Do I have a chance w/this many problems?

[STROBELITE]

:( I've dreamed of becoming a police officer for a long time. However, I have a multitude of problems with my background. I am 28 now, will apply in 6-7 years when I'm in my 30s. The 3 major problems:

1) -When I was 18, arrested for 3rd deg sex assault and harassement (Both
misdemeanors). It happend in high school where I kept goosing a girl and she
pressed charges. After probation, sex assault charge was dismissed and
conviction stands on harrasement charge. This was in 1993, 11 years ago,
17 years when I apply.
-Also 2 years ago, was arrested for reckless driving/speeding/running stop
sign. All charges dismissed after taking driving class and heavy fine, but
still arrested. I was furious one night and drove recklessly.

2) -Bankruptcy on my record from 1 year ago because I mismanaged my
money. Will be gone in 7 years, but still permanent public court record.

3) -From age 16 to 26 held 15+ jobs and fired 8+ times. Only the last 3
years have I been able to keep a job.

Guys, just tell me bluntly, you are not going to hurt my feelings.
And please dont laugh, I know that my chances are miniscule, slim to none, dismal, EXTREMELY LOW. Maybe I'll be forced to keep dreaming till i die...
I have tremendous remorse and regret for my past indiscretions. By my fault I tainted my record and shut the doors to LE. Only positive attribute I can think of is that I've never used drugs, dont drink, and am a basically a good guy

[gdowkpc]

It doesn't look good. I am not a background investigator, and those guys rarely reveal where the cutoff is.

Can't hurt to apply. I would apply with MANY agencies. Maybe you'll fit into one.

[STROBELITE]

Might have to go on a mission to become a cop - forget about life, just spend years applying to like 300+ agencies. Probably still wont become one.

[911]

No, you don't have a chance, your record shows a pattern of illegal or immature behavior and more importantly, that behavior is recent. Within 2 yrs you have been arrested? Fired from eight jobs? 3rd degree sex assault? Bankrupcy?

[mcsap]

Does not look good but apply and see what happens. The most they can do is say no.

[CO.Dep]

It does not look good at all for you. There are alot of applicants out there with perfect backgrounds that still can't get on to a police department.

[canuckofapeach]

Do you have another dream?

Unless that record can be expunged - doubtful - you still show a lack of responsability for your actions.
You may still apply now yet I would sincerely doubt you would be hired as a trainee. Having said this, you may still apply when you are in your 30's after you've spent a good number of years slogging in the saltmines. Walk that straight and narrow path and keep your nose clean from today onward

[gijoeyl33]

doesnt look good, however any chance for expungement of your conviction????

[STROBELITE]

Saltmines? How about working in the hellish Siberia and be a 100% perfect citizen for next 7 years?
Expungement is possible...It was not a felony, convicted on one misdemeanor charge of harassement 11 years ago. The state POST administrator informed me that only convictions count. But thats at the state level for POST certification, any agency can set their own requirements. It happend in high school when I just turned 18, I was an idiot/fool/dumbass like you wont believe. I know in state of Colorado I am eligible for concealed weapon permit but thats about it.
The problem is that it's a multitude of problems - the credit and work history as well as the criminal. My question to you guys is if i have a chance 7-8 years from now, not right now.

[gijoeyl33]

Spend the next few years doing something to OVERLY excel yourself into a positive role, like college courses with an outstanding GPA, or get some rare qualification, licensed helicopter pilot. things like that that departments want that cant get alot of, MAYBE that will cloud the negative things enough. MAYBE

Saltmines? How about working in the hellish Siberia and be a 100% perfect citizen for next 7 years?
Expungement is possible...It was not a felony, convicted on one misdemeanor charge of harassement 11 years ago. The state POST administrator informed me that only convictions count. But thats at the state level for POST certification, any agency can set their own requirements. It happend in high school when I just turned 18, I was an idiot/fool/dumbass like you wont believe. I know in state of Colorado I am eligible for concealed weapon permit but thats about it.
The problem is that it's a multitude of problems - the credit and work history as well as the criminal. My question to you guys is if i have a chance 7-8 years from now, not right now.

[rdp]

Even if your record is expunged, it will still matter when you go apply.

S/A just sounds bad anyways. Harassment isn't good either.

Sounds like you still have some growing up to do.

[STROBELITE]

Even if your record is expunged, it will still matter when you go apply.

S/A just sounds bad anyways. Harassment isn't good either.

Sounds like you still have some growing up to do.

I know. I'm an immature, spoiled idiot. I am 28 and still live at home and can keep a job as long as its easy. But I'm not a bad person. I watch movies at home on fri night with popcorn instead of going to bars and drinking.
As for the S/A charge, I did something very foolish and immature in the hallways of my high school 11 years ago, I never even saw her outside of school. I know what I did was wrong and its something I shouldn't have done. But I believe I've PAID the dues to society - I was on probation for 4 years, did 120 hours of comm. serv., took over 1600 hours of anger management/conflict resolution. And yes on the surface of it S/A just sounds abhorrent, loathesome, and abysmal. I did deserve to be punished, but I dont think I deserve getting myself barred from LE forever. I spoke to the recruiter, and he told me although technically only convictions are supposed to count, they will still do inquiry on dismissed charges

[rdp]

LE is not one of those easy jobs.

I have worked in different fields that were hard and, in comaprison for me, this is easy.

You have several bad things in your past, but noone is perfect.

No one is saying you are a bad person, but your past has several areas that LE would view as problem areas.

The probation you recevied is quite severe for a misdemeanor crime. Every state does differ on definition of misdemeanor, so this may be why it sounds harsh to me.

In order to make yourself a viable candidate, you need to have a stable work history and demonstrate maturity in your life.

We won't touch anyone that has used a hard drug in the past 10 yrs. That is the minimum........cases where people were a frequent user aren't going to have a chance. The percentage of repeat usage is way to high.

[STROBELITE]

I will try to do that - establish a good work history, credit, personal references, a good life. I dont do drugs, but so do 95% of other people.
As for the probation being too harsh for misdem., I met an attorney who was the DA of the same county court where my case was adjudicated. He even knew the DA that took the case. He told me that I got a bad, raw deal. I was given the absolute max sentence allowed by state law when it was my first offense. I served max 2 years probation consecutively on 2 charges, hence 4 years. He told me he has seen defendants get far less than what I got for much worse crimes.

[Jcrazy]

Have you done things that you were not arrested for? You have to tell it all when you apply, even if you were not caught. I suggest you walk that line for the nest 7 or 8 years. during that time you might want to get a degree and do some volunteer work. Also try to stick with one job. You have had almost as many jobs in 28 years as I have had addresses in 30. You have a long road ahead of you.