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Expert: - 11/9/2009


Question
I enlisted in the Army in April 2004. I was discharged in September 2004. I received an uncharacterized discharge. I was only 18 years old, and I lost all motivation to be there. I currently work for the Arizona Department of Corrections and have done so since September 2006. When I applied for them, they didn’t even ask what that discharge meant when I provided them with my dd214. I don’t know if it was because they were hurting for people so bad or what? I plan on applying for police departments in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and even in California once they start to hire again. I know some places say no dishonorable discharges on their websites. Others say no other than honorable discharge on their website. Does this affect my chances of becoming a police officer?  I cant afford to be traveling around applying for places, going through the process, then come to the background and tell me no. I really appreciate you taking out the time to answer my question and help me out.

Answer
Hey Daniel,

It can affect your chances. You will have to check with each agency to see what the policy of that Department is before you bother to go through all the application process. If they say only Honorable Discharges, then yours will not pass the requirement. My best advice is to call the department and ask to speak to one of the background investigators and see what they tell you since they are the ones that make the calls on a lot of these things before the applications even go anywhere.

Good luck and be safe..

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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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