You are here:
- Home
- News/Issues
- Law Enforcement
- Careers: Police
- Become a police officer
Careers: Police/Become a police officer
Advertisement
Question
I'm a retired veteran, 20 yrs. Army/Honorable discharged. Retiring correctional officer, 20 yrs., excellent record. I've applied at several local police departments and have been rejected because I was honest and disclosed my past drug usage. I experimented with cocaine 2 times when I was 21 yrs. old. I am now 45, why is this a problem now? I've also found out that I'm within the police commission standards, but the police department seem to lower their standards. Is there any way I can get over this hurdle and become what I want to be, "the best police officer in my state". Thank you for your time and help.
Baron,
I'm assuming your time in the Army was Reservist time/National Guard and not active duty-otherwise the age wouldn't make sense.
with all things being equal anyone that has drug use in their files will be rejected over the person who does not-often times when we deal with people applying to become Police Officers the most elicit drug we see is marijuana, anything above that usually disqualifies the person. With competition for the job being so tight it is things like this that can make or break you.
I'm not sure I follow your lowering of standards comment can you expand on that for me.
Thanks
Eric
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
Eric Potts
Expertise
I am a Veteran of The United States Army where I served as a Military Police Officer for 6 years and have been a Municipal Police Officer for 20 years. I am a certified Arson Investigator, as well as a certified Community Police Officer. I am a DARE teacher in the local schools. I am a Defensive Driving Instructor and worked for years as a Detective specializing in White Collar Crime. I'm qualified to answer general law enforcement questions, general procedure questions (all departments have different rules and regulations. I can answer questions about how to become a law enforcement officer, and questions that might help someone understand why an officer acted a certain way. I am also a Police Suicide Awareness trainer and a member of the NJ Critical Incident Response Team. PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO SWAT-I AM NOT QUALIFIED TO ANSWER THEM AND WILL REJECT THOSE QUESTIONS.
Experience
I have 27 years total Law Enforcement experience in a wide range of areas. I have worked as a Detective and a Patrolman and have made well over 2,000 arrests in my career.
Education/Credentials
Graduated from the United States Army Military Police School
Basic Law Enforcement Training
Arson Investigators School
DARE Officer Training
Interview and Interrogation School
Police Suicide and Awareness Trainer
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.