Expert: Dick Rogers - 12/7/2007

Question
Mr Rogers,
My 18 son(birthday in Jan)would like to enter into the St Johns, FL. sheriffs program but admitted to me that he took one "puff" of marijuana about a year ago. He says he can pass a polygraph concerning any other useage but does not want to lie on his polygraph about thos one incident. The dept has a 2 year "no drug" policy. Will one puff keep him out of the academy? Would it help to vivist the Sheriff dept or academy to discuss with an officer/administrator?
Thank you for your time,
Mike

Answer
Mike, your last statement, it seems to me, would be a valid way to approach this.  I would make an appointment with the Sheriff's recruitment unit to discuss this.  It seems from the outset that you and your son are approaching this with honesty as the basic framework.  If the department's policy is a "2 year not drug policy", then your son would surely be past the two year limit.  I used to sit on oral boards for candidates and given what you have said, I would react positively to someone like your son.  Be sure to emphasize that your son views police work as a career and that the one episode of pot was a first time experience and one he does not like and would not repeat...this is very much like the young people who take a taste of whiskey and it turns them off.  Your son should not be held captive by a one-time shot at "what's all the fuss about with pot" approach to life's rich pageant.  I surely hold out a good hope your son will be successful.