Expert: Jack Toomey - 11/2/2008

Question
QUESTION: I am 33 years old. I have a masters degree in social work, and own a sober living home. I have been sober for 2 years. I also hold a black belt in judo. I have recently begun the application process for the LAPD. I honestly disclosed my drug use history, which is extensive. I have used marijuanna, meth, cocaine, mushrooms in the past five years. I did not use any of them frequently. I was always employed. Is there any chance for me to become a police officer.

ANSWER: Michael,

  I get this kind of question at least once a week.  I probably should put something on my profile so people can understand that there are thousands of police departments in this country from the smallest three man departments to the largest like the LAPD.  Every single one of them has its own hiring standards.  There are no national hiring standards.

  But the easiest way to answer your question, which I am sure you can anticpate, is that your extensive drug use is surely not going to help you get hired as a police officer.  This DOES NOT apply to any other department but MINE but if you were applying for MY department what you have told me would be an automatic disqualifier.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your response. So what would you recommend? Is there anything I can do to make it. I have no felony record. The background application is considerable, I don't want to spend all the time filling it out if I'm just going to be rejected. Do you know anything about southern CA. I have heard the the sheriffs dept. has more relaxed standards. I have not lied on my app. if anything I have perhaps aired on the side of caution by disclosing as much ass possible. Is that foolish of me?

Answer
Michael,

  I live on the east coast and have never been to California in my life so I have no idea about what the sheriffs department does or what their hiring standards are.  It was not foolish of you to reveal your entire drug history because it would have come out anyway during your background investigation and if you had lied on the application then, depending on the laws there, you could have been in trouble.  It also would have been revealed on your polygraph.

  I cannot tell you that it is a lost cause because I am not making the decision.  I will repeat what I said before.  Your drug use, especially since it was so late in your life, is not going to help you get hired.