AboutJack Toomey Expertise U.S.: Please do not ask me about potential jail sentences that you, your friends, or family might receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am a retired police officer with 26 years experience.I worked in a variety of assignments including investigations, homicide, sex crimes, runaway investigations, missing persons, and fraud.I also dealt with the general public during that time giving a wide range of advice on matters such as domestic disputes, problem solving, teenage problems, civil/criminal matters, and dealing with the mentally ill.I am currently teaching in a large public school system and frequently interact with teenagers who would rather speak with me than their own parents or counselors. I am available to give sound and resonable advice which can solve most problems.
Please do not ask me to do homework questions or online interviews. Young people should not rely on the Internet for interviews. Local police officers are normally very agreeable to assist students with interviews and surveys.
Experience Worked as a police officer/detective for 26 years. Now teaching at a large suburban high school.
Graduate of the University of Maryland.B.S. in Law Enforcement.Attended numerous schools and training courses involving investigations, interviewing, interrogations, crime detection, domestic violence, and others.Recognized as an expert court witness.
Received numerous awards during my police career for expert investigations.Handled the most sensitive and confidential investigations.Received "staff member of the year" award in my new career in 1999 for my work with youth.
Expert: Jack Toomey Date: 5/14/2008 Subject: Police
Question Hey Jack, its me again, I did allot of research on the police force, but I still don't know about the medicine thing? can I be on an anxiety pill in the police or SWAT? I mean in your department??? not nationally cause I know its different.
Answer Clay,
Let me emphasize that there are no national hiring standards for police officers in this country. Every single one has different standards and then when you get down the individualized units it gets more murky because of the tasks performed.
In your scenario (a person on anxiety medication on the SWAT team) again would depend on the person, his background, what his doctor had to say about it, whether the county doctor felt that he could perform the tasks without interference, and so on. What would probably happen is the the officer's doctor would talk to the doctor doing the physical exam and reach a decision. But that is assuming that the person gets hired in the first place if he has a history of anxiety related illness.
