Careers: Police/LVMPD rejection

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Expert: - 8/11/2010


Question
i have been rejected from LVMPD for omitting that i did some drugs i high school. meth 5 times and cocaine 7. i was 16 years old and am now 29. i was accepted by another local police department but due to budget constraints have not yet made an academy. LVMPD is hiring a lot more and i want to know if there is any way i can dispute this decision? i have no criminal history, perfect credit and good job history. there is nothing more i want to do than to be a police officer. any help you can give me i would greatly appreciate.

Answer
Joe,

I have no idea what "LVMP" is but I guess that it does not matter.

I can only base my question on the policy of my own department.  If you are rejected for employment there is no right of appeal because you are not an employee of the agency.  

I'd guess that your only recourse is in the courts but that would be expensive and most likely you would lose because your prior drug use is most likely in opposition to their hiring standards.

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Jack Toomey

Expertise

U.S.: I am an expert in this category for the purpose of giving young people an idea what the hiring process involves for the position of police officer. I am getting a flood of questions from young people who are being influenced by unrealistic television shows. I'd ask you to consider that when you watch police shows on television that they are NOT realistic and most of what you see does not happen in real life. Please do not ask me about potential jail sentences that you, your friends, or family might receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer so I cannot answer questions about probation and parole matters. I am a retired police officer with 26 years experience.I worked in a variety of assignments including investigations, homicide, sex crimes, runaway investigations, missing persons, and fraud.I also dealt with the general public during that time giving a wide range of advice on matters such as domestic disputes, problem solving, teenage problems, civil/criminal matters, and dealing with the mentally ill. I am available to give sound and reasonable advice which can solve most problems. Please do not ask me to do homework questions or online interviews. Young people should not rely on the Internet for interviews. Local police officers are normally very agreeable to assist students with interviews and surveys.

Experience

Worked as a police officer/detective for 26 years.

Graduate of the University of Maryland.B.S. in Law Enforcement.Attended numerous schools and training courses involving investigations, interviewing, interrogations, crime detection, domestic violence, and others. Recognized in court as an expert witness.

Received numerous awards during my police career for expert investigations. Handled the most sensitive and confidential investigations. In 1999 I won an award for my work with high school students while working in my new career in a large suburban high school.

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