd had a pair of fingernail clippers in my carry-on bag, does that count too?

And at what point in your list of twenty questions you have for your background check investigator does he consider you to be too stupid for the job and suggest you give up now? ;)

Thanks in advance for any ideas, suggestions, and/or answers.

[SnapShawt]

I think you're overthinking things WAY too much, and that's common when going through a hiring process. The smallest little thing becomes an enormous mountain in your mind. It sounds like you'll be fine. Though I can't speak to the medical issue without knowing what it was, you passed other checks including FBI and TSA for law enforcement security clearance. I'd say relax.

The ticket is also not a big deal. 2-5mph over does not indicate a speed demon or reckless driver, and if that's all on your driving record then no sweat there either. I've got a couple of past tickets from the 80s that were already very old when I made my first ever application, and I couldn't remember the dates either. The DMV and the agencies I got them through had no record of them, or at least couldn't find them. That's common also.

Don't overanalyse things too much, you'll drive yourself nuts and fail the psych!

[lcc0305]

I agree with Snapshawt. I've been through the process once and am going through it again with a new agency. I totally understand the frantic thoughts that must be going through your head. You really need to use some common sense when it comes to answering questions. If you can't remember the details of the ticket, write down as much as you can remember. When I say common sense, that whole checkpoint thing doesn't seem to qualify to be mentioned (as I understand the question). Now on the other hand, I knew an officer who failed to mention that he had a temp restraining order against him. He said the application only asked for restraining orders, not temporary ones. I says ya shoulda used common sense and put that on your appplication. Clear as mud? Good luck to you. You seem to very articulate and I'm sure you'll do fine.