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Careers: Police/Reason to be disqualified?

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Expert: - 1/15/2012


Question
Hello,

I am currently in the process of beginning to start my POST Acadamy training. Some time in July. Now I have been doing thorough research on what is a go or a no for hiring a police officer. I have a relatively clean back ground. That said the only thing I think I would have a problem with would be my driving record. I received a exhibition of speed when I was 18? I belive and had had 3 seeding tickets. The last one being some time in 2010. Two of the three tickets were cleared and was only charged with one. I did traffic school to have it removed from my record. Since then I have been clean and have even attended a smith driving program course where I did a full eight hour course on how to be a better driver. Now do you think that would DQ me from being  hired? I am Interested in a job some where in the Bay Area here in California if that helps. I currently have a safety sensitive position working for chevron corp as a pilot plant operator and I did have a very through background check here which I passed. I was honest on my application and with all questions that were asked.

Thanks
Jaime M

Answer
Hi Jamie,

I think you will have to explain the citations, but will be OK. There are a few agencies that will DQ you if you have more than 3 speeding citations in 5 years. The reason is they are giving you a police car that allows you, at times, to drive above the speed limit and also in other ways that may be tempting to someone that has a tendency to want to drive fast.

I am not saying you are this way, just how some agencies look at these things.

If you are in doubt, you can always call and speak to a background investigator for the agency you are thinking of applying too and ask them about their driving record requirements.

You should be OK but will at least have to explain the citations, at worst, you would be told that not enough time has passed since the last speeding citation and you have to wait a certain amount of time before you can apply.

Hope that helps explain it a bit, if you have a more specific or detailed question feel free to ask.

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Chris Wagoner

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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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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..

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I have 2 degrees, in Criminal Justice.

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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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