Expert: William Payne - 4/2/2008

Question
First, just wnted to thank you for taking your time on this site to help out people with thier questions. Anyways to get straight to the point. I been interested in law enforcement since i was about 10. My brother are both cops, and they love thier job and say its the most rewarding career. Im sure i could get a job using the people i know but i want to earn the position rather then have it given to me. When i was 18 i was arrested twice in one month for underage drinking/criminal damage to property (driving over a neighbors lawn). and underage drinking a 2 weeks later. and a year later when i was 19 i was charged with a DWI. So, i been arrested 3 times in my life, during those times i was going through a divorce of my parents and it was a tough time for me, and i didnt have the maturity or ability to handle the stress in the correct way. I am now 26, and have had a clean record since then other then one speeding ticket that i recieved supervision for, and I work as a loss prevention officer, and im currently on a local county sheriffs department as a auxiliary deputy (full arrest powers when on duty) for about a year now.
Would you say with my past and what i have done recently that i have a chance in become full time in this field?

Answer
Dan,

Thanks for the question.

I don't know what state you are in, but some have a time frame before you can be eligible after a DUI arrest. Where I am, South Carolina, you can't get hired prior to a 10 year time frame for a DUI conviction.

I would think that if you are currently serving as a Reserve Deputy, you should not have a problem getting hired full-time. You have stayed out of trouble, have all ready received valuable training, and are basically doing the job.

I really don't see you having a problem getting hired where you are.


Good luck and best wishes!