Careers: Police/AM I ELIGIBLE

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Expert: - 3/30/2008


Question
HEY CHRIS
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU CAN HELP ME OUT AND LET ME KNOW WHAT ARE MY CHANCES IN BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER ? OR AM I just WASTING MY TIME. HERE IS WHAT GOING ON?I HAVE ABOUT 4 SPEEDING TICKETS AND WENT TO TRAFFIC SCHOOL on all, AND 3 ACCIDENTS,AND HAVE BEEN DETAINED BY PD TWICE IN MY LIFE. ONE FOR DUI. I HAVE TRIED WITH THE SAME DEPARMENT AND HAVE BEEN DISQUALIFIED 2 TIMES ONE FOR POOR JOB history because the manager hated military and had it out for me. SECOND FOR FORGETING TO LIST A JOB ON MY APP. AND THAT SAME DEPARMENT SENT ME A LETTER SAYING DISAUALED FOR POSSIBle criminal behavior?? which dont know why they would say that and last is that they contact my ex wife and she tells them all sorts of lies and makes me look bad to the background investigator.. please advice Im currently working in the loss prevention field for 6 yrs and have been in the military 8 yr with hnorable diacharge

Answer
Hi Saul,

Sorry your having so much trouble. Without more information on your background I really can't tell you what your chances are, but have you thought of moving out of state to get away from that area? Sounds like your not having much luck there so you might need a change in area to start all over and new?

With what you told me if those tickets are within the last 7 years and the DUI within the last 7 you will more than likely be disqualified. The department that said criminal behavior may have been referring to the DUI since its a crime.

As for forgetting things on your application, they really are hard about that, because it shows your possibly not being honest (even if it was just a mistake). You have to be very careful.

Keep trying and try smaller departments first, they are the most forgiving when it comes to background issues (As long as they are not bad).

Your driving record has to be clean for 5-7 years, no arrest within the last 10 years or so and only minor ones allowed for that. SO I would say your chances are not good. Stay clean and try again after some time has passed.  

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Chris Wagoner

Expertise

I have been a police officer for 30+ years! I am the Police Academy Commander at the Santa Fe College, Institute of Public Safety in Gainesville Florida It is a full service Law Enforcement and Corrections training facility. I can answer most questions concerning law enforcement procedures, law enforcement training and general questions about law enforcment. I can also answer questions about becoming a law enfocement officer. I have a booklet and web page I have written that answers many questions about how to become a police officer called "So you want to be a cop (police Officer) in Florida?", which is free, Google it.. All you have to do is ask. I teach the following subjects: RADAR/LASER, Law Enforcement Driving, Law Enforcement Firearms and Patrol Techniques, Officer Safety, WMD's for Patrol Officers, Application of Law, Communications skills, Dealing with the Mentally and physically handicapped, and many more subjects. I have worked as a subject matter expert for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and helped to write the police curriculum for the State of Florida. I like answering questions about how to become a police officer, and questions about why did an officer do this or that type questions. I also like answering any questions you may have about police work in general. I do not mind helping with homework questions or trying to answer your questions about legal subjects that I have knowledge of. You will never know the answer until you ask! If you do ask a question, PLEASE take the time to at least rate the answer. I do not get paid to answer these questions and do it on my own time. If you ask, please rate it when I answer. Thanks!!! If its a question about becoming a police officer, it may be answered here: http://sites.google.com/site/flaleohelp/ My "hobby" website - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487 Military Videos on YouTube and Facebook!!

Experience

I am a 30+ year veteran police officer, I am currently the Police Academy Commander of an Academy in North FLorida. I have been training police officers since 1993 and have trained them in all aspects of law enforcement, including firearms, Driving and legal subjects including patrol techniques and others and training all over the world. I have trained over 5000 officers worldwide in the last 16 years of training.

Publications
I am a published author in Accident Investigation from the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. Also have written and published on the Internet, "So You Want to be a Cop (Police Officer) in Florida?" you can Google it..

Education/Credentials
I have 2 degrees, in Criminal Justice.

Awards and Honors
Phi Theta Kappa, plus 50+ Departmental Awards over the years. FBI Directors award for assisting in a Nationwide investigation into Child pornography.

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