Expert: Dick Rogers - 3/6/2008

Question
i am planning on applying to become a state trooper in colorado and have someting that has really been bothering me, i am not worried about any part of the testing accept the background check. i have never been arrested for anything and have never used any sort of drugs, my driving record is also clean accept for one speeding ticket a couple years ago, i also have a great work history and have been a reatail manager for several years. but its what i wasnt caught for that worries me, back in highschool me and a couple friends broke in to some houses kind of just because we were board, we didnt ever take much mabey a couple hundred dollars worth of video games,i regret it but i cant change it, is this an automatic D.Q. from the police agencies in my state?

Answer
Kevin, what you describe is not a good thing...basically, you were a burglar.  You state that it was a result of being bored, and it wasn't just one house but "some houses".  If you had been arrested the arrests would be for felonies...things that would automatically disqualify you.  The main thing here, Kevin, is that you are truly through with this kind of thing.  You have to realize that if you apply for this job and you are accepted, that your whole future depends on your performance.  I don't think that polygraph questions deal with "any crimes you may have committed", so just put those episodes in your past and go on with your future.  Good luck.