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Expert: Eric Potts - 5/31/2009


Question
I recently have been charged with a DUI (extreme), if convicted will I still be able to become a LEO?  Never been in trouble before this would by far be the worse thing on my record, thanks for your time.....

Answer
Adam,

I'm not sure I understand what DUI (Extreme) is...does your State have Tiers in DUI sentencing, say from a certain level to another is one set of fines and it gets worse the higher your reading?

A DUI in and of itself won't preclude you from employment but the further distance there is between the DUI and employment the better off you are. A Police Department will want to see that you've learned your lesson and have been able to keep out of trouble for some time before they would consider hiring you.

Remember, the things I am stating are my opinions, the Police Department might have a whole different answer for you.

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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