Expert: Jason Grabill - 3/6/2007

Question
Thank you for taking the time to read this for me.  I am very excited about the possibility of becoming an officer.  I feel strongly that this is the career I should have been in long ago.  I am 33 years old and I am starting the process of becoming a police officer in AZ.  My main concern is the background investigation.  I have no major smudges on my record, and no drugs. However, I have many minor things like dishonesty and theft that I have done and I have one arrest for trespassing.  I have also had dozens of jobs since high school because I have had no real career to settle on.  How are these things looked at, and can they disqualify me?

Answer
Ed:

  "Many minor things" can lead a background investigator to believe you have a "pattern of misconduct" that will disqualify you from being hired.  Some states also have "moral turpitude" clauses that come into play, esp. when it comes to the 'dishonesty' part.  All this will depend on how clean your record has been lately, and within the past 10 or so years.  If all of those things happened ten years ago, or longer, and you've had an exemplary record since, it won't be much of an issue.  If it's only been six months or a year since some of these things have happened, then it's going to become a major stumbling block for you.

Having multiple jobs in this day and age is not a big factor for DQ, unless you have been consistantly fired from those jobs.  Then it will become an issue, coupled with the "many minor things" that might be enough for a DQ based on a "pattern of misconduct and job instability".

 The market for Law Enforcement being what it is, (a high demand), your chances are not bad, but based on your previous history, expect some hard questions and a bumpy ride to get there.  Nevertheless, continue to try, some agencies will overlook things if they believe you are truly dedicated to the job.  

Best Regards,
Jason