General Background/Resume College Student

[FlyMIA]

I know there are a lot of these types of questions on this forum but I thought I might as well get your guys opinion on my situation. (sorry for the long post)

Okay so the things I have done wrong in my life: Downloaded music illegally, I have not done that for years now can’t even remember the last time I did it. First did it maybe at 13 years old and at 13 I did not really think much of it. I got a fake ID at 17, at the time most of my friends had fake IDs and I did not think much of it either I used it for a while. I have now gotten rid of it and stopped using it. It was wrong I know and I intend on letting any BI investigator know about. Last thing is underage drinking. I have been drunk before, never to the point of obvious intoxication. Black out, can’t stand straight, slur speech etc.. Never driven while intoxicated either. Drinking has never been a problem, I am first generation American born in my family drinking socially at 18 just seems normal. I also basically live in Latin America (Miami) again a place where underage drinking is not strictly enforced even by LE, I have seen it myself. I know it is illegal though.

I go to a decent sized 4 year university everyone drinks. It is just part of the culture, I know it is against the law but even the University Police dept lets people off for drinking as long as they are not endangering anyone or themselves. Compared to most people I know I am the most social and most responsible drinker I know my age. I might drink once a month when everyone else drinks three times a week. Also just about every single one of my friends has used marijuana I myself have never used it, even though it has been offered to be too many times to count. One of my friends who I have now began to distance myself from even uses cocaine and I have seen him do it, if I would have known any illegal narcotic was in his room I would have left.

But for the crimes I have actually committed after 2 more years of college and 3 years of law school and probably 2-3 years working for a DA office (some professional workplace) will underage drinking really affected my chances as an 1811? I honestly cannot believe all these people going in Fed agencies as 1811’s with 4 years degree’s or military experience have never drank before they were 21 in their life. Of course there are some people but most? Also would the association with people who do drugs affect my chances? I know I could have a problem with the Fake ID no need to preach me on that. That is my biggest regret.

I feel that I need to do something to overcome my immaturity in college. I have the opportunity in volunteering as an EMT for my University Police Departments Ambulance service. Do any of you think this would be a good idea? It is something I always wanted to do but it will be time consuming. Would it make my resume better? And when I say immaturity just about every older adult I know is amazed at my maturity level and some even same I am too mature for my age. :confused:

One last thing, I am planning on studying abroad next spring I will be 20 years old but in an international country where the drinking age is 18 I would imagine this won’t count as underage drinking since I won’t be breaking any laws right?

Thank you so much for any answers I really appreciate you guys taking time out of your day to help some young LE hopeful out.

[mcsap]

At your age , your continued choice to break the law via underage alcohol ( and the potential resultant problems that seem to go along with it) are IMHO , your biggest stumbling block.

You also need to stay far away from all drug use as you can EASILY get caught up in a possession charge simply for being present.

If you want to get INTO Law Enforcement...start living like you do. The " everybody else does it excuse " isn't flying to well. You want to get into a profession where you are held to a higher standard. Why don't you start by holding yourself to a higher standard NOW ??

LE applicants are a dime a dozen. The better you and your background are , the better chance you are in getting hired. The worse you and your background are...

[Kimble]

If you want to get INTO Law Enforcement...start living like you do. The " everybody else does it excuse " isn't flying to well. You want to get into a profession where you are held to a higher standard. Why don't you start by holding yourself to a higher standard NOW ??

Very true. You need to realize you're going to be applying against other applicants like this guy: Hello from a Marine Officer Candidate and possibly a future LEO. Tell me who you'd hire if you had to choose between hiring a former USMC Officer who got an honorable discharge, and a CJ student who drank his way through college? Sure, people drink in college, but if you want to actually be competitive in this job field, time to start acting like it.

[Roger Dat]

Quit making excuses and trying to justify while you continue to break the law. No tolerance for individuals who claim they want to be in law enforcement yet continually and deliberatley break the law. If everyone at your University jumped off a bridge would you do it as well. Cut the drinking out, starighten up and fly right and maybe you'll have a chance.

Personally anyone who continues to break the law when they know they want to be a cop or fed is inexcusable but thats my .02

[mcsap]

IN my state , you are a FULL BLOWN DUI at a .02% BAC , thats ONE beer. ANY underage alcohol charge ( even possession but no drinking) involves a 90 license suspension the first time, 6 months the 2nd time and 1 year for the
3rd time.


So it is still worth it to party like everyone else?

[FlyMIA]

You guys are 100% correct I do need to cut the drinking out. This will be something I will start immediately. Honestly I just never thought it could be a deal breaker for an agency but as you said the applicant who has not broken the law will look better.

But I know this might seem like a stupid question but if I drink in an International Country where the drinking age is 18 than that would not be considered underage drinking correct? Again I have never drunk enough to the point that I would cause harm to myself or anyone else and honestly I plan on drinking alcohol in the same “responsible manner” I have been for a few months next spring as long as I study abroad .

Thanks for your advice. Since you are all LEO's I have the utmost respect towards your advice. Again thank you.

[mcsap]

Just because something is legal doesn't mean it is a good idea. Some drugs are legal in other countries , are you willing to use them as well ?

There is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. If you so casually are willing to drink while abroad , it would be EASY that you are predisposed to do so here. And I wonder if you can so easily walk away from a vice that you appear to be quite comfortable with ??

Prostitution is legal in some other countries. Are you considering partaking of their services while abroad as well ?

EVERYTHING you do can have an effect on your hopes of getting into LE in the next few years. Choose wisely what you want to do.

[gma21]

I know I will get crap for this but some people on this board really project the, "Holier than tho" attitude.

It's one thing to give advice, but stop trying to judge everyone who comes on this board with a question. I find it hard to believe that you all lived as monks in your youth.

"Quit making excuses and trying to justify while you continue to break the law. No tolerance for individuals who claim they want to be in law enforcement yet continually and deliberatley break the law. If everyone at your University jumped off a bridge would you do it as well. Cut the drinking out, starighten up and fly right and maybe you'll have a chance.

Personally anyone who continues to break the law when they know they want to be a cop or fed is inexcusable but thats my .02" ~ Roger Dat

You ever jaywalk? Do you exceed the speed limit? Smoke cigarettes as a teenager? Had a beer before you were 21? Ever get paid under the table when working for a family member, friend, neighbor? Cross the street when it says "Do not cross". Have you ever tailgated, cut some one off, failed to use your turn signal?

I'm very suspicious of people who present themselves as Saints, typically the people who judge the most are those who admit the least.

"For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you." ~ Matthew 7:2

[Roger Dat]

Personally if you dont like my advice it doesnt really bother me, take it or leave it. Sure I committed violations as a kid, I went over the speed limit not by a ton but I did. Aside from vehiclke and traffic items I did not knowingly and intentionally break any laws as a teenage KNOWING that I wanted to be a cop.

I did not drink underage, I did not smoke, I did not drive when I wasnt supposed to, I did not possess a fake id and I certainly did not do anything that would jepordize my chance to get hired. You cannot come on this site, tell us you want to be an LEO and then proceed to say well is this excusable? How bout this?

You think Im being hard on these people? Ever sat on a hiring board to become a police officer? You tell these high ranking officers that you knew you wanted to be a cop early on but that you still, smoked weed, drank underage, had a fake ID etc and see just how well you make out.

[Cat_Doc]

The "violations" mentioned are minor in nature. As long as time spent clean after determining your goal is law enforcement is evident, I see no issue with your background.

The problem, if you want to call it that, is when you are going up against another applicant who did not commit the aforementioned violations.

Things are a lot different now than when I got into law enforcement. Back then, the oral board preferred someone with a some street sense who may have walked the line a little, over someone who stayed completely clean and was more than a little ignorant regarding what time it was out on the streets at dark-thirty.

Stay clean and you should be okay.

[Cat_Doc]

GMA,

Why don't you get on the Job, and then send out your advice? It will carry much more weight than a young security guard attempting to lecture certified law enforcement officers. After review of some of your posts, you have not exactly been successful at being the cream of the crop, have you?

Maybe it was that marijuana use that nailed you? Maybe you think it was unfair that someone clean got selected over you? Maybe this is really what causes you to chastise those who were successful in their endeavors?

[gma21]

Personally if you dont like my advice it doesnt really bother me, take it or leave it. Sure I committed violations as a kid, I went over the speed limit not by a ton but I did. Aside from vehiclke and traffic items I did not knowingly and intentionally break any laws as a teenage KNOWING that I wanted to be a cop.

So vehicle and traffic violations are ok to break, but not drinking laws? I get it....the laws you broke were less important than the laws he broke, thus you are in a position to condemn him.

So your discretions are less severe because you weren't knowingly considering a career in law enforcement at the time? Pretty poor logic. Everyone, including LE applicants make poor decisions at times, especially when they are young.

I did not drink underage, I did not smoke, I did not drive when I wasnt supposed to, I did not possess a fake id and I certainly did not do anything that would jepordize my chance to get hired. You cannot come on this site, tell us you want to be an LEO and then proceed to say well is this excusable? How bout this?

Why not? Isn't this the purposes of this board? I think his offenses are excusable. A college age adult (18-20) who has a drink once a month certainly isn't deviant behavior in my opinion. Like I said, don't judge him, you may be in a position to give advice, but not in a position to pass judgment they way you did.

I'm a firm believer in not judging anyone until you walk a mile in their shoes. Just because you didn't make some of the same mistakes he made doesn't mean you are morally superior. Perhaps you didn't have the same kind of peer pressure he did? Perhaps your cultural and environmental surroundings were different and certain things in your household that were inappropriate were excepted in his.

Often times youngsters come on this board (15-16) and say that they would like a career in LE but have made certain mistakes (drank, smoked pot, ect.) Well, of course the morally superior members of this board jump all over them and condemn their behavior as deviant. I think this is unfair, we know that teenagers and young adults don't posses the maturity that we do, thus their decision making is flawed. They are susceptible to peer pressure, curiousity, the desire to be excepted, and their environment (family, friends, culture, ect.).

Studies show that when a teenagers brain is imaged, the area of the mind that controls spontaneity, decision making, inhabitions, and self-control isn't fully developed. This combined with other factors (peer pressure, ect.) is recipe for stupid behavior. This is why very few individuals can say that they didn't experiment with certain things (alcohol, drugs, sex) in their youth. Their thought process is really driven more by anxiety and hormones than their life long career goals.

You think Im being hard on these people? Ever sat on a hiring board to become a police officer? You tell these high ranking officers that you knew you wanted to be a cop early on but that you still, smoked weed, drank underage, had a fake ID etc and see just how well you make out.

When I was in the process for a clearance I did just that. I admitted my mistakes and when asked about them I told them they were decisions based on curiosity and immaturity. As an adult I know better, as a youth I didn't. Sure some offenses (major crimes) are automatic DQ's for good reason, but minor issues such as experimenting with alcohol prior to being 21 is a bit different. If your tolerance for indescretion is so rigid, then I suggest you start recruiting from seminary, not college campuses.

[gma21]

GMA,

Why don't you get on the Job, and then send out your advice? It will carry much more weight than a young security guard attempting to lecture certified law enforcement officers. After review of some of your posts, you have not exactly been successful at being the cream of the crop, have you?

Maybe it was that marijuana use that nailed you? Maybe you think it was unfair that someone clean got selected over you? Maybe this is really what causes you to chastise those who were successful in their endeavors?

I've never worked as a security guard my entire life. Regardless, I'm entitled to an opinion.

[Cat_Doc]

I've never worked as a security guard my entire life.

Yeah, we have this guy in my district who likes to tell everyone he is an "Executive Protection Specialist."

He is actually a bouncer at a sleaze bar and a convicted felon out of California. He also strokes himself by thinking he is a peer or a class above certified law enforcement officers.

Whatever tickles your fancy. You go with that, youngster. ;)

[Roger Dat]

Hey your entitled to your opinon, when you have the experience I have with oral boards, reviews of candidates etc then you can come talk to me. Till then dont attack my assesment of the persons situation. He came her and asked for opinions he got one.