Expert: Chris Wagoner - 12/13/2011

Question
Hi Chris, I’m seriously interested about going into the correction officer field and possibly if into becoming a police officer. I am a 28 year old female and have never been arrested or had any convictions. Here are my concerns. I was caught with pot in 8th grade but it never went to the school board, just Principle and school police officer (I didn’t even talk to officer) and just suspended for 2 weeks. Also I needed what I thought to be a background ck for college (which I did not just one from child services) The police station informed me that they could not give me a clear background ck because of “complaints” one of which was one for supposed assault on my mother when I was around the age of 13 (I was going to take care of that but my mother is now deceased I do not know how to handle that now) Also one was for a stolen ck. I never went in a was questioned on any of these. My other concern is about a year ago I took a new job. I was working there for about 4 months when a robbery took place and a safe was stolen. I was targeted for this (reasons I still am unsure of) I was some what questioned at work I stopped the questioning because I was surrounded by 3 police officers (2 being detectives) My boss and a 400 lbs man that was president of the home owners association (for the condo rentals place I worked for) standing in front of a locked condo door where the questioning was taking place. I did lose my job on the spot even though I said I would have no problem coming to the police station and finishing the questioning but that I did not feel comfortable in the situation and felt very threatened.  I was let go as I said on the spot for not cooperating and I was never contacted by the police station after this incident. I also have a bankruptcy in progress due to loss of job and not being able to get caught back up on bills. I would like to know how to get these “complaints” off my record and to see if the safe theft would also be on my record and if it is also considered one of these “complaints”. Are any of these disqualifications right away including the pot incident and bankruptcy? If no how can I manage to get these complaints off my record and not have them connected to my name. Any info you have would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!

Answer
Good morning Mel,

Sounds like you have quite a few minor things that are bothering you in your background. Most of the stuff is minor and will come out in discussing your background with the background investigator of the agencies who you are applying to. But the reason the response took so long is on the pass this by, without your name, some of the background investigator's that I work with here and they told me that if you have too many complaints and minor things on your record it shows a pattern of behavior that they call "questionable"and it would raise a red flag.

The bankruptcy is not going to help you but you are not the only person with financial troubles during this period of time to apply. As far as getting the complaints off your record that is good be up to you and you are going to have to deal with whatever agencies are involved in order to do that. I would start out by calling the agencies that are involved and seeing what processes for having those kinds of records expunged.

Have a Happy New Year and Merry Christmas,

Chris