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Careers: Police/Can I be hired?
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Question
Hello, I had a question regarding my entrance into the police academy. I have been accepted but I was wondering if I really have much of a chance getting hired by anyone. In my past, I have had problems with depression. I attempted suicide and checked myself into the hospital. I was successfully treated and I have not had any kind of depression in over 8 years. I have stolen things in my youth (over 14 years ago) and my early employment history was quite spotty. I never got fired, but I quit and would go somewhere else quite often. I did get terminated as a dispatcher, but the academy accepted that... it was 7 years ago. I have stolen from employers, but it was also a VERY long time ago (10 years). Since all this happened, I have held good jobs, for a long time. I have been married, raised a son, and have remained very stable for years now. Will my past prevent me from actually getting a job?
Hey Dustin,
I am glad to hear you have gotten your life back on track, and I am glad your feeling better also, good for you.
Dustin, I am sorry but most of the departments that I know of or are involved in their background and hiring practices (5 right now) would not hire you based on what you told me. There are just to many issues that they have to think about liability wise. You have to remember that once they hire you and give you a gun and badge, they turn you lose to make decisions on your own. If you were to make a bad one, someone could always come back and say that they should have known you were a liability based on your background. Sorry.
Most kids, teens and younger people do not realize how much what you do during your younger years can affect you when you get older and settle down. Its a shame, I am sure your probably a good person, but they have to take your entire background into account and the position it could put them in if something happened.
Be safe..
PS> Please don't forget to evaluate this answer. Thanks!!
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | I really appreciate it Commander Wagoner. I have a cousin who is kind of in the same boat as me and he got hired as a reserve and told me he had to prove himself as a reserve, and they just hired him full time. Maybe it would take some time, but I appreciate your honesty, knowledge, and most of all your courtesy. I am almost positive it will take me some time, but I hope that someone can see that I have moved on. Thanks again! | ||
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Answers by Expert:
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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