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Careers: Police/I WANT A CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT HAVE A MAJOR WORRY
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Question
HI IM BRETT IM 21 AND LIVE IN SAN DIEGO AND AM VERY INTERESTED IN A JOB IN LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT WORRY ABOUT A MISTAKE IN MY PAST. I TRIED METH WHEN I WAS 17 I WAS WITH SOME FRIENDS AND PEER PRESURE PLAYED ITS ROLE AND GOT VERY MESSED UP I NEVER TOUCHED THE STUFF AFTER THAT NIGHT AT THE TIME I WAS IMMATURE AND DID A TOTAL 360 DEGREE TURNAROUND GOT FOCUSED AND HAVE BEEN GOING TO COLLEGE STUDYING CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND AM TAKING ENFORCEMENT PSYCHOLOGY AND CRIMINOLOGY AND AM VERY INTRESTED BUT STILL FEAR THAT I WONT BE ABLE TO BE A COP BECAUSE OF MY PAST I HAVE A CLEAN RECORD NEVER EVEN GOT BUSTED FOR SPITING ON THE SIDEWALK I NEED REASSURANCE FROM A PROFESSIONAL IVE HEARD MIXED COMMENTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE BUT STILL WASNT COMPLETELY SATISFIED SO WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME/ THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
Hi Brett,
Well I will tell you that most departments require a certain time frame between your last drug use and when you apply. The local departments here is 5 years for most drugs. 1 year for weed. There are some departments that will disqualify you because it was meth. In order to know for sure if you can apply to a department you need to call and talk to the departments background investigator and ask them the departments policy on past drug use, and you can even tell them your past use and ask if you should bother to apply.
There is no national standard (although there should be) and even in states most do not have standards for the drug use.
On a side note, may I suggest you turn off the caps lock on your computer. It is considered bad manners to type in all capitals. Thats considered "yelling" online. I am not offended by it but some may be, and if your e-mailing a department I would not do it. For etiquette reasons. :)
Good luck, I would highly suggest that your read this post, it will be very helpful in your search for information on this and other topics about getting hired: http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109844
Good luck and be well...
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Answers by Expert:
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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