Do I even have a chance?

[mint_tea]

I'm 22 and just graduated with my B.S. in criminal justice. I'll have my masters in CRJ next May. My goal is to become a police officer. I considered other careers but I finally admitted to myself that being a cop is what I'm meant to do. Unfortunately, I made a mistake before coming to this conclusion.

When I was 18, I made the biggest mistake of my life. An acquaintance said she was going in for a wisdom teeth extraction but that her doctor had only prescribed one pill of vicoden and she was worried that it wouldn't get it her through. She asked if I had any, and trying to be helpful (and stupid, in retrospect) I gave her one pill I had from an old prescription. She gave me $10.

Just typing that out is making my heart race and I think about it all the time. I wasn't pursuing law enforcement then, but it was still so freaking wrong. My dad is a retired captain and he would be so disappointed - rightly - if this got me disqualified from a police department hiring process. My boyfriend is a detective and he would have the same reaction - he's been encouraging me in search for a job and I almost feel like I have to tell him I had a change of heart or something. I've never gotten so much as a speeding ticket and my the criminal justice department at my school considers me their brightest student - but I had to go and do that and screw up everything. Is there even a chance for me or should I look for another career?

I told a state trooper once; I brought him in to do recruiting at my school. He said not to mention it but I really can't have this crappy decision weighing on my conscience.

[Kimble]

I'm 22 and just graduated with my B.S. in criminal justice. I'll have my masters in CRJ next May. My goal is to become a police officer. I considered other careers but I finally admitted to myself that being a cop is what I'm meant to do. Unfortunately, I made a mistake before coming to this conclusion.

When I was 18, I made the biggest mistake of my life. An acquaintance said she was going in for a wisdom teeth extraction but that her doctor had only prescribed one pill of vicoden and she was worried that it wouldn't get it her through. She asked if I had any, and trying to be helpful (and stupid, in retrospect) I gave her one pill I had from an old prescription. She gave me $10.

Just typing that out is making my heart race and I think about it all the time. I wasn't pursuing law enforcement then, but it was still so freaking wrong. My dad is a retired captain and he would be so disappointed - rightly - if this got me disqualified from a police department hiring process. My boyfriend is a detective and he would have the same reaction - he's been encouraging me in search for a job and I almost feel like I have to tell him I had a change of heart or something. I've never gotten so much as a speeding ticket and my the criminal justice department at my school considers me their brightest student - but I had to go and do that and screw up everything. Is there even a chance for me or should I look for another career?

I told a state trooper once; I brought him in to do recruiting at my school. He said not to mention it but I really can't have this crappy decision weighing on my conscience.

All you can do as a responsible adult is own up to what you've done, be honest and forthcoming, and let the chips fall where they may. What you did was wrong, and I won't beat you up over it since you already know that, but it also wasn't murder or selling meth, either. You can't change the past, and beating yourself up about it won't make it any better. That's all anyone can really advise you to do.

[retdetsgt]

My department wouldn't DQ you for that.

[mcsap]

My dept wouldn't DQ you for being truthful. If they felt you were lying , you would be gone.

Admit to it and get on with your life.

[Lfpdlieu302]

You would be ok in most departments that I know of. If there was a conviction or charge for it, then it would be different. As mcsap stated, our department would not DQ you either.

[mint_tea]

Thanks everyone. I can now a sleep a bit better.

[Joeyd6]

To commit most crimes, you need a thing called INTENT. That means you planned on doing something you knew was illegal. (There are many crimes where you do not need intent like manslaughter, however I am limiting my response to your specifics.) I don't see the intent.

I raise an eyebrow to getting $10.....but that is about it. I give my friends/co-workers many things of value. I hand out Tylenol at my office like candy. I pay $20 a bottle at Costco and never ask anyone a penny for it...nor would I. It seems odd you would take money for something like this, especially since mom/dad/insurance probably covered the cost.

[retdetsgt]

I raise an eyebrow to getting $10.....but that is about it.

That was my thought too, I couldn't imagine charging a friend money for something like that if they're in pain. Especially if it's something I don't need and will probably eventually throw away anyway.

[mint_tea]

I didn't want the money, she gave it to me. I genuinely felt bad, I wasn't trying to make a buck. Regardless, it was a dumb thing to do.

[mirandawright]

I can understand why you'd feel that way- but she said that her friend gave her the money, not that she sold them or otherwise demanded/insinuated that she wanted payment.
I know that at least where i live around here theres alot of personal pride. You can't even buy someone a loaf of bread at the store or a pop without them paying you back the first chance they get- or paying you the going price for a loaf of bread at the store if you baked them one, unless it was a birthday or a christmas present.