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Expert: - 3/16/2011


Question
Dear Mr. Wagoner,
I am currently applying for jobs as a police officer and on the background investigation packet I received there is a question that reads: "Have you ever committed ANY crime for which you were not caught?"

My response is: "I consumed alcohol before I turned twenty-one.  I carried a concealed handgun passed a “No Concealable Weapons” sign.  I once carried a concealed handgun into a Sbarro’s Pizza at the mall not knowing they served alcohol until I saw beer at the cash register.  This occurred in Virginia a month before it was legal to do.  I did not consume any alcohol.  I once bumped another vehicle’s bumper while parking and did not inspect it for damage. On occasion I have committed a traffic offense and not been caught."

On another question that reads: "Have you used another person’s prescribed medication?" I answered: "I took two Prednisone pills, an anti-inflammatory medication, to help with a case of poison ivy I had during the summer of 2007.
I took one or two pain medication pills from a container in my cupboard for when I dropped a motorcycle on my leg.  They were either prescribed to me or my brother when we had our wisdom teeth removed.  I do not remember whose name was on the container, but it may not have been mine.  I visited a doctor the next day and was prescribed pain medication."

My background is I am a 22 year old graduating with a B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina.  My only charge and conviction was a ticket for not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle 3 years ago and have never received even a speeding citation otherwise.  I have never used any illegal drugs.

Do you think I would be disqualified for these crimes?

I appreciate any honest feed back you can give me.  Thanks!

Answer
Good Morning Ethan,

I read your responses and think you should be OK. Part of committing a crime is the "intent" to do so. Doing something on accident is not a crime. So you carrying a handgun as a legal concealed permit carrier into that area not realizing it was not to be done, is actually not a crime, there was no intent. And if once you realized the error, corrected it, that would show more of your lack of intent.

The pills issue may or may not be a problem. I doubt it. Some agencies are very strict about drug stuff and some are not so. I would say that most places your going to be OK with that one time use, but others may look at it as a felony use of prescription drugs. Sometimes you just never know. I would leave it the way you have it and see what happens. You seem from what you write to otherwise be a good candidate so I think those may become minor issues.

Good luck in your process, you should be OK with most departments.  

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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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