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Careers: Police/Will this disqualify me?

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Expert: - 7/15/2009


Question
I was convicted of Domestic Violence, and served two years of probation because I violated my probation a few times. One violation was failure to behave at home, one was getting in a fight with my sister, and one was sneaking out to a party at night. I have nothing else on my record, not even a speeding ticket. All of this happened while I was a minor. The offense was against my father, and it was misdemeanor DV. According to the Lautenberg Amendment, it only restricts DV convicts who committed the offense against a spouse of someone with which they share a child. Can I still become a Police Officer in the state of Michigan? Would it help if I obtained a degree in Criminal Justice and got my record expunged? Should I even bother to pursure such a degree?

Answer
Hi Matt,

I could not find the information I needed to give you the law. I will tell you that the majority of agencies will not hire anyone with a domestic violence conviction of any kind. I would talk directly to the background investigator of the agency you want to apply too before you go through all the trouble.

Its better to find out up front. Go to Officer.com, and each state has a section you can ask officers from that state in, it should give you the right people to ask.

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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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