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Expert: - 4/5/2011


Question
Hello everyone, I am new to this forum, all of your help and advice is greatly appriciated. I am about to finish up my as in crim justice at ocean college in nj and then on to my B.s. I ran a backround check from the state police to see what is exactly on my record. I do remember 3years ago I was arrested for criminal mischeif 4th degree,Long story short my ex girlfriend was a dope head and i didnt find out till we were dating, at this time I taken her to meetings and gotten her clean or so i thought. One day she was driving and she got a phone call and afterwards she told me she was picking up her exdealer and going to score, I got frustrated and kicked her dashboard and some how her windshield cracked( I did not intend to break her winshield) At that time she started hitting me and i left the car and proceeded to walk home so she can cool off. The person behind us called the police and I was arrested. I dont know why it wasnt considered a disorderly persons offense since the damage was not over 500 dollars but anyway, On my state police backround check it only has one arrest, which is for the above mentioned crime, however on the top of the page it says "domestic violence". I called the department that issued the report and they stated that since my ex was involved even though I did not touch her it is still considered Domestic. I was shocked since as i said i was never really in trouble for anything. The charges were dismissed later on and that was the end of it. So my question to all the professionals reading this is, how badly will this effect my chances of joining a LE agency. I was told by a detective if i explain the situation the Backround Investigator may understand but still, I would like your opinions. Thank you for your time.

Answer
Good afternoon Scott,

since the charges were dropped and you were never convicted of domestic violence I would say that your chances are very good if that is all that you have in your background.

If you are able to explain it to a background investigator just the way that you explained it to me here you should be just fine.

And don't let it worry you to the point where it affects your performance on either a polygraph exam or in an oral interview. It was minor in nature and you need to consider it minor in nature and explain it that way.

Be well and stay safe.

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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!!

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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.

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