Expert: Eric Potts - 6/2/2008

Question
To whom it may concern,
   I am a 23 year old male who is starting to have doubts about applying for our sheriffs department.  I was cited in 2007 for possion (marijauna).  I have since had that charge dismissed from my record.  Thsi was a misdaminer.  I have since applied for and received a concealed weapons permit.  I experimented with drugs in my child hood.  I also have 2 minor in possiesion charges for underage drinking.  Other then that I am a very honest person and now a very law abiding citizen.  Since my brush with the law it changed my life and would like to do the same for other people.  I am very adiment about getting in to law enforcment and will do anythig to get on with the S.O.  I am just hoping to get a good word of advice and a supporting comment.  I will still try no matter what is said.

Answer
Hi James,

Congratulations on deciding to get your life in order, while I try to remain positive in my responses I also like to keep things "real" and be honest in my answers.

For someone who is dead set on getting into Law Enforcement I can not for the life of me understand what you were doing in possession of Marijuana just last year at 22 years of age. I would have some SERIOUS questions for you, ones you will need to be able to clearly answer, if I was considering hiring you.

Police Departments will look at a person's background and often overlook mistakes made as a juvenile. Naturally it depends on the severity of the mistake. Minor experimentation with Marijuana as a juvenile is often overlooked and taken into account as just that...a juvenile mistake and an experimentation. By 22 years of age, most people who become Police Officers have made a commitment to the profession and lifestyle and issues of drug use are way behind them. In your case this is just last year. James, I think this will be a  stumbling block in your desire to become a Police Officer over the next couple of years, but as with anything else, distance and time can make even the biggest mistakes look smaller and smaller. You need to remain trouble free and prove that it truly was a stupid mistake.

Also, a police officer must be able to express himself clearly in both verbal and written form. Spelling is extremely important and I would advise you to pay special attention to your writing skills.

I wish you a lot of luck James and am in no way trying to discourage you, but I am offering up my concerns and attempting to be as realistic as possible in my assessment of your situation given the limited information I have.

Eric