Here it is, my background...

[ferriscj24]

Well, After long debates of not posting my personal history on here. I figured I would. So here it is. Mind you I am 20 yrs old, still learning the ropes of life, just hope a department understands that. But we will see. When i graduate next May I will have a Bachelors in Criminal Justice as well as a Certification from the State of Michigan to be a police officer, which means no academy for me, they wont have to pay to put me through one, I'll be ready to go. So LEO input (mcsap, DC Law...etc..) if you were my BI what would you say? We'll take ya, or maybe you should try Detroit PD?!

Feb '02 - Ex girlfriend's current boyfriend making threats over internet. Instead of reporting it, I confronted him and had a yelling match. Not physical, just chest bumping immature junk like that, I was 18 yrs old, fresh out of highschool. The female claims I punched her, never happened, and about five witnesses on the report said no punches were thrown. Disorderly Conduct report made. No charges.

Nov '02 - Went to a college hockey game at a rival school, had beer in the parking lot w/ some fans that drove down from our school also. 2 guys i came with went to the bathroom, I stayed in the seats, they came back, and 10 mins later two cops come down and take them away. One asks if i came with them, and i said yes. Apparently they mixed a drink in the bathroom, (I didnt know this) and someone became suspicious. Took all 3 of us and performed PBT's. I blew a .03 not much of anything, but i was 20, and if your under 21 then .02 is the limit. This was dismissed per a diversion program of comm service, alcohol class and a fine.

Winter of '03 - At a dance club at school, I wouldnt dance with a girl (I knew who she was, didnt much like her anyways, she has some serious mental problems I think, (very manipulative, you all know that type...) she got pissed off and knew about the thing from my freshman yr. She goes to the local PD and makes the same claim, that i punched her in the bar. Again, never happened. False report. I call the officer that took the report and tell him that it is total BS, and he asks if i would take a polygraph, i say absolutly...she finds out and drops her own complaint 2 days later.

January of this yr - Decided to go sledding with some guys I'm in the academy with here and all of our girlfriends. We drive to the hill, and we noticed we only had 3 sleds between about 8 of us. Someone says they used to use garbage can lids as saucers when they were kids. So I grab a garbage can lid that didnt belong to us to use from the side of a house for a few times down and put it back. Before we made it to the hill, police show up. We spooked the homeowners in the neighborhood. It was late, about 1130. I tell them about the lid, anf they write me a ticket for prowling, a misd. I plead not guilty at an arraignment, and prosector dismisses it the next day in lieu of me completing 80 hrs community service at the local Fire/Police dept. Which i am currently doing.

There you have it. Thats everything. Really the only thing i would have on my record would be the MIP, which was dismissed anyways, but its the only thing ive officially been 'convicted' of. I know this looks like a lot, but i was curious at how a BI would view these. Those are the stories. What do you fellas think? Can I make a decent living as an officer which Ive wanted to do for god knows how long, or is it off to the City of Detroit, because thats the only ones that will take me?? Thanks!!

Jason

[CO.Dep]

I would be a little worried about the claims of assault if I was a background inv. Not saying that they really happened, but it shows a pattern. I would probably want reports and witness statements on each occurance if possible. I would want the names of the two woman that accused you of the crime. I would also want the police departments in which the assaults were reported. Your other two charges were misd. so in all probability it will not keep you from being a cop.
The reason that I would want to know all I could about the assaults is because in the state I live in you cannot carry a weapon with DV convictions or restraining orders that are in place.

If anything, you should put some time between your last charge and try and stay out of trouble.

[mcsap]

If everything you said is true ( and I have no reason to believe otherwise) , you would still be in consideration. Nothing you did was a DQ but you do need to take the HIGH road from now on in life. Either get new friends or learn when to walk. Nobody but you is applying to be an LEO. Yet you associate yourself with people ( including you) who do dumb stuff that results in criminal investigations and or charges.

STOP doing stupid stuff. Admit to everything regardless of what the outcome was. Finish your education and do some volunteer work or something else to help in polishing up your resume'.

[m8ly2381]

if you are acquited or not charged, for example the club incident, would you have to report that. im not saying to lie but if it was false, it didn't happen, right? no need to confess what hasn't happened.

[mcsap]

Be VERY careful. They will very likely ask you if you have EVER been arrested, or been investigated. If you lie about being arrested or investigated and they find out, YOU ARE DONE. And if asked by another examiner from say another dept, " did you ever lie during a poly or a police employment interview ?" you will have to say yes !

It isn't worth it. They want to know EVERYTHING before they hire you.

[m8ly2381]

if they asked if he has ever been arrested does that count against him? i mean if the charges are dropped then he isn't guilty. i know what you are saying, i guess i just wondering if a person can get DQ for being arrested (and found not guilty).

[mcsap]

Very unlikely that they would hold the arrest but the charges were later dropped against him. They would still want to know ALL of the details.

Maybe he is the "teflon don" and hasd been arrested many times but never convicted. Hiring in the LEO world must be thorough for obvious reasons.

[m8ly2381]

i have heard a lot about expunged records (not to hi-jack the thread), what does that mean and do?

[ferriscj24]

I plan on informing them of everything, not taking the "i dont think theyll find this out" road. I just hope they understand I am learning and people do make mistakes. Ive never been in trouble at home or anywhere else, it is only in this small little college town....

[ferriscj24]

And I am not a "teflon don", ive never been in cuffs, and never been taken to jail. But have receieved an apperance ticket for the MIP and the Sledding thing. and mind you both charges were dropped. However, when the question is worded have you ever been ARRESTED, then yes, have you ever been convicted...No. But i will disclose everything. This was just a matter of "here are my mistakes", are they too severe. I dont think they are, and I dont think departments expect robots who are perfect. I just hate to see that dance club incident because that was 100% made up by a psycho college girl. hmmm

[911]

Four seperate incidents in only two years? The last one was only last month? These show a recent pattern of stupid/immature behavior, some of them bordering on criminal. If you are looking at becoming a cop, why are you repeatedly participating in these activities? While you are correct that PD's don't hire robots, they are also very wary of giving guns and arrest powers to those who engage in juvenile behavior...again, and again. These four incidents may very well outweigh your college degree and put your goals on hold for 3-5 years. Remember, there are plenty of guys out there who have been to college and did not attract that kind of negative attention.

[jariggs]

I agree with the others, I would definitely cool it if I were you. Keep a low profile, find different friends, or be a loner if you must.

You have a very recent history of problems that will be a set back for most agencies. Also, I'm from Michigan originally and don't think Detroit is as lenient as rumors would have you believe, not when the stuff's recent.

Having said this, chill out for a year or so and you'll be fine. The things you did were petty, but will be seen as childish. This is why I feel you should give it some time.