AboutJack Toomey Expertise U.S.: I am an expert in this category for the purpose of giving young people an idea what the hiring process for the position of police officer involves.
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 NOT a probation officer so I cannot answer questions about probation and parole matters. 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 available to give sound and reasonable 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.
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. In 1999 I won an award for my work with high school students while working in my new career in a large suburban high school.
Expert: Jack Toomey Date: 6/10/2008 Subject: Am I able to become a police officer?
Question Hello My name is Joel and I was wondering if I am still able to become a police officer and eventually get into the US Marshals.
When I was 20 years old I worked the graveyard shift at a gas station and I scratched some lottery tickets
and never paid for them. Well I eventually quit and moved to a different city and applied for a job and they did a background check on me a few months after I had moved.
I found out I had a warrant out for my arrest for what I did, and right away I contacted to police department
and told them I wanted to turn myself in and get it all taken care of. So I got a ride back to my state and turned myself in. I sat in the jail for a couple of hours
and they brought me right up to court. They charged me with state lottery fraud(felony). They let me go on supervised probation till the next court date. After all the court dates they told me I could have 3 years of unsupervised probation and a fine of
$970 and that after my probation was done the felony wouldn't be on my record, it would just be a misdemeanor. After court I talked with my P.O. and he said that I was charged with a felony, but I wasn't convicted of a felony. I have wanted to become a police officer and eventually get into the US Marshals for a long time. I made a really stupid decision and have never been in trouble with the law before. Am I still able to do so? Is there anything I will have to do like get a masters/military experience to make up for my past to have a chance? Thanks and I hope to hear from you soon!
Joel
Answer Joel,
First of all you have to understand that there are thousands of police departments and each have their own hiring standards. Prior arrests and/or convictions for anything including traffic tickets are taken into consideration. An arrest for what you have described is certainly not going to help you but then again it might not hurt you.
Once again there is no way that I can predict if this is going to be a problem but you will find out soon enough when you apply for a position on a department. You will be asked to fill out a lengthy application form and it will ask if you have been arrested and for what. That is the point where you will probably be informed whether this is an automatic disqualifier.
