Expert: Loren Stevens - 3/27/2010

Question
First off, I would like to say thank you for taking a few moments of your time to answer this question. I am currently 19YO, earning a bachelor's degree in criminology and I have almost completed my first year (still undecided on a minor). My grades are right around a B+ average. I have no convictions or arrests and have never been charged with anything before. Never been pulled over before. My work history is great, I started working in March of 2007 at the age of 16 and am with the same company to this day and plan on staying there through college. I have gone on two ride-alongs so far and am trying to get more involved in a LE agency in my area for any volunteer work that is available. I am also beginning to workout a lot in order to get more in shape and am going to be taking jiu-jitsu over the coming summer. The downside is that I have smoked marijuana 11 times total. The last time being right before my senior year in high school in late August/early September of 2008. I currently have about a year and a half since my last use. I have not used anything harder than marijuana. By the time I graduate college I will have about 4.5 years since my last use of marijuana. Of course, this is beyond experimental use so I would like to hear your opinion on how I may look as a law enforcement applicant within the next several years to come.

Thank you for your reply, it is much appreciated.

Steve

Answer
Hello Steve,
Prophecy is not one of my gifts. So, how you will be viewed by an agency human resource staff is uncertain to me. Plus, ALL agencies are not on the same page with this subject, and it depends on your competition at the time.
Ceteris paribus, with other candidates, and the difference is your use of a controlled substance...might be unfavorable for you.
Much of the hiring process is about potential, character, and judgement.
Certainly, they'll want to know why you used, and more to the point, why you stopped using.
I would suggest you frame a decent answer for anticipated questions on this subject. You don't want to sound canned, and you do want to frame your answer with the best wordsmithing as you can muster...and still be truthful. You will be poligraphed on truthfulness, and drug use, so keep that in mind, as you construct your anticipated responses.
For college, I suggest a double major, no miner..and consider two majors that are in fields that compliment each other, or have one of them in English.
Written and oral communication skills will always be a good asset for you.
Ride alongs are ok, and I would keep a journal on those experiences if I were you. And, chronicle those experiences while they are fresh.
If you are looking to do more volunteer work in a LE related area...consider a juvenile in-take facility, a substation office at a county ER, or a very good experience is one most folks would not think of: A medical examiner's unit.
Another area, is a police agency Training unit. There, you will see what is being taught for "real" duty oriented activity, rather than the "theory" based campus type study.
You'll want a firm grasp of 4th and 14th Amendment stuff.
Again, on your use of Cannabis sativa L, some fed agencies I hear have an informal formula, where number of times used, type of controlled substance used, and time distance from last use is considered.
You might consider in your explanation, about immaturity at the time, and youthful indiscretions etc.
But be honest in the paperwork you advance, and your oral answers, as being nailed as untruthful is a blast you can't recover from, and there is no "explanation" that I am aware of, that will mend that breach.
I also don't know if I would wait for graduation, prior to submitting an application to a police agency that you fancy.
It may slow your educational goals, as it is pretty difficult to take college the first two years on the agency. But, after that, you can generally resume college interests, and often times, the agency will reimburse tuition costs.
If nothing else, it would give you an idea on how to deal with the process, and some experience at fielding questions that give you discomfort, if not heart burn.
Hope this is helpful,
Good Luck, Semper Fi.
loren