can I still become a police officer

[bballsfinest19]

I'm 23 now, and I'm very interested in becoming a police officer in California. When I was younger at 18 years of age I did a very irresponsible and stupid thing. I tried buying alcohol with my friends False ID. I was then arrested and given notice to appear in court which I did not attend, and ended up being arrested for a warrant. Now I have a misdemeanor for false Idenification and a misdemeanor for a warrant. I really regret what I did, I'm not that type of person to break the law I just hung around bad friends at that time. Since then I've done alot of community service and really enjoyed giving back to the community. I've also attended the police academy and now P.O.S.T. certified. I really want to become a police officer, and I'm really afraid now I will not because of my past history.

My Question is......Will my past disqualify me in becoming a police officer in CA?

And what can I do at this point if I still want to pursue a career in Law Enforcement?

Any iformation would help me I would gladly appreciate any input you might have.

[mcsap]

Call a local PD and ask them. They would know best.

I would think that you would not be able to get POST certified if you had a SERIOUS background problem. Your arrest would not be grounds to DQ you from my dept. It won't look good on a resume' but you can't change it.

[EXCOP2000]

Better yet, hire a lawyer and petition the court to have your record "expunged"...but in any case on any P.D. application you would probably have to disclose that you were arrested and then they would ask for what reason you were arrested so they would probably find out about it all in the end anyway. Usually any felony will DQ you, so since your offenses are misdemeanors then you probably still have a shot at it and if you are POST certified then that is a big bonus. Good luck.... By the way, why did you not go on your court date?

[bballsfinest19]

I didn't go because I was pursing a career in proffesional baseball at that time I was invited to spring training...by the way should I also list that as work history?...I was paid.

[Stump]

Yes, list it as part of your work history if you were paid.
It will also explain the break in employment that you had over the summer. Don't leave any employment out, even if it was just volunteer. They like to know the reason for any breaks in work history.

[K9 Police]

Originally posted by bballsfinest19
...and a misdemeanor for a warrant.

There are misdeameanors put on your record for having a warrant in California? If you have a warrant here, you get picked up and the warrant is taken out. You only have to worry about your original violation, not an additional charge for having a warrant.

K9

[mcsap]

HMMMMM , having a warrant out for a misdemeanor charge is one thing, but to be charged for getting a warrant seems strange.

Exception, absconding to avoid trial etc. That is a crime.

[Jaime]

As far as I know in CA a felony is a DQ, but not a misdemeanor. I think you will be fine.

[Jcrazy]

I don't think you will have a problem. You have put that event in the past for five years and if you havent done anything else you should be OK. I have a more serious misdemeanor on my record then yours and I still make out OK. Just remember that everything you do will reflect on your suitability and I mean everything. Be honest and you will be fine. Honesty is the number one most important key to getting in.

[txinvestigator1]

Your attutude seems to be one of true regret. That is a good thing. Acting defensive about your past is bad, contrite is good.

[CXT_180]

Originally posted by K9 Police
There are misdeameanors put on your record for having a warrant in California? If you have a warrant here, you get picked up and the warrant is taken out. You only have to worry about your original violation, not an additional charge for having a warrant.

K9

The warrant was probably for failure to appear, which would be an additional charge...