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Expert: Eric Potts - 3/13/2009


Question
hello,i have always wanted to be a police officer,but fought with a drinking problem.i have been sober for years now.when i did drink,i ran into may share of trouble.i have a d.u.i,posession of fake i.d.,battery,and resisting arrest on my record ,all misdemeanors.it has been between 4-7 years since things have passed.i do have a BS in criminal justice and have paid my way through the police academy as a non-affiliate.it has all been a great learning experience,but before i dare to start applying i would like to ask do you think i have a chance?or should i just write it off as a life learning experience and move on?also would it be more possible to get hired at large departments such as LAPD and LASD?thank you,kris

Answer
Kris,

The only way to find out is to start applying, taking tests, going through the process and discovering whether a department will over look these incidents while doing a Background check on you.

Many won't over look these incidents but some smaller departments that have less applicants might. A larger department with a bigger pool of applicants is not likely to pass you on if everything is equal but these incidents with other candidates.

Good Luck.

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Eric Potts

Expertise

I am a Veteran of The United States Army where I served as a Military Police Officer for 6 years and have been a Municipal Police Officer for 20 years. I am a certified Arson Investigator, as well as a certified Community Police Officer. I am a DARE teacher in the local schools. I am a Defensive Driving Instructor and worked for years as a Detective specializing in White Collar Crime. I'm qualified to answer general law enforcement questions, general procedure questions (all departments have different rules and regulations. I can answer questions about how to become a law enforcement officer, and questions that might help someone understand why an officer acted a certain way. I am also a Police Suicide Awareness trainer and a member of the NJ Critical Incident Response Team. PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO SWAT-I AM NOT QUALIFIED TO ANSWER THEM AND WILL REJECT THOSE QUESTIONS.

Experience

I have 27 years total Law Enforcement experience in a wide range of areas. I have worked as a Detective and a Patrolman and have made well over 2,000 arrests in my career.

Education/Credentials
Graduated from the United States Army Military Police School Basic Law Enforcement Training Arson Investigators School DARE Officer Training Interview and Interrogation School Police Suicide and Awareness Trainer

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