Im 18 now and im starting college come fall. I would like to make a career in law enforcement but im not sure its exactly possible with my past.
I've never had any convictions other then an underage consumption charge on my own property when I was 15. Nor have I ever been arrested.
I have however used a significant amount of drugs. I have not used any drugs since I was about 16 nor do I plan to ever again. They did nothing but screw me up and I learned my lesson.
Ok so here we go....
- Marijuana was used habitually ages 13 - 15.
- Cocaine use is perhaps 25 - 50 times
- Lsd/acid use is approx 5 times
- Mushroom use is approx 5 times
- Excasty use is twice
Additionally I sold marijuana (nothing else) for about a year from ages 14 - 15.
Once I realized I was screwing my life up I forced myself to move away, and in with my mother. This certainly strightened me out. Since then I have done excellent in school. Im an extremely smart individual and im actully going to college for pre-med, I planed to be a doctor. However I know i'd be much happier in a LE line of work.
I really dont want to lie about any of this. I think thats kind of a dishonerable way of gaining a job. Not to mention that you'll have the guilt of lying about this for the rest of your life.
Are there many(any) departments that will allow you in with this kind of behavior? Will this be waived because I was a minor and obviously minors make stupid mistakes.
Thanks everyone for your help and I'd appreciate not being flamed for my decisions. I know full and well the things I did were wrong and I have to live with them.
Each LE organization has their own set of rules...I would arrange a meeting with a rep or background investigator for that dept. and get the info you need...
Most depts. consider what you have disclosed disqualifiers.
Sorry,
Dennis
The extended use of marijuana would be enough to disqualify you from many departments. Use of other hard drugs would be enough to disqualify you from nearly all departments.
Selling drugs will disqualify you from all departments.
I would be very surprised if you were ever hired in any sort of law enforcement capacity.
As you say, you are extremely bright. Be a physician, and be a good one. We need great doctors.
Good luck
Boby,
I honestly cannot see any department hiring you with your history of drug use and drug sales. Sorry, but while it is completely true that a person may change for the better, LE agencies usually do not see that. If you are an actor and you overcome an addiction you are now a hero and role model. But if you are an average joe, then you are still considered a bad person no matter how much you change.
Boby, you have your whole life ahead of you. If I could do it all again I would have gone into the medical field. Trust me, while law enforcement is a great career, more often than not, it is quite a burden on your life.