Expert: Jack Toomey - 3/9/2009

Question
Hi,
I have always dreamed of a career in law enforement, especially as an FBI agent. I was told by someone I know in the FBI that the FBI does not accept anyone who has ever been arrested or had done any kind of drugs, regardless of the length of time that has passed. I am a 29 year old woman who is a straight arrow. When I was 18 I was arrested for possession of about $5 worth of marijuana but no charges were filed. It was just dismissed and my record has been sealed according to my local court. Since then I have never been in trouble with the law. My other issue is that I have also seen a therapist at various points in my life and voluntarily submitted myself to a psychiatric hospital about 6 years ago for depression. Nothing like this has happened since. My conern is that my past will prevent me from being in law enforcement. I realize that the FBI would probably never give me a chance, but do I have any chance with any other kind of career in law enforecement? I spoke to a local cop who said that the sealed arrest would not make a difference. But I am really concerned about my past psych issues because I will need to obtain a pistol permit for law enforcement and I see they ask questions about mental history. I had problems because my father died. But I am not a risk anymore. I am so confused what to do because I don't want to spend thousands of dollars on a criminal justice degree and then find I am not eligible for any careers in this field. Thanks for your help.

Answer
Maggie,

 I'm not an FBI agent but you are most likely correct when you say that you already have several disqualifiers for that agency.  Enough said about the FBI.

 I probably should put this on my profile because I get a ton of questions from people who seem to think that they need a degree in criminal justice to suceed in police work.  I do not know a single person who has a degree in Criminal Justice except for people who wasted their time and now are working as security guards for $9.00 an hour.  Its nice to have that degree but what is it going to do for you?  Probably nothing and then you are stuck with it and can't do a thing with it.  There is nothing that you might learn in a college classroom that you can use on the street.  Nothing.  It is a bunch of theory and the real classroom is on the street, in back alleys, and talking to shady characters.

  It is far better to get a degree in something that interests you that you can fall back on if you are denied a job in law enforcement.

  If you were to apply for MY police department your past would most likely disqualify you for employment.  That DOES NOT MEAN that every department would think that way.  In no way am I trying to discourage you from trying to get a job in law enforcement.  
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