Careers: Police/qualifications

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Expert: Eric Potts - 5/28/2010


Question
Hi, I was jus wondering if i am able to be a police officer if i have ever used drugs ecstasty,cocaine? I have not used since high school and i am never going to again! I am going to get my bachelors degree in criminal justice but is it worth it will i be disqualified. i just want to be a street cop. Thank you for your time!

Answer
Adam, I've explained this answer in the past and it wasn't met with positive results, however I need to be as honest as I can here.

A drug history in your past doesn't automatically preclude you from Police work, however, it certainly does not help you. Especially with elicit drugs that you've mentioned above. Obviously the more time you put between your use and applying for a job can help, but all things being equal between two candidates, the one with no drug use in his background will be hired before the one who has drug use in his background.

Good Luck.

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Eric Potts

Expertise

I am a Veteran of The United States Army where I served as a Military Police Officer for 6 years and have been a Municipal Police Officer for 20 years. I am a certified Arson Investigator, as well as a certified Community Police Officer. I am a DARE teacher in the local schools. I am a Defensive Driving Instructor and worked for years as a Detective specializing in White Collar Crime. I'm qualified to answer general law enforcement questions, general procedure questions (all departments have different rules and regulations. I can answer questions about how to become a law enforcement officer, and questions that might help someone understand why an officer acted a certain way. I am also a Police Suicide Awareness trainer and a member of the NJ Critical Incident Response Team. PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO SWAT-I AM NOT QUALIFIED TO ANSWER THEM AND WILL REJECT THOSE QUESTIONS.

Experience

I have 27 years total Law Enforcement experience in a wide range of areas. I have worked as a Detective and a Patrolman and have made well over 2,000 arrests in my career.

Education/Credentials
Graduated from the United States Army Military Police School Basic Law Enforcement Training Arson Investigators School DARE Officer Training Interview and Interrogation School Police Suicide and Awareness Trainer

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