Concern Regarding Background

[toughlife]

Good morning everyone, my name is Carlos (currently 18). I'am a newly registered user of the site, and hope to learn from others. With that said I would like to get some insight from others regarding my background and a possible law enforcement career. When I was 14 I met a beautiful woman named Gabriela. We began doing certaing things and well, she ended pregnant. I became the father of Karla at the age of 15. Shortly after I dropped out of high school, but persued a GED diploma. During the summer of 2008 I was pulled over by a trooper near exit 3 on the NJ turnpike. I was 15 at the time and therefore got a ticket for speeding, and another for unlicensed driver. I went to court on the scheduled date (beginning of september 2008) with a lawyer, and the prosecutor changed the speeding violation to an unsafe operation of a motor vehicle, so no points were added to my drivers license. The judge did however find me guilty of driving without a license, and consequently it was suspended for 6 months beginning from the date that I would be eligible for the NJ Learners Permit, which was september 22, 2008 (my birthdate). After that I've recieved 1 ticket for tinted windows, and 2 for headlamp maintenance. I've never ingested any type of drug, except those prescribed to me, and over the counter medicines. I've never been charged with an unlawful act or convicted of, other than the ones mentioned above. I'm currently in colleger (first semester) persuing an associates degree in criminal justice. Although I know that having an associates degree in criminal justice will not amplify my chances, it was the topic that most intrigued me. After graduating I plan on self-sponsoring myself through the academy as it seems police departments have low budgets. I have had 2 jobs, one at Ihop as a waiter and the other at Autozone as a sales rep. I have not lasted more than 6 months at both jobs. Currently I'am working with my dad as a driver, as he owns a taxi company. My earnings are all cash, so none is reported to the IRS at this time. I will start filing income taxes next year. My intimate life is simple: I'am living with Gabriela, but we are not married. My daughter will soon become 3 in December (cute little thing). My credit seems to be establishing itself, currently have a score of 650 on all 3 reporting agencies. Hopefully the score will keep rising in the oncoming years. One thing that concerns me is Gabrielas legal status in America. She is an undocumented alien, so I wonder if that'll have any effects on my future. Well, I believe that's everything if I remember anything else that is relevant I will post it. So, what do you guys think? Do I seem like a good candidate to persue a career in law enforcement.

[mcsap]

You certainly have some issues in your life.

1. Recent driving w/o a license and now a 6 month suspension.

2. Working but not reporting income.

4. Living w an illegal alien ( undocumented is illegal)

You certainly have some hills to climb and need to get older , get a degree or go in the military to make yourself a better candidate.

How do you compare against a college degree , military veteran or older applicant and a person who doesn't have the recent loss of license issues ?

Answer is you don't. You can with TIME. You are going to need several years to even start becoming close to being a good apllicant. Meeting the minimum hiring standards means that you meet the MINIMUM hiring standards. And there will be a lot of people that will be way above the minimums. WHy would we want to hire someone who only meets the minimum standard ?

3. Three other traffic tickets.

4.

[HIM]

Have the girl apply for citizenship asap.

[toughlife]

You certainly have some issues in your life.

1. Recent driving w/o a license and now a 6 month suspension.

2. Working but not reporting income.

4. Living w an illegal alien ( undocumented is illegal)

You certainly have some hills to climb and need to get older , get a degree or go in the military to make yourself a better candidate.

How do you compare against a college degree , military veteran or older applicant and a person who doesn't have the recent loss of license issues ?

Answer is you don't. You can with TIME. You are going to need several years to even start becoming close to being a good apllicant. Meeting the minimum hiring standards means that you meet the MINIMUM hiring standards. And there will be a lot of people that will be way above the minimums. WHy would we want to hire someone who only meets the minimum standard ?

3. Three other traffic tickets.

4.

Yes I realize that living with an illegal alien does not seem favorable, and it'll probably be a long while before she can even get a workers permit. The 6 month suspension lasted from september 2008 to march 2009, and I will start reporting income asap. My greatest worry is that Gabriela is an illegal alien. I thought about joining the national guard, and even set up an appt with my local recruiter but obviously never showed up. I guess my greatest fear is that the President now has the power to utilize the national guard at times of war, and sincerely the one who would suffer the most is my daughter. See, my daughter has down syndrome and god forbid something happens to me while enlisted, I don't know how Gabriela, being illegal would handle the situation. Besides that I would not have any inconvenience in joining the guard. I've thought so much about how her legal status would affect me in the future, and I don't know what to do. I'm not a background investigator by any means, but would 2 headlamp maintenance tickets be looked upon as harmful? I can understand the ticket regarding tinted windows.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Your tickets and tint are NOTHING when compared to the other mountains you've got going on in your background.

As a police officer, you would not be allowed to associate with people who knowingly and continuously are breaking the law. You cannot choose your family, but you have a choice in who you associate with. At this point, Gabriela is the anchor that will sink any chance you have in this career.

[toughlife]

Your tickets and tint are NOTHING when compared to the other mountains you've got going on in your background.

As a police officer, you would not be allowed to associate with people who knowingly and continuously are breaking the law. You cannot choose your family, but you have a choice in who you associate with. At this point, Gabriela is the anchor that will sink any chance you have in this career.

Wow I never thought I would have to choose between my family and my future goals. I'am not married to her, so the only thing connecting me to her is our daughter. Is it possible to the BI to find out about her existence if we're not married? I guess they can dig into my daughters records and find out who the mom is. The worse part is that she got caught twice by the border patrol, while crossing the border. Meaning that she got fingerprinted and photographed. It's inevitable, they'll find out about her existence no matter what I do. Honestly, is the woman I love going to end up being the demise of my future goal?

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Wow I never thought I would have to choose between my family and my future goals. I'am not married to her, so the only thing connecting me to her is our daughter. Is it possible to the BI to find out about her existence if we're not married? I guess they can dig into my daughters records and find out who the mom is. The worse part is that she got caught twice by the border patrol, while crossing the border. Meaning that she got fingerprinted and photographed. It's inevitable, they'll find out about her existence no matter what I do. Honestly, is the woman I love going to end up being the demise of my future goal?

The citizenship process is long and expensive. That's why people skip it for the easy way of just coming in. But if you want to be a cop, it means that you swear to uphold the Constitution and defend the US from all enemies, foreign and domestic.

I would engourage you and her to contact an immigration attorney and AT LEAST get her on the path to be a legal resident, if you two expect to remain together.

[toughlife]

The citizenship process is long and expensive. That's why people skip it for the easy way of just coming in. But if you want to be a cop, it means that you swear to uphold the Constitution and defend the US from all enemies, foreign and domestic.

I would engourage you and her to contact an immigration attorney and AT LEAST get her on the path to be a legal resident, if you two expect to remain together.

Well that brightens things up a little. So if I contact an attorney and have him or her file for Gabriela, will that open up doors for me? I was thinking, she can probably get a waiver due to our daughters condition (down syndrome). Now regardng my previous tickets, all of them were given to me when I was a minor, and I hear that what you do as a minor is usually forgiven. How true is this statement? Other than that I have relatives who know people in law enforcement, and I also hear that knowing people helps. By no means do I want to use the people I know as a tool to get hired, but it's always good to know influential people. As I mentioned in previous posts, I plan on self sponsoring myself through the academy so hopefully that'll make me a more competetive candidate.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

No, it will not open doors. It will simply prevent them from being slammed closed on you so quickly.

[MikeG]

Wow I never thought I would have to choose between my family and my future goals. I'am not married to her, so the only thing connecting me to her is our daughter. Is it possible to the BI to find out about her existence if we're not married? I guess they can dig into my daughters records and find out who the mom is. The worse part is that she got caught twice by the border patrol, while crossing the border. Meaning that she got fingerprinted and photographed. It's inevitable, they'll find out about her existence no matter what I do. Honestly, is the woman I love going to end up being the demise of my future goal?

Okay, I'm not a LEO, but I'll give you strike one in your mindset:

If you go into the process worried about what the BI "will find out" vs. "whether the BI can verify everything I said" you fail. You are already starting the process trying to hide facts through omission. That's rule Number One NO-NO and will get you DQ'd permanently.

[MikeG]

The worse part is that she got caught twice by the border patrol, while crossing the border. Meaning that she got fingerprinted and photographed.

How old is Gabriela?

[toughlife]

How old is Gabriela?

Gabriela is 3 years older than I'am. She is currently 21, and was 17 when pregnant. So lets suppose I make it as far as the background investigation, should I hide the fact that Gabriela is illegal, or should I be completely honest about anything relevant to my intimate life?

Thanks to all of those that have taken the time to reply to my posts. The community at realpolice.net has indeed surprised. I hope to keep on learning from this great online community.

[MikeG]

should I hide the fact that Gabriela is illegal.

I don't think you are ready to be a police officer. I don't think you even understand what the issue is.

[Outshined]

Even if you do hide it, the BI will just read this thread and walllaaa you're busted.

[mcsap]

Gabriela is 3 years older than I'am. She is currently 21, and was 17 when pregnant. So lets suppose I make it as far as the background investigation, should I hide the fact that Gabriela is illegal, or should I be completely honest about anything relevant to my intimate life?

Thanks to all of those that have taken the time to reply to my posts. The community at realpolice.net has indeed surprised. I hope to keep on learning from this great online community.

If you are so WILLING to lie to the police you have NO buisness trying to be one of us.