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Careers: Police/FHP Hiring question

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Expert: - 3/2/2011


Question
Hi Chris, my name is Riley, I will try and make my question short , about 1 1/2 - 2 years ago I applied to FHP ,did app, did physical test passed with flying colors. I was then denied , I imagine due to a OTH discharge from the Navy for misconduct, I was 18 years old when it happened, I am now 23 years old. I have gone back to school and became a Commercial Diver / EMT/Dive Medic. My dream has always been to be a law enforcement officer. What should I do ? Any info or help would be great. Thanking you in advance.

Riley Riddle

Answer
Good morning Riley,

The state of Florida requirements for law enforcement officer are very specific and clearly state that in order to qualify you have to not have had a "dishonorable discharge" from the US military. In your question you state that you had an "other than honorable" (OTH) discharge which is not an automatic disqualifier. I would say that if you were disqualified from the Florida Highway Patrol's process for that, that is not going to be the same case for all law enforcement agencies. It really depends on your situation itself and what occurred.

Some agencies will hire people with other than honorable discharges as long as the reasoning behind it is explained well enough and does not meet certain criteria which fall into the moral character issues range. So if your other than honorable was not for something that falls under the Florida State statutes moral character issues. Then I would say that you have a chance of being hired by a law enforcement agency as long as you are afforded the opportunity to explain what your other than honorable discharge was for.

As you explain your question you also state that you have now put five years between you and the other than honorable discharge in those five years have shown your maturity by gaining your commercial driving license your EMT and I met a certifications. The low work in your favor. As long as you don't have an arrest record a clean driving record and your employment records are all positive I would say that as long as you are afforded the opportunity to explain your other than honorable discharge you should be able to be hired by law enforcement agency in Florida as long as your other the Bible doesn't fall into the categories mentioned above.

I hope that explains your question if you have any further questions or need clarification on anything please feel free to post a question.

Be well and stay safe.

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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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