Background Question

[scsven]

I would like to know if someone with my background can be hired at all as a LEO. I have taken several POST tests and only submitted one background Questionaire. I was DQed and the BI told me to give it more time to distance myself from my past mistakes. I am 26, have a bachelor's degree, fluent in Spanish, and have a stable work history since I was 16. When I was 18 I was arrested for DUI, but the case was dismissed because my breathilyzer was 0.02, under the legal limit of 0.08. I also have 8 traffic tickets on my record for speeding, running a red light, and 2 minor accidents for which I was at fault. I have not had any violations in the past 3 years. I have never used any drugs. have decent credit, and never been fired from a job. Would I be able to become a LEO ever or should I try a different career? I am planning on applying with the NYPD but want to know if I should wait a year or two to distance myself from these issues or just move on to something else. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[Safety Steve]

I would like to know if someone with my background can be hired at all as a LEO. I have taken several POST tests and only submitted one background Questionaire. I was DQed and the BI told me to give it more time to distance myself from my past mistakes. I am 26, have a bachelor's degree, fluent in Spanish, and have a stable work history since I was 16. When I was 18 I was arrested for DIU, but the case was dismissed because my breathilyzer was 0.02, under the legal limit of 0.08. I also have 8 traffic tickets on my record for speeding, running a red light, and 2 minor accidents for which I was at fault. I have not had any violations in the past 3 years. I have never used any drugs. have decent credit, and never been fired from a job. Would I be able to become a LEO ever or should I try a different career? I am planning on applying with the NYPD but want to know if I should wait a year or two to distance myself from these issues or just move on to something else. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Seagrams 7, I think you answered your own question! How much time has it been since the BI gave you that great advice?

And by the way, WELCOME to RP, the BEST darn place to be!


Be Safe.

[scsven]

Thanks for your reply. The BI told me that 2 days ago. I know the process for NYPD is up to almost 2 years to get hired. How long do you think is a good amount of time to wait? Also, would these offenses disqualify me completely from most agencies?

[pac201]

I think you still have a good shot, but as your BI said, time is your friend. 5 years is typically how long driving offenses are counted against you for insurance, probably a good estimate for police work too.

And, welcome to the site.

[1depd]

Very few things are insurmountable, with the exception of a most felonies and a very small number of misdemeanors. With that said, this is a very bad economy that means many people who are good candidates are now applying for police work who would normally not apply. That can be read as more time is going to be needed to get on with a good agency. If you are serious about getting on with an agency more quickly you might have to go with a lesser known, respected, or paying agency first. The best applicants will be hired by the better agencies while the not as good will be hired by the lesser agencies.

I would still apply at any agency that is hiring, because all hiring is done on a curve. You might be the best candidate at the time or the agency might overlook your transgressions. I worked for one agency that hired a guy who had something like 10 traffic tickets within the last 5 years and a drunk/disorderly within the same time period. Several other agencies wouldn't even talk to him until his issues were a few more years old. He turned out to be a very good officer.