Careers: Police/Prior Drug Use

Advertisement

Expert: - 8/16/2011


Question
I am a 41 year old vet and am in the process of completing an application for a police academy. I just started my senior year towards my B.S. in Criminal Justice. I tried pot about 3 times in high school and hated it. After high school I didn't try it again. In 2000 I got mixed up with a boyfriend who was a weekend ecstasy user. I fell head over heals for this guy and then he started to introduce me to the fact that he was using ecstasy. One night when we were going out, he threatened me that if I didn't try it that he wouldn't be able to date me anymore. I loved it the first time but I ended up doing it several more times over that year, to keep my boyfriend happy, and each time I hated it more and more. I finally stopped but he continued. I finally broke up with him because I wasn't happy with his lifestyle or the decisions that I had made by being with him. It has been 10 years and I haven't touched anything since then and I have no desire to. Everything else about my background is clean. Do you think I have a chance or should I give up the idea of law enforcement at this point?

Answer
Hi Kim,

Most agencies consider Ecstasy use a disqualification drug. I know all the ones I work with do. I would call and check with the background investigator of the agency you are interested in applying to, but would guess its the same most places. Some states actually have rules against this also.

Sorry, I know what we have done in our past should not haunt us forever, but agencies do not want to take chances on people with certain drug histories. Too many people without that apply.

Careers: Police

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.