What is it exactly that these FED/ LE organizations want to know, through their extensive past history questioning both orally/polygraph or/and on paper.   Certainly we can all agree that any past criminal findings, arrest records, even misdemeanors should be red flagged.    It is important that the integrity and character of a person be scrutinized thoroughly before the person takes a sacred oath to protect and serve the public.  However, to what extent does this questioning or quest to find the truth lay between relevant or utterly ridiculous.   I'm sorry but I just don't see, how for example; cheating on a Literature test in high school or minimally experimenting with drugs when you were in college has any relevancy on wether you would be a good agent/cop and an asset to the department or not.   Now, a former crime that involves stealing or the harming of people (especially children) or the sale of illegal goods/drugs/guns, at any point I definitely see as bad.

And then we read in the headlines: "Drunk 260 lb Male Cop Brutally Beats up  115 lb Female Bartender".   Or : "Federal Agent Gives Away Location of Protective Custody to Mob Related Person".  the examples go on and on.  Just look at J Edgar Hoover's bio.  Where the hell were all the pre-employment screening procedures on these?

I Just don't get it.   Once it's been established through BI's that you are not criminal nor will you ever be, there should be less B.S. past private/ personal history questioning and more focus on personality and psychological profiling.  And also frequent performance and psych reviews to keep everyone in shape.  Short of BI findings, intelligent "bad apples" know how to lie and beat the system anyway, so what's the point? 

I wonder how other countries LE agencies handle their recruitment.  What are their policies regarding employment history, past drug experimentation, credit ratings, etc..  

As a final note.  I know a couple Army Rangers who are currently serving our country proudly in the Middle East (you can guess where).  One of the guys even has a past DUI.  Some dumb sh#t he did years ago before he joined the service and "grew up".   Something like this of course, will stay with him for the rest of his life, but you cannot say that good people don't make mistakes sometimes.