"Have you stolen anything?"

[crazy fan]

Okay,
I worked at a carwash about 4 years ago, and vacuumed cars. From time to time I would find a quarter under a floormat and stick it in my pocket. I stopped doing it after a time because I felt really bad about it. Am I going to get slammed when I have to tell a background investigator that I did that? Is this a type of thing that is a DQ no matter how small?

[lawdawg]

No, it won't necessarily DQ you; they actually expect it.

[EX_529]

Yes - you are a two bit criminal who deserves to be incarcerated with bubba in the maximum security unit. You are not fit to be a police officer. For that matter, you are not fit to be a night manager at Wendy's either. Find some other profession. I heard that Burns Security is hiring armed patrol guards.



















Just kidding - just be honest. No sweat to that. I highly doubt you would be DQed because of this.

[Oldbillplod]

I once scrumped some apples, does that make me bad as well?

[constable]

To be honest with you, I got caught for stealing from a job, never got charged, during my interview it was never brought up at all, so I never really had to say anything, If it got brought up I would have in a second, but it never so I never. ANyways I have been a cop for just shy of 1 year and been doing great, if they dont ask no need to say anything.

[metallicat]

I don't agree with that Constable at all. What if on his application he says NO to stealing stuff, and then they find that on the background check? Leaving stuff off is grounds for DQ. Always tell them, don't wait for them to bring it up.

[Stump]

Metallicat, although I do agree with you, constable never said anything lying about his stealing.
Maybe he just had a sucky BI?

[Jcrazy]

I stole more than a little when I was growing up. I had damn near a whole page of things that I took. Everything from a pack a candy to a water raft. I have matured a lot since then. I start the academy in June. The important thing is that some time has passed since then and that I was honest. You cant change the things you have done in the past, only learn from them. Everyone makes mistakes. Most departments want people who are grown enough to admit their mistakes and not hide from them. Beleive me, it is hard to tell your potential employer about all the mistakes you made, but do it. If you leave something out and it comes out in the poly it will look like you are trying to hide things. Good luck.

[ngcsubutterbar]

lol, no just makes you a bad apple lol

[crazy fan]

I appreciate your help guys. That makes me feel a lot better. I don't really expect it to come up on my background investigation. I more expect it to come up during a polygraph.