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Careers: Police/Recovering alcoholic

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Expert: - 8/13/2008


Question
Hi Chris! I have an interview scheduled next Tuesday for the Phoenix police dept as an office.(No disqualifiers in my prelim.packet) I am 4 and one-half yrs sober. I am a 41 yr old female. My recovery has been the best thing that has happened to me in terms of me striving to be the best person I can be. My drinking "career" was short lived before I admitted I had problem however I hurt people who love me the most. Will my alcohol abuse in the past hinder my chances of fulfilling my dream? My recovery is a cornerstone alongside my faith. Thanks Chris!

Answer
Hi Kelly,

GOOD FOR YOU!! I think that is a great thing you have done.

As for your interview and other background checks, your drinking will more than likely come out and become a subject they will want to talk about, but you simply address it and tell them you have taken care of it and it is no longer a problem and that should be it. In fact if I were you I would turn it into a positive and tell them that not only are you a better person for it, you now have the ability to talk to people who have addiction problems better and you can communicate with people that have other types of additions with more knowledge and understanding. You tell them you feel that you are able to communicate with people better now knowing what you do and you feel you are in a better position than someone who has not gone through what you have to help people who have addiction problems.

Turn what was once negative into a positive. If you came before me in an hiring interview (which I used to do) and addressed it this way, I would look at you in a positive way. If you came in and talked about it as a negative, I would look at it as a negative also.

Hope this helps. I hope you do well and again, good for you!


Be well...

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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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