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Careers: Police/Police Officer disqualifications

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Expert: - 3/10/2008


Question
I am interested in applying for a position on my local county sheriff's department. Please allow mw to give you a little history on my situation. I am 30 years old. I will be 31 this month. I do not have any college education. I do have a GED. I work full time as a repossessor and I am looking to do bigger and better things in my life. I have acquired several police officer friends in my line of work. to make a long story short, I am was wondering if I could get hired on in a Indiana department without college. I also would like to know if a bad driving record (IN THE PAST) would cause my application to be denied. I got caught driving on a suspended DL a few times when I was younger. This happened in my early to mid 20's. I am not a drug user or alcoholic. I do not have any felonies. I only have misdemeanor traffic from when I was younger. My goal is to get hired and work while I continue on with college. Does this seem possible?? Thanks for your time.

Answer
Hi Shawn,

While what you describe is not an automatic disqualification, you should check with whichever department you are trying to get hired by. They all have there own requirements.

You currently do not have to have college to get hired, but it does help a LOT. If they have a choice of applicants with or without college, they will almost always choose the one with the college.

As for driving, it has to be in the FAR past and it may disqualify you if its bad enough, again you will have to check with the department you are wanting to get hired by.

In my opinion, they are very hesitant to hire people with poor driving records. Reason? They turn you lose in a police car and you are allowed at certain times to drive disregarding laws, and they do not like to let those with poor driving records do that.

Your not automatically disqualified, but you should try to make yourself more attractive to the agencies. I suggest military background since you do not have the schooling. And if you become an MP you can even skip the academy in some states (like Fl!).

Be safe..

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Chris Wagoner

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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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