Pursuing My Career (Orlando)

[unix4linux]

Hello All,

I have been wanting to do law enforcement for most of my life. My earlier years, I was just too lazy to do what I needed to do to accomplish my goal, which is to be in law enforcement. I didn't start college until I was 27. I got married, had a daughter, and saw how IMPORTANT college was to meet my career needs. Now, 29 years of age, I have my two year degree in "Information Systems Management" and have about another two years to complete my B.S. in Criminal Justice.

I have about 10 years of experience in I.T. and have done exceptionally well. I even owned an I.T. Hosting company until I just passed it along to a friend when I decided I wanted to go back to school. The funny thing is that I decided to obtain both degrees not because I want to excel in the I.T. field, but because I want to become a Police Officer.

I got the A.S. in Information Systems Management because it made sense to pursue a degree towards something I am already good at. Being able to apply new changes and technology along with my I.T. experience can help me excel in law enforcement. I say this because being in I.T., you have to be a great problem solver. Working under pressure and communication are essential. This development can be applied to law enforcement as well.

I am now working towards my CJ degree because I want this degree. I wanted to learn something new that was geared towards what I really want to do, which is law enforcement.

Now, my goal is to become a US Marshal. I know that the process is long and time consuming. At this point, I am 29 years old going on 30 in a few short months. 37 is my cutoff time for federal law enforcement. I am honestly tired of my current I.T. career because this is not what I want to do. Until I don't complete my CJ degree, I don't meet the minimum college degree requirement for federal law enforcement. However, for local and state law enforcement, I meet the minimum qualifications.

I want to apply for the Orlando Police Department. If I get accepted prior to the part time police academy starting, they can sponsor me. However, if I don't get hired prior to that, I am going to sponsor myself. I know that the Orlando Police Department offers great career opportunities. If the federal government doesn't seem to recruit me prior to me reaching my age limit, I know that the local police will be a place where I will be happy and have the great opportunity of career advancement. Who knows, I might like it enough to just stay there.

Now, I wanted some input on the following. I have a good background history. I have probably only been pulled over 3-4 times in the 12-13 years of me having a drivers license for minor traffic violations. About 2 of those times were speeding. I haven't been pulled over in the past few years for anything. So my driving record is pretty darn good. I have good morals and never had any misdemeanor or criminal violations. I haven't been an abusive drug user though I tried pot about 6 years ago and that was the only time and never did it again. (stupid move...don't ask...just dumb I even wanted to try it)

So, my real concern is my credit. I have a low score because I have one large debt for an automobile loan I got a few years ago. That is the only thing affecting my credit in the most major way. I see that local, state, and even federal want a great credit report from their candidates. So, do I necessarily have to have this debt fully cleared before I could even be considered? What if I have an arrangement/payment plan with the collections department showing that though this is negative on my report, I am actively working to have this paid in full?

Any thoughts/ideas? Am I on the right track here? I am just afraid that my time is running short in regards to age limit vs. me trying to fix the one thing still remaining on my credit report.

Thanks in advance for the responses!

P.S. - This is my first post

[1depd]

If you are interested in one of the prestige federal agencies, I would suggest you try to get hired to one of the "lesser" federal agencies that have 6c/12(d) retirement. You are very close to the max age. That would effectively stop your clock so you can get hired by the Marshal's after you are 37. Seven years sounds like a lot of time, but when you figure you have to finish college and actually get the job, you're looking at a very short period. We are in a time when the federal government is not hiring a lot of people and many people are not moving on to other agencies. A lot of applicants don't get hired their first try with the prestige agencies so expect to apply a couple times. The good thing with federal LE is we have a max retirement age, so people can't camp out for 30, 40, or 50 years there is a turn over. My game plan: Try to get on with BOP. Finished my degree. Start applying for the positions you want. Try to get on a local agency as a reserve officer.

As to your other issues. The drugs are still going to be a problem at some places, especially since you are going to be competing against people who have never used drugs. Your finances might be an issue, but since you can't get the loan paid off, all you can do is follow the agreement or get ahead of the agreement. Basically you want to show that you are making a good faith effort to pay the delinquent loan off. If your payment is $300 pay $305 so when questioned you can say you are paying more than the minimum.

[unix4linux]

Thanks for your reply. In regards to the drugs, I only tried it and it was a bit over 6 years ago. Most agencies seek no drug use for no less than 3 years ago. So I don't think that should disqualify me. In regards to the financial issues, it is something I am working on just tough to pay it off in time before applying.

I thought the most important thing was to be competitive by getting an education, obtaining some local law enforcement experience if you want to go federal later on, and when it's time to take the poly, make sure you are honest. So I just wanted to be honest about the things I tried in my early twenties. I mean, if they asked me if I ever used drugs and I said no, they would find out and I wouldn't be eligible to any agency. If I were honest and said yes but that it was a try and it was over 6 years ago, that could go better.

I am just nervous about this because this is what I really want. Being that my time is so short at this point, I don't want to blow my chances away just because I was honest about what I did years ago.

[unix4linux]

I have also heard, which of course is not the same as knowing for a fact, that during your interview process on the poly, they will only ask you qualifying questions. For example, if the requirement is to not have done any drugs within the past 3 years, that is what they'll ask: "Have you used any drugs within the last 3 years?". If that is the case, then I should not have a problem at all, I hope.

[Joeyd6]

Few things to consider:

1) I am not a USM, howvever word on the street is no hiring in the next year. Additional gossip is when they resume hiring, since Veterans have preference and so many have applied in front of you and so many more are coming home, it is going to be a while before any non-veteran with a a "normal" resume gets hired for a 1811 position.

2) You want to be be a USM but state you would be happy as a street cop. You better do some more homework. The jobs are diferent. Very different. No federal law enforceemtn job is the same as a local cop. Patrol is the backbone of law enforcment and a unique beast. You either love it or hate it and nothing will ever filla that void when you leave if you do love it. While TV has portrayed some federal law enforcement jobs as action packed excitement, keep in mind Criminal Minds, Cold Case, NCIS, NCIS Los Angeles are a laughing joke at the respective agency office. The Quaters these places have as offices and most of the toys are fiction. Shows that are reality based, such as Manhunters, Border Wars, etc... may show what a few folks in the agency get to experience, but you don't realize all that action packed into a half hour is filmed over teh course of three weeks and edited to make it look so fun.

3) Your resume is "normal." With your degree you barley will make it on a "competitive" list with the feds for an 1811 slot and likely won't process far. You have nothing that every other canidate does not have. Work on things that make you more attractive. If you are looking at the 1811 as a end all, you need to start looking at federal uniform to get resum experience such as teh Capital Police, Uniform USSS, Border Patrol, National Park Police, etc... Also consider becoming EMT or having a special skill.....community service where you serve the folks you so want to help.

4) Your credit score is not low due to a large care note....its low because you did not pay it. Make sure your paymenst are all on time and have a reason (not excuse...meaning you say I screwed up.....I realize it...took responsibility....working it out...following through...ect...). It does not have to be paid off but it needs to current and paid on time. Your credit report shows 36 months back. The NYPD is very pickey on this.....but if you have 36 on time payements with a low score and explain as I said, they let you slide.


I would start with local, state and uniformed federal. Get your feet wet and re-evaluate from there.

[unix4linux]

Joeyd6,

Thanks for posting as well. I appreciate your input here. I def. understand that I don't look competitive "yet". This is why I am currently looking into sponsoring myself at the police academy here in FL. Once I complete that, I will be looking at the local agency here to be a uniform. This gets my feet wet and builds on my skill. I also understand that local vs. federal are completely different. I may very well enjoy local law enforcement more than federal. If I am happy at the local level, I am going to stay. I actually believe I will be. Federal is just what I have looked forward to because of "career preference". However, that is not to say that I wanted to go federal because I really understood why (still researching).

I know I have a lot of homework to do and in very little time. For now, all I can do is pursue my local goals and continue my research from there. That puts some experience under my belt while I explore my federal options if I see that that is the route I would still like to explore after being local.

I am def. working on my credit so I am hoping things will turn out OK in that area at least for local law enforcement. Everything else seems good for me to get into the local agencies.