Sudden BQ issues?

[Anony609]

I'm looking for some guidance and hoping you guys can point me in the right direction. I'm in my mid 30s and graduated from my local police academy 2nd in my class. I have worked in the field (not as a LEO) for the last 10 years and passed a LE background to get this job. I put myself through the academy in the hopes of being hired as a LEO. Approximately a year ago, I passed two backgrounds, and one polygraph. I received a COE that was rescinded when I failed psych. As for the 2nd background I passed, there has been a hiring freeze and I haven't moved further in the process.

Now for some reason in the last 6 months, I have attempted 4 other backgrounds, and failed them all. Three were after sending in my information, without ever meeting w/ the background investigator.

As a minor, I was rotten. I also had unusual circumstances (a large tumor that caused HUGE hormone imbalances, it was found when I was almost 17 and removed). During that time, I had some mental health issues (likely related to the tumor) where I attempted suicide a few times. I tried marijuana a couple of times, but never any other drugs. As for crimes, I took money from an employer when I was 16 years old. There was a safe in our breakroom that was often left open and unattended. There were a few times (more than once, less than 5?) that I took money from the safe. I don't remember the amount, but it was never a large sum and I'm certain it wasn't over $400 (grand theft in my state). I was never caught.

I received a few tickets for speeding over the years, all reported, and all dealt with. I have been honest about everything, including the theft as a minor, and haven't tried to conceal anything. I job hopped a lot as a teen/young adult and did forget at least one employer I had (a temp agency) so I sent away for a social security verification of previous employers and will hopefully receive it soon.

If my DQ is because of an omission, for the LIFE of me I have no idea what it could possibly be. I'm in no way trying to conceal anything, and since becoming a grown up and having kids I've become quite boring - I rarely even drink.

My spouse suggested hiring a private investigator to try to figure out what's going wrong, but I doubt that would provide any results.

Any suggestions/advice? Thanks!

[Apexer]

i think you're doing fine it's just that since the nationwide hiring freeze with LEAs and how they are just NOW starting to trickle out job openings the competition is seriously difficult and a candidate with ANY large negatives will get pushed aside.

In your case employee theft is the big one the would scrunch a BIs nose. The psychological problem probably isn't going to affect much since it was a documented medical ailment that has since been repaired. I know in the eyes of a civilian it was a 'minor' theft of under $400 but, the fact that is was more than once and you actually took it from a safe raises a lot of flags about your character. Just because you weren't caught doesn't mean much to a BI. The fact that you're admitting it is just the same as getting caught to a BI.

Yes, you may be a totally different person now than when you were 16 but the fact that the issue is still there doesn't make it go away with age.

Basically you're going up against fierce competition and you could be getting pushed aside for candidates that don't have previous theft on their application.

I would try and remember the exact amount of money that you took from your previous employer. You could be facing complications with your story against what the BI is getting FROM that previous employer, because you know that's the first phone call they're going to make. You could be getting thrown under the bus by your previous employer, I can't really say for sure.

And try to remember the exact amount of times you used marijuana. And there is no "I tried marijuana X times." You can only use 'tried' if it really was only ONE time. Otherwise you were a user.

[txinvestigator1]

I would not hire you as a LEO with that background. I am NOT saying you are a bad person, but actions have consequences and sometimes youthful actions have long reaching consequences.

[txinvestigator1]

i think you're doing fine it's just that since the nationwide hiring freeze with LEAs and how they are just NOW starting to trickle out job openings the competition is seriously difficult and a candidate with ANY large negatives will get pushed aside.

What "nationwide" freeze? They are hiring here in Texas all over the place.

[Apexer]

What "nationwide" freeze? They are hiring here in Texas all over the place.

Well, it's better now obviously. But, in late 2008 and 2009 there wasn't much out there. NOW places are hiring all over the place but usually just for academy grads.

[Anony609]

The business where the theft occurred closed more than a decade ago, and they never knew I took the money. As for the marijuana, I truly can't remember how many times I smoked it. We're talking almost 20 years ago. I don't want to commit to 3 times, when it truly could have been 4. I never cared for marijuana or anything that alters me (which is why I'm not a drinker) but I'm a bit slow catching on I guess and used it more than once or twice.

I totally understand about the choices I made as a teen having lifelong consequences. I do think it's unfortunate if that is what the issue is. My whole life was turned upside down during my teen years, and I'm not sure how much of my bad choice making was thanks to the tumor and how much was just being a horrible kid. I'm not excusing my actions in any way, I just don't know myself why I did the things that I did as a kid.

Thanks for the responses, I really appreciate it.

[retdetsgt]

What "nationwide" freeze? They are hiring here in Texas all over the place.

Same in Oregon. We've never experienced a freeze of any kind. People are always retiring and have to be replaced. And we don't have self sponsored academy grads, you have to be hired in Oregon first and sent to the academy.

As far as background, I don't see yours as a permanent DQ if you've done well since becoming an adult. The fact you got a COE is encouraging. And psychs are not necessarily a DQ everywhere. Failing it might be just because you don't have the personality that particular department is looking for. We change psychs all time and every time we do, I see a different breed of cat being hired.

[Outshined]

Hiring here also. Never stopped hiring.

As far as academy grads getting the jobs, also wrong here I do not hire self sponsors.

[txinvestigator1]

Well, it's better now obviously. But, in late 2008 and 2009 there wasn't much out there. NOW places are hiring all over the place but usually just for academy grads.

Again, not true.

[Joeyd6]

You are aauto DQ by NYPD standards just on paper. Based on what you said, you have two issues the NYPD would be concenred with, one being HUGE. The smaller is the theft. If you could convince our psychologist it was youthful stupidity and you would never do it again, realize it was stupid, and you have a clean record since thenm you would squeak by.

Tickets that are few and far between and paid along with MJ once or twice are not an issue.

Howvere, the MULTIPLE ATTEMPTED SUICIDES is a auto DQ for the NYPD and fed agencies that give psychs. You stated they were "likely" related to the tumor. Do you have multiple medical opinions in writing attesting the tumor was the casue? I am betting no. It is looked upon like this: If you handle stress at 17 with an a suicide attempt multiple times, we sure as hell are not putting you in the most stressful position of your life and giving you a gun." Cop suicide is huge and difficult to avoid for a large percentage of officers with no history, let alone somebody who tried to suicide multiple times before.

Another reason why I think self sponsored academies are a rip off.

Maybe you can find a place willing to overlook it.

[Anony609]

Sorry if there was misunderstanding. My suicide attempts (2) were not at 17, that was when the tumor was found. I was 15 at the time. I'm sure the age difference doesn't matter, the end result is the same. Just wanted to clarify.

[Citicop]

Have the departments TOLD you that you "failed the background?"

There is a big difference between failing the background and not being hired because there are more qualified people in the process. The job market is tough right now, and there are a whole lot of people who might otherwise have been in jobs in the private sector seeking government jobs.

The attempted suicides are going to be a big hurdle to overcome. It's not personal, but that may prevent you from ever being a sworn law enforcement officer.

[Apexer]

Again, not true.

Ok ok.

Well apparantly Ca just sucks. Nobody has hired for a police trainee here in 2 years.

Sorry I tried.

[Switchback]

Ok ok.

Well apparantly Ca just sucks. Nobody has hired for a police trainee here in 2 years.

Sorry I tried.

Perhaps you have this opinion because you are on the outside looking in. I hate to break it to you, LE doesn't function without hiring people consistantly. You see, there is this thing called "attrition." Even if they do not add any additional slots, they have to backfill those that are vacated through normal losses (retirement, medical retirements, "transfer" to other agencies/departments."

I can assure you that there was no national freeze, state of California freeze or anything of that nature. It did sound good to the uninformed, though.

[retdetsgt]

Ok ok.

Well apparantly Ca just sucks. Nobody has hired for a police trainee here in 2 years.

Sorry I tried.

What size departments are you looking at? The smaller the department, the less attrition, no matter what the economy. Larger departments are going to continually having people retire and need to be replaced. It wouldn't take long at all for any department to become undermanned quickly when 5% or more people are retiring every year, not to mention the ones going off on injury, etc.

I think the longest hiring freeze we ever had was maybe a month or two after a union contract was ratified and the city wanted to make a point.