Careers: Police/Credit History

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Expert: - 1/27/2011


Question
My credit history is not the best in the world! I have spent the past 3 years trying to straighten it out. I have been through a Background Investigation with the state once and was rejected for other reasons. Now with the way the economy is and job situation in my area I am most likely going to have to file bankruptcy. My question is how  much does the credit history part of the Background Investigation count against you? Or do they look at on a case by case basis and make a decision? What looks worse on an application foreclosure or bankruptcy? I really want to be a LEO and don't want this to be the reason I get turned down!

Answer
Good morning Mason,

While agencies do look at your credit history as part of your background investigation, due to the recent economic issues and problems that everyone is having, they are not as stringent as they used to be on the issue of credit histories. But a bankruptcy or very poor credit of a recent history will probably be a disqualifier for most agencies. Your best chances of employment will be with a small agency were you are able to speak to the head of the organization or be able to explain your situation to background investigator better than at a large agency where they have hundreds of applicants who do not have credit issues.

I would recommend trying to straighten out your credit issues and then allowing some time to pass between your last credit problem and your application. Usually with credit issues a 3 to 5 year window of clean credit will get you past that hurdle. Over seven years you have no problem at all.

Hope that helps explain.

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Chris Wagoner

Expertise

I have been a police officer for 30+ years! I am the Police Academy Commander at the Santa Fe College, Institute of Public Safety in Gainesville Florida It is a full service Law Enforcement and Corrections training facility. I can answer most questions concerning law enforcement procedures, law enforcement training and general questions about law enforcment. I can also answer questions about becoming a law enfocement officer. I have a booklet and web page I have written that answers many questions about how to become a police officer called "So you want to be a cop (police Officer) in Florida?", which is free, Google it.. All you have to do is ask. I teach the following subjects: RADAR/LASER, Law Enforcement Driving, Law Enforcement Firearms and Patrol Techniques, Officer Safety, WMD's for Patrol Officers, Application of Law, Communications skills, Dealing with the Mentally and physically handicapped, and many more subjects. I have worked as a subject matter expert for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and helped to write the police curriculum for the State of Florida. I like answering questions about how to become a police officer, and questions about why did an officer do this or that type questions. I also like answering any questions you may have about police work in general. I do not mind helping with homework questions or trying to answer your questions about legal subjects that I have knowledge of. You will never know the answer until you ask! If you do ask a question, PLEASE take the time to at least rate the answer. I do not get paid to answer these questions and do it on my own time. If you ask, please rate it when I answer. Thanks!!! If its a question about becoming a police officer, it may be answered here: http://sites.google.com/site/flaleohelp/ My "hobby" website - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487 Military Videos on YouTube and Facebook!!

Experience

I am a 30+ year veteran police officer, I am currently the Police Academy Commander of an Academy in North FLorida. I have been training police officers since 1993 and have trained them in all aspects of law enforcement, including firearms, Driving and legal subjects including patrol techniques and others and training all over the world. I have trained over 5000 officers worldwide in the last 16 years of training.

Publications
I am a published author in Accident Investigation from the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. Also have written and published on the Internet, "So You Want to be a Cop (Police Officer) in Florida?" you can Google it..

Education/Credentials
I have 2 degrees, in Criminal Justice.

Awards and Honors
Phi Theta Kappa, plus 50+ Departmental Awards over the years. FBI Directors award for assisting in a Nationwide investigation into Child pornography.

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