Careers: Police/background

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Expert: - 5/5/2009


Question
Hi Commander Wagoner. I am currently 21. I have lived a clean life, never doing drugs and never getting drunk. I do volunteer work on a regular basis and have an A.A. degree. I pride my self in my high integrity.I am currently in the LAPD process; well I don't know if I am anymore because of background issues. The background issue that may be a problem for me is something I believe is either something that I did in 5th grade, or something that I was coerced into falsely admitting. At first I was defending myself but the B.I. was telling me that I was lying and contradicting myself and using word play many times. After about an hour, they were threatening me with another polygraph and delaying my process further if I didn't admit it. I did not want to take the polygraph again because I know of the stresses and inaccuracies it has and I already went through it twice. So I falsely admitted thinking I would be done with it and schedule a medical, at least that is what my B.I. told me. Now I find out that my background check is under review and I can't take a medical I scheduled earlier. I am probably thinking I am now DQed. My biggest worry is that if I apply again somewhere else or even here again, what I admitted would be on record for other agencies to look at, and I would contradicting myself if I filled out a pre-polygraph, and they would say I said something different. Like I said before, my integrity isn't the issue here. I take responsibility for my actions. What should I do about this?

Answer
Hi Chris,

OK what in the world does it matter what you did in 5th Grade?? Why would you admit to something you did not do? NEVER admit to anything you did not do.

Agencies do not look at other agencies applications most of the time. Especially if they are not geographically close. If you are going to apply somewhere close then they may call if you put down on your application that you applied to LAPD.

I am still shocked that whatever it was you did in 5th Grade is being brought up when your 21.

Here is rule #1 when talking to BI and or polygraph person, never admit to anything you have not done, no matter what they threaten you with. If you did not do something then why admit it? Stick to your ethics and integrity.

Read this it will help you: http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109845

Be well..

Careers: Police

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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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