Expert: Chris Wagoner - 2/22/2008

Question
Hi there, My Name Is Joe. I am 21 Years Of Age, Almost 22.
Ive lived in Marion County/ Ocala my -Entire- Life. My record as a juvenile is clean. Ive only 1 Speeding Violation and as of recent, i was charged with Poss. Of Paraphenalia for a scale that was found in my Vehicle. No drugs, No other items. Just the Scale.  It was racked up as a 2nd degree Misdemeanor.
Now my entire aspiration for my life has been to become an officer for the Police. So you can imagine this has crushed me. I am almost done with pre-Trial intervention where I am drug tested 2 times weekly random. And Currently work as a Security officer.  Now that Ive given you this background, Heres the question: If I were to Join Police Academy, and Complete it. How much red tape/ Trouble do you think that 2nd degree misdemeanor will cause me, Even if its going to be expunged when my Pre-trial Intervention is Over?

Thank you for your time.

Answer
Hi Joe,

Well from what you tell me you should be OK. Your not the first person to make a minor mistake. You will have to explain the issue when you apply but you should be OK. Do you know where you want to be a police officer yet or what academy your going to?

You have CFCC there in Ocala that has a really great Academy run by Dr. Stacy Dixon. He is a VERY good Director and he runs a very good academy. I highly recommend it.

Central Florida Community College
Criminal Justice Institute
3001 Southwest College Road
P. O. Box 1388
Ocala, FL 34475
Phone: 352-873-5838
Contact: Director Stacy L. Dickson

http://www.cfcc.cc.fl.us/departments/instruction/public_service/cji/index.htm

What may happen is that you will need to wait a while before an agency will hire you. You did not say if you had used drugs recently or not. If you have you will have to wait about 5 years from the last time you use drugs before a police department will even consider hiring you. My suggestion is to try and get on in a non-sworn position first, let them see you, learn your trustworthy and willing to work, and then they may look at you for the road patrol.

I recommend trying one of these methods of getting into a police agency for young people who have had other issues like drug or minor arrest problems:

1.  You can apply for a non-sworn position such as a Community Service Aide, or sometimes they are called Field Service technicians. They investigate non-emergency calls and help with other things on the road. Its a good chance for the agency to see you and get used to you and you to prove to them your worth the investment of sending to an academy

2.  Get your degree in Criminal Justice. This does two things, it allows you to learn about Criminal Justice, and also allows you to be a little older and more mature before you apply.

3.  Join the military and go into the Military Police. The training and experience you get will make you a highly sought after hire. And in Florida, if you get military police training, you can apply for a exemption from the police academy, you attend a two week course and you can then take the state exam. You don't have to go to the academy! Your military training gives you the basics, gives you time to mature, and gives you the right of being called a "veteran" which only 1.3% of the American public can claim. I am one myself. I was a MP in the Army and loved it.

Those are a few other ways to get into law enforcement. I hope you look at each one and think about them, there are several paths and you have to pick one that is OK for you.

Good luck and stay out of trouble and stay clean and you should be OK if you go one of those routes.