Expert: Jack Toomey - 11/17/2009

Question
    Hello,
    I have a few questions regarding whether or not i have a chance in hades or not to be a law enforcement officer. I was arrested for felony larceny and felony B&E i was sent to jail spent five days there until pre-trial got me out. My court date came after four months of being on pretrial release i was on house arrest at all times during that period. Within one month of being out on pre-trial release i was enrolled into the Alexander County Law Enforcement Exploring program that is in north carolina, i had went back to Wilkes community college for my adult high school diploma NOT G.E.D. My court date came some three months after all of that and by that time i had gotten my diploma, my record for pre-trial was excellent no violations of any kind, my record with the explorers was also excellent. Keep in mind that this was my first crime ever, no excuses just plain stupidity i was 18 years old when this happened and am now almost 20. the larceny was for $6000 worth of stuff which was ALL returned by my mother and the judge offered me a plea bargain of misdemeanor for both charges with 18 months probation 90 day suspended with probation being terminated within 6 months if i pay $1500 in court fees and restitution. My legal council strongly suggested that i take this plea bargain so, i did. But i was thinking to myself why am i paying $800 restitution to this person if nothing was damaged and everything was returned. Not the point, anyway... How can i clean this mess of my life up? I want to be a law enforcement officer i can't see any other career that i want, I was thankful when i got arrested otherwise i would still be doing stupid stuff and now i want to help others in the same way i was helped. I have tried and tried to find resources on DQ's for NCLE but can find nothing for my state. Please give me some insight.  Thanks in advance

Answer
There is no "yes" or "no" answer to your question.  Every police department has different hiring standards.

However your criminal record would most likely be an automatic disqualifer for any department that I have had contact with.  The reason is that every time that you testified in court the defense attorney could bring up your criminal record and impeach your testimony.  That is why police departments do not hire people with serious criminal records.

I no way am I telling you that you should not apply and see what happens.  Give it a try and see what happens.


I meant to say "in no way am I telling you that you should not apply".  Give it a try and see what happens".