Expert: Jack Toomey - 1/4/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

I am planning on becoming a police officer, hopefully some time within the next few years and I have several questions.  I am planning on applying either to the RCMP or the Calgary Police Service.  I am in my 3rd year of my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice at Mount Royal University.  I am also studying a minor degree in Spanish.  I don't have much in the way of volunteer experience yet however I plan on starting that soon.  I have a relatively clean past and my current life involves no criminal involvement.

Would the minor degree in Spanish be very beneficial in getting hired because it brings my marks down a lot over all.  As well do potential police services look strongly at your university marks?  As well do you have any suggestions as to where I should volunteer? Are ride-alongs beneficial as well?

The only things I can think that could possibly work against me in getting hired as a police officer are the following:

I have used marijuana while I was in high school and some of the people I associated with sold drugs.  I have never sold drugs, personally possessed any (besides marijuana) however I can recall an instance in which I drove one of my friends to do a marijuana deal and an instance in which one of my friends was in my car while selling ecstasy.  I understand how stupid it was to be involved in these things now and I have had no contact with anyone involved in this activity in a few years. I would characterize this as a few months of high school in which I was caught up in the wrong crowd.  I have also not used any drugs in about two years.  I can also recall an instance about a year ago in which I was in the vehicle of a friend of a friend of mine and he decided to make a quick detour and sell some crack cocaine he had in his vehicle, that I didn't know about.  I have had very little contact with this person since then and I have made it clear I don't approve of what he did. For the record I also grew up in a high-drug community.  

Besides that I have driven under the influence of marijuana before in high school and I have driven drunk on two occasions both about a year and a half ago.

As far as work experience goes I worked in an electronics store while in high school for two years and I feel I will have a strong reference from that.  I can only think of one instance during that job that I am not proud of and that is when I removed some items from a locked display case and gave them to an individual I knew intended to steal them.  One of these items was an i pod in which the person owed me for losing mine.  I regret this very much and it is the only instance in my life in which I recall failing my obligations of a position of trust.

Basically, for a few months of high school I was caught up with the wrong people and made some unwise decisions.

Recently the only undesirable activity I recall being involved in is riding in the same vehicle as someone who was drunk behind the wheel.  I also found out one of my friends may have been involved in selling ecstasy a few months ago but I know he doesn't now.

I have also worked in loss prevention for over a year and it went quite well, however I had a disagreement with one of my supervisors and when I quit I gave 2 weeks notice they told me that they would rather I not stay for the 2 weeks and that they would give me a good reference however they felt I'm not ready to be put in a job with little supervision.  I have a feeling this decision was influenced by the supervisor I had disagreements with and because the company doesn't want me to work for another loss prevention company.  Although to most people this does not sound like a big deal but I know police services take stuff like this into account.  Could this potentially be quite damaging to me? I'd honestly say about half of the employees at my former company leave on bad terms?

As well for my first year of University I had some issues with tardiness.

These are my "skeletons in my closet." Do you feel they are severe enough to disqualify me from becoming considered for a policing job if I were to apply in about 2 or 3 years?

As well, what work experience do you recommend I obtain?

I understand this is a lengthy question but I thank you for any advice you can give me, I'm not too sure where else I should go to get these questions answered.

-B







ANSWER: I see that you are in Canada.  I am in the United States and never have had contact with a Canadian police officer.  I also know nothing about the hiring standards of the Canadian police because it is obviously a totally different country with different laws, rules, etc.

I can tell you this.  If you applied for MY department in the United States you probably would be disqualified.  

In no way am I suggesting that you should give up your quest to become a police officer.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Do you believe that any of these things I've told you about would permanently disqualify me from entrance to most police departments, or do you feel that these would go away with time as long as I keep my act together? As well is there any way in which I can make up for some of these short-comings?

Thanks

Answer
My friend you have stolen, you have used drugs, and have driven drunk.  These are all major disqualifiers on some departments in the U.S.

I told you before what would happen with MY department in the United States.  I have no idea what Canadian police departments look for or what their standards are.  You are going to have to wait until you apply for a job to find out.