Careers: Police/question

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Expert: - 6/15/2010


Question
hello, I am going to school for a criminal justice bathelors degree but i have used drugs in the past such as ecstasty and cocaine apparently i was hanging aroun the wrong croud of people witch i nolonger accociate with those types of peope anymore. Now i am trying to start a new life,To put it in a nut shell do i qualify to work in lw enforcment if i used (hard) drugs if its been eight years since any use?

Answer
Adam,


Thanks for the question.

There are other items that are measured, not just drug usage. However, some law enforcement agencies will disqualify you if there is any history at all, and others will not. It really depends on the individual agency and what their hiring requirements are.

If you can pass a polygraph examination concerning drug usage as well as a medical screening, I see no reason why you could not qualify.

Good luck and best wishes!

Careers: Police

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William Payne

Expertise

South Carolina general law enforcement career information. South Carolina Criminal & Traffic Laws. Field Training Manager, Court Systems, Police Recruiting & Hiring, Personnel/Employee Evaluations, Non-Lethal Weapons & Use of Force.

Experience

Retired after 24-1/2 years experience as a Municipal Police Officer. 19 years as a Sergeant. I guest instructed at the State of South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. I am a Community Policing Instructor, Field Training Officer, Instructor-Trainer in the Monadnock Expandable/PR-24 Batons, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Law Enforcement Driving Instructor, O.C. Spray Instructor, Taser Instructor, and liaison for State Accreditation Standards. I also serve as an Adjunct Instructor for Park University, where I teach in the Criminal Justice Administration Degree Program.I am currently Director of Security for a major hospital system in South Carolina.

Organizations
South Carolina Law Enforcement Officer's Association.

Education/Credentials
South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy
Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration, Park University.
Master of Arts Degree in Management, Webster University.
Master of Arts Degree in Human Resources Development, Webster University.

Datamaster Operator, Monadnock PR-24/M.E.B. Instructor-Trainer, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Field Training Manager, Certified Basic Investigator, Certified in Homicide Investigations.


Awards and Honors
Beaufort County, South Carolina, Police Officer of the Year, 1990.

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