I am in college finishing up my last semester.  I want to become a police officer, but I have a history with drug experimentation.  I never used the drugs for a long period of time, I only tried them.  The only thing is, I tried a hard drug in July of this year.  I only did it once, but I still did it.  That was the last drug that I took.  I know most departments require you to be clean from hard drugs for 5 years.  My question is, would it be a waste of time to apply to be a police officer or not?  I was going to download the 'book' that everyone talks about, so hopefully that will help.  I just dont want my past to screw me. 

Quote:


Well said.

You also have to consider the consequences of being found to have lied to background investigators and/or on your security forms (both are technically felonies, even if they aren't prosecuted very often).  If your drug use is discovered and you concealed it, you might be out of consideration for a lot longer than four years.  And you'd be amazed what background investigators can uncover.

Skeptic

Wannabcop wrote on Nov 1^st, 2002 at 8:02pm:


You might want to get a job in sales of security electronic equipment.  Most law enforcement agencies are now starting to lean towards technical degrees and officers who are comfortable using the latest equipment will be in demand.  

Any large mall or store has security departments which need help.  Everyone wants to start at the top but this type of job will demonstrate a stable employment history and give you experience.  You can continue your masters at night during this period.

You could also finish an additional computer degree at night.  There is a huge demand for computer forensic investigators (and competitive salaries).

What ever you do, live your life like it will be under a microscope because everything you do can be scruntinized during investigation.  If becoming an officer is important to you than you must leave your mistakes behind and do not make them again.  The difference between a wise man and a fool is that the fool does not learn from his mistakes.

The_Breeze wrote on Nov 4^th, 2002 at 9:48pm:


Just out of curiosity, Breeze, why is that?  Not that I'd advocate illegal involvement with drugs (nor have I ever had any myself), but is it a PR thing?  Fallout from "war-on-drugs" legislation?  Or concern about actual job performance?

Surely, one incident of recent drug use doesn't establish a pattern, yet it's often enough to disqualify someone.  I'd like to better understand why.

Skeptic

Skeptic
Marty has it mostly right. I think its also a trust and judgement issue. Right or wrong no administration wants to answer the question (should it come up) as to why one of their officers immediately (substitute agency approved time frame here) prior to hiring did not have the restraint to not do a certain felony drug act.  Also I think the possibility that the new officer could be compromised in their new duties by old acquaintances (his point).  Why start out with a clearcut ethical dilemma?  Risk management demands risk reduction.
Misdemeanor  (here anyway) drug use like marijuana is taken on a case by case basis. There are no arbitrary #'s of times making managements decision easier like the feds.  In these cases someone who lacked the basic sense to not have abstained for a long time prior to application, is doomed to fail.

dimas wrote on Dec 4^th, 2002 at 4:59am:

Dear dimas,

You and I agree about the use of drugs before law enforcement but I think that when we were younger it was not as common as it is now (I am in my forties).  Children are exposed to drugs and alcohol as young as first grade.  I am not defending Wannabcop from his use of drugs as an adult but his recognition and admission of regret over using it is a step in the right direction.  I believe if he is now focused and can meet the application requirements in the future, he should be given the chance to become a law officer.  There are countless excellent law enforcement officers who had contact with the law (on the wrong side of it) that led them to their current careers.

If he can honestly meet all of the application requirements than he should as least be given fair consideration.

Dear Police Hopeful,

If there are a surplus of applicants for the position that your are applying for, a history of any drug use will place you at a disadvantage compared to a similar applicant without one.

I am not passing judgement but I am becoming extremely concerned about "experimental" drug use during military service. Today's military makes it extremely clear that it has a "zero" drug tolerence policy.  I cannot understand why a member would want to risk a  dishonorable discharge (I am automatically assuming that you have not used drugs which would have affected the safety and security of other service members or my words could not be printed on a public web-site).  Is peer pressure or curiousity that strong that someone would sacrifice or risk their future?

If it is peer pressure, you need to find a completely new set of people to be around.  Anyone who would encourage you to use drugs is certainly not looking out for your best interest.

Your recent good work is commendable but law enforcement tends to be very skeptical about "zebras changing their stripes."  Right or wrong, they tend to think that most drug users have a much higher risk or trying it again.

This is my opinion.  I have tried to present it in a respectful manner so take it for just that.

Good luck in your applications.  You will not know for sure unless you try.

Regards.