Expert: Jack Toomey - 9/3/2007

Question
I am currently pursuing an AA degree in Criminal Justice. I have a 4.0 GPA after completing a little bit over 60 credits. I am 26 years old, I have a wife and three kids, I am active in my local church and getting more active in the community (volunteer work, etc.). I have been in costumer service oriented jobs all of my life, dealing with the public at large and various specific sectors, as well as operating in a certain enforcement capacity for a limited period of time (I was a government inspector for about a year). Up until recently, I was a dual major in English/Theology; so I am fairly able to articulate myself in a professional and courteous manner when interacting with members of the public, both through oral and written communications. I have never been arrested for anything; I have a completely clean driving record, etc.

However, I have been out of the workforce for about 3 years, choosing to be a stay-at-home dad while I finish my schooling. I have horrendous credit and have a public record on a couple of judgments against me from collection agents. These are in the jurisdiction for which I am hoping to apply for the police department too; I am not sure if that makes any difference or not though. Right now my wife and I are working on clearing up her credit and we hope to turn our focus onto mine within a few years.

I did use drugs (mostly pot though with some infrequent psychedelic drug use), with great frequency for about 5 years of my life (from 15 or so until about 21) but I have been clean of any narcotics for about 6 1/2 years, thanks be to God. I guess what I am wondering is, despite my qualifications and my efforts to get my life back on track, will the bad credit and public record, combined with the drug use (which I plan to be absolutely honest about), make my chances of being selected for the academy slim, or none? If you could get back to me with your thoughts on the matter I would greatly appreciate it Mr. Toomey, thanks for your help and I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

~Matthew

Answer
Matthew,

   Its impossible to predict what is going to happen and for me to know what the hiring standards are on the department that you are looking at.  However let's say this.  Your credit history is not going to help you.  A bad credit history is a good predictor of future success in the law enforcement field.  I can't tell you how many we washed out for that reason alone.  However if it has been several years since the judgements against you all of your good work and admirable attributes could out weigh those bad marks on your record.

  The drug usage is not going to help you either but then again it might not work against you since it happend when you were a teenager.  One of the things that MY department used as a predictor was if the drug usage was for recreational purposes vs. heavy duty drug use for years and years.  Since then they have relaxed the rules even further but that pertains to MY department and not necessarily yours.  

  The way I see it is that you are not going to know for sure unless you apply for a police department and go through the hiring process.  You will know very quickly if you are going to get past the application stage.

  Good luck!