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Expert: - 2/7/2012


Question
I have a medical discharge from the military due to my scoliosis. My question mainly has to do with my scoliosis, I was curious if this in any way would affect me in my pursuit in becoming an officer? In addition it does not affect me physically and I was only fount out in a medical x-ray while in boot camp. I never graduated form boot camp.

Answer
Good Morning,

I am going to guess that you have an other than Hon. discharge due to medical reasons from the military. While this will not prevent you from becoming a police officer you will have to explain it. In addition you have to pass a physical to become a police officer and if you're scoliosis is bad enough to affect you physically then you may not build pass a law enforcement physical. They are similar to the military physicals.

Your best bet is to find out what the state requirements are for the physicals in which you are going to want to apply and then go to the doctor and see if you would pass the physical. This would then help you to not waste your time if you're going to be disqualified right off the bat because of your medical reasons.

So start by checking your state requirements medically for police officer, and then get with your doctor and see if you would meet the standards. If you would meet them and would be passed on the physical then by all means go for it. After 31 years of law enforcement I have back problems myself, trust me and they're not fun. Carrying a gun belt that weighs upwards of 12 pounds around your waist for 10 to 12 hours a day and a bulletproof vests the ways another for 6 pounds on your torso can affect your back in many ways that they had not expected. Take that stuff in the consideration before you decide that you want to do this. It would be terrible if what you wanted to do cause to greater pain and more damage to your spine then you already have.

I have three back fusions and currently should have a fourth but in trying to put it off as long as possible.

Be well and stay safe and good luck, keep me informed and let me know what happens. I like to get follow-ups letting me know how things have gone.

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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.

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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