Careers: Police/Banckruptcy

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Expert: - 7/31/2011


Question
I saw you covered a previous question on bankruptcy. I just wanted your best opinion on my situation. I had a few different debts I was paying with a good track record for a few years, and my credit was in good standing. Due to the financial issues in the economy a few years back, I was docked wages at my job on top of it being commissioned based. "In other words", I had to juggle my bills for a few years. Realizing things were not returning to normal at my job, I had to make a decision to file bankruptcy and relocate to a new state, where I could afford to continue supporting my family and remain out of debt. Which I still am to this day. It's been over 1 year now since I filed.
Sorry about the long story but I need to know with my case, am I wasting my time perusing a career as a police officer, due to my issues in my past. I understand police departments have different disqualifiers, but I just needed an opinion. Thanks

Answer
Hi Dennis,

Sorry about your troubles, lots of people are having them these days.

Since it has only been 1 year since you filed it may come up as an issue and they will want to talk to you about it, but they are not looking at credit as strongly as they used to because of the issues in the economy that have pretty much hit everyone, including police departments and such.

Just have a good record of what happened and a good explanation of what you did and why, and then resent that to the background investigator. You are not automatically DQ'd but its going to be harder to get hired, you will have to sell your self more than the person without the financial baggage.

Hope that answers your question.

Be well and stay safe and good luck in your process..

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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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