Expert: Chris Wagoner - 3/17/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello Sir,
My question is about the police hiring processes background check. I applied to the L.A.P.D. 4-5 years ago and was disqualified for certain issues that they had with my background. It was the first department that I applied to and did not file an appeal. At that time I was a bit inexperienced with the hiring process, and was 100% honest about my past. I passed both the written and physical test, filled out a background questionnaire, and took the lie detector test. I received a letter in the mail notifying me that I was disqualified after the lie detector test. I believe it was a standard letter saying that I was not among the most qualified candidates. I was never fingerprinted in the process.
My question to you sir is, if I apply to another department for example; a smaller department and I do not tell them that I applied to the L.A.P.D. are they going to find out anyways? If they punch my name into one of there computers or something is it going to show them that I did apply to the L.A.P.D. Remember, I was never fingerprinted in the process. Would my name or social security number show other departments my L.A.P.D. disqualification? I know integrity is very important in law enforcement, but I'm afraid that I mite have no other choice. I am a good person who believes in write and wrong. And I believe that my past issues happened a very long time ago, and do not affect who I am today.
         Thank You for your time Sir

ANSWER: Good Morning Sam,

I know that most police agencies as a rule do not check with other agencies to see if someone has applied to their department (the competition thing for people) but on occasions they may make a call or check if something comes up that makes them wonder.

On some applications there are questions about "What other departments have you applied to?" and you of course would have to be honest for that one. Or it may come up in the BI. If it does not come up or is not asked, you probably would not be required to divulge it.

I recommend just being honest. if it comes up, tell them, if it does not, then you are not obligated to bring everything up that they have not asked for.

There is no computer system for police applicants, although it would be a good idea.

be well and good luck.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sir,
You say that on some applications there mite be a question about what other departments I have applied to. If I don't mention any, how may it come up in the BI?
         
         Thank you Sir

Answer
Good morning Sam,

If the application states on it somewhere that they ask you for other departments you have applied to and you fail to respond then when you sign the end of the application attesting to the fact that all of the information you provided is true and correct would be a lie. And that's not good. Especially to start a law enforcement career. In addition if you are then given a lie detector test one of the questions that they ask almost all the time is everything on your application through an accurate to the best of your knowledge. You would either have to lie and say yes, or hope that the lie detector is not accurate enough to detect the deception.

So as I said, if it's not on the application then it may not become an issue, but if it is on the application you should be truthful and state the departments that you have applied to.

Remember that while agencies may not share applicant information in some form of a database you may be limiting yourself to a local geographical area in which the background investigators may know each other and share information if they have some kind of a reason to suspect that you may or may not have been truthful.

Good luck on your application process and I hope it all works out for you.