Aspiring LEO possibly wasting time.

[Dre327]

I am currently 20 years old and going through my junior year old college. However, with my senior year approaching I am becoming worried that I will not get hired any where because of past activity.

The activities that I am worried about are as follows: When I was 19 years old I had a girlfriend who was 16. During that time we did engage in consensual intercourse and on occasion she would send sexual pictures of herself to me in the form of a text message. The other activity is, when I was still in high school I would occasionally browse an online image board called 4chan. On this website users can anonymously post images. In the time of me being on the website some users would try to post pornographic images of children to shock other members. This was a rare occurrence, but I happened to unintentionally stumble upon these images before. I did not save this images or keep viewing them once I realized what they were. I also no longer view this website for that reason.

Other than these two activities I have never been involved in anything illegal. I have never used and illegal substance, been in a fight, or even had a speeding ticket. etc etc.

My main question is, with these two incidents that I have listed, are my chances of being a Law Enforcement Officer ruined?

[BJJVad]

My main question is, with these two incidents that I have listed, are my chances of being a Law Enforcement Officer ruined?

Pretty much if you ask me, here's why..

1.) You will be applying along with other applicants that don't have those marks on their record.
2.) Being that you stated 19 - 16 yo age difference tells me that the state you lived in at the time, 16 was not the legal age of consent. (Which is a heavy mark on your record.)
3.) Isn't that big of a deal, however when you give a story about the internet child pornography photo's (in the manner which you described: Non intentionally viewing via internet trickery.) coupled with the fact that you had a sexual encounter when you were an adult with a minor, it becomes a HUGE red flag.

I would believe 2.) alone would be the death warrant to your dream of becoming a LEO. But we have a few people on here that have worked backgrounds from other agencies, where I am more of a 3rd party person to just my agencies standards.

[Dre327]

In the state I live in 16 is the legal age. However, I was not sure if it was a bad mark on my moral character.

[BJJVad]

In the state I live in 16 is the legal age. However, I was not sure if it was a bad mark on my moral character.

If in your state it was the legal age, then perhaps you do have a chance. To me, I would probably work to disqualify you.

To little of time has passed since it appears you "may" have made some questionable/juvenile decisions.

[Joeyd6]

More of a background/hiring question than "Ask a Cop." There I moved the thread to the background section.

[Dre327]

If in your state it was the legal age, then perhaps you do have a chance. To me, I would probably work to disqualify you.

To little of time has passed since it appears you "may" have made some questionable/juvenile decisions.

Why would you work to disqualify me since I was not searching for the images and since it was an accident? I'm not trying to be "smart", I'm just trying to get useful information.

[Kimble]

Why would you work to disqualify me since I was not searching for the images and since it was an accident? I'm not trying to be "smart", I'm just trying to get useful information.

Dre, I can sorta see where this thread is heading with your remark above, and as a mod I'm gonna step in so it doesn't plummet down hill. I'm not speaking for BJJVad, but instead of being offended by his reply (you did ask and he provided an honest response) take it that at a minimum within his department you could have issues with your application and leave it at that. Department standards vary, and if 16 is the age of consent in your state, then what you did was not illegal. Immoral perhaps (and some departments weigh questionable behavior that illustrates a lack in sound moral judgment against applicants), but suffice to say you'll have to apply to whatever agency(ies) you're interested in and find out if they deem it a disqualification or not.

Since you gotten your answer (whether or not it's what you wanted to hear), let's not start an argument over anyone else's response(s), okay?

On a side note, the fact you visited 4chan (or any other website where you may have viewed child pornography) more than once after stumbling across suspected child porn may well cause issues for you. If you had truly "unintentionally stumble upon these images" it seems to me that a reasonable person would have discontinued viewing material on such a site after only seeing one image believed to be child porn. The fact you admit to viewing "images" (i.e. more than one) may well be a problem for you.

[Dre327]

I wasn't trying to sound offended. Sorry for coming off that way, I was just trying to get more incite on his opinion is all. I was looking for a better way to phrase that with out sounding arrogant, but I couldn't come up with anything.

[mcsap]

You made some poor choices. In my state I couldn't charge you with Statuatory Sexual Assault BUT I could charge you with Corruption of Minors.

While your dremans may not be shattered , you made an ADULT choice to commit a crime with a juvenile.

Perhaps four years in the military , a four year degree , some real world work experience , some volunteer work and some growing up and generally doing good things with your life may " dim " some of your past. But , you will be applying against those who have all of these attributes and if you don't at least have SOME of them...

Right now , everything is too recent.

Decide NOW if you want the job. Accept that you aren't a good candidate now and it will take several years before you will start to be one. If you decide to go for it , what are you going to do to impress us ( or any prospective PD) that we should even consider you ?

Decide what to do when offered a joint.

Decide what to do when invited to an underage party.

Decide what to do when the guys want to go egging cars.

Decide if you want a future in LE or working at some 7-11.

[Dre327]

You made some poor choices. In my state I couldn't charge you with Statuatory Sexual Assault BUT I could charge you with Corruption of Minors.

While your dremans may not be shattered , you made an ADULT choice to commit a crime with a juvenile.

Perhaps four years in the military , a four year degree , some real world work experience , some volunteer work and some growing up and generally doing good things with your life may " dim " some of your past. But , you will be applying against those who have all of these attributes and if you don't at least have SOME of them...

Right now , everything is too recent.

Decide NOW if you want the job. Accept that you aren't a good candidate now and it will take several years before you will start to be one. If you decide to go for it , what are you going to do to impress us ( or any prospective PD) that we should even consider you ?

Decide what to do when offered a joint.

Decide what to do when invited to an underage party.

Decide what to do when the guys want to go egging cars.

Decide if you want a future in LE or working at some 7-11.

Thank you for the input. Currently I have never tried drugs, nor do I plan to. I do not go to parties or drink, which I also take pride in. I recognize that I have a lot of growing up to do and I am doing everything I can to prove to myself and to others that LE is the life I want. I'm currently half way through my 4 year degree and I'm a dean's list student. Two years ago I attempted to join the military, however I was declined due to a recurring spontaneous pneumothorax. ( I was born with a soft spot on each lung. Both collapsed a few years apart, but are now fully recovered.)

As far as volunteering, I help out with my community center and I'm in the process of becoming a volunteer firefighter.

I hope that after a few years my growing up will be recognized. As of now though I'm working hard to keep my nose clean.

[Adrenolize]

I think that if you keep up the direction that you are, you will be very successful in life as you will avoid a lot of stumbling blocks. Just remember that even if you are not accepted as a police officer, you can still contribute to life in general. There are plenty of equally important jobs. Your admissions may keep you out of of law enforcement, but they add to your personal honor and integrity. Unfortunately, there are real consequences to the actions we make.

I'm not trying to dump on you at all, but rather take that experience and grow from it. Don't become a dirtbag or a hater because of not being able to get into law enforcement.

I wish you luck in whatever you decide to do. Again, I think you are on the right path based on what you have said.

[Dre327]

I think that if you keep up the direction that you are, you will be very successful in life as you will avoid a lot of stumbling blocks. Just remember that even if you are not accepted as a police officer, you can still contribute to life in general. There are plenty of equally important jobs. Your admissions may keep you out of of law enforcement, but they add to your personal honor and integrity. Unfortunately, there are real consequences to the actions we make.

I'm not trying to dump on you at all, but rather take that experience and grow from it. Don't become a dirtbag or a hater because of not being able to get into law enforcement.

I wish you luck in whatever you decide to do. Again, I think you are on the right path based on what you have said.

Thanks. Right now I just need to attend a few more meetings and be voted in and I'll be able to start being a volunteer firefighter. I'm hoping that with the 4 year degree, volunteer work, and clean background (other than whats above), that someone will pick me up. Even if it's a smaller local department until I get more experience.

edit* I know there are other important jobs, but I would hate for my dream to not come true and for my degree to go to waste.