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Expert: - 3/8/2008


Question
QUESTION: ive been looking at becoming a police officer. but as ive looked into beomeing a po ive had something bugging me.i know this is bad but im going to be honest. i was a drug dealer for about 3 years.i was no big time thing just to friends . at first i sold green for about 2 years and the last year i finished in selling white.i wasnt to fond of it and being that it was pretty stupid to do. i have never tryed drugs in my life ive been drug free in the usage part. ive stopped this stupidness of mine for about a year now and i want something with more meanign in my life something to actually be proud of. i was wondering if this would in anyway stop me from being a police officer. im no thug in anyway im a nice guy in general. luckyly i was never caught or in trouble with what i did. thank you for ur input. i realize i was wrong in what i used to do

ANSWER: Hi Nick,

It takes a big man to admit his mistakes. Good for you. But I am sorry to say I do not know of any police agencies that will hire you knowing that you sold drugs in the past. I am sorry, but like you, I have to be honest. They just won't do it.

Be safe.

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

QUESTION: thnx for your first reply but i was wondering what if i never mention anything about it.im sure there are many police officers that regret things that they have done in the past before they became a police officer. Im also sure they never mentioned it while they were applying and trying to become an officer. cause im sure that not all police officers were stright arrows and if the agency knew about their past they would not be hired

Answer
Hi Nick,

You could do what you mention, but remember that you have to go through a battery of test, like a lie detector and a psychological, and background check (they go out to your neighborhood, old and current) and talk to people. And during those its bound to come up, then what?

Starting out a career where we base things on being professional and honest, by lying is probably not the best thing. Don't you agree? While I am sure you are right that some cops backgrounds may have some things in them they are not proud of,  I don't know of any that were committing felonies, or doing things like dealing drugs. I understand your disappointment, but we have to live with the results of our actions. The problem is many people do not think ahead and realize that what I do today may affect me in the future.

How would you feel about arresting some kid for drug dealing? Would you be a little more likely to let someone go for selling just a little, know that it will prevent them from doing something in the future if you do?

Sorry, but not saying something about it during the hiring process is just as bad as lying about it. You would have to live the rest of your career and life, knowing your entire career is based on a lie. Not the best of ways to live, what do you think?

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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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