Careers: Police/past drug use

Advertisement

Expert: - 7/15/2006


Question
Hey sorry about the follow up , but do any police station around the nation use a time sysytem as in I havent smoked in three years so i would be eligible, or do they all use number of times as the system?
-------------------------

Followup To

Question -
Hey I have always wanted to be ain  some sort of law enforcement and now that college is coming close ot ending i have a some question.  Now back when i first got to college i stopped drinking and started smoking marijuana, i just hated the way i felt when i got drunk, and i smoked a good deal for about six months then just got tired of it and quit. I was just wondering if i was still eligable fore entering any type of law enforecement after smoking for awhile? and also why do some agencies exclude you if you have smoked marijuana more than a certain number of times, i personally believe just becasue i smoked my morals or beliefes havent changed or it didnt make me any worse of a person. I appreciate you taking time to answer this question. Daniel

Answer -
Daniel,

    There are literraly thousands of police departments in this country and each have their own standards.  What might be a disqualifier on one department might not be for another.  So there is no way to answer your question since there are no national standards.

Answer
Daniel,

   Yes some police departments (not stations) use a time limit while others don't.  Some consider recreational use of marijuana as a disqualifer while others don't.  Some departments use a system of length of time using the drug while others don't.  What I am trying to tell you is that every police department is different.  I don't know what else to tell you unless you go down to the headquarters of the department in your city and ask them.  

Careers: Police

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Jack Toomey

Expertise

U.S.: I am an expert in this category for the purpose of giving young people an idea what the hiring process involves for the position of police officer. I am getting a flood of questions from young people who are being influenced by unrealistic television shows. I'd ask you to consider that when you watch police shows on television that they are NOT realistic and most of what you see does not happen in real life. Please do not ask me about potential jail sentences that you, your friends, or family might receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer so I cannot answer questions about probation and parole matters. I am a retired police officer with 26 years experience.I worked in a variety of assignments including investigations, homicide, sex crimes, runaway investigations, missing persons, and fraud.I also dealt with the general public during that time giving a wide range of advice on matters such as domestic disputes, problem solving, teenage problems, civil/criminal matters, and dealing with the mentally ill. I am available to give sound and reasonable advice which can solve most problems. Please do not ask me to do homework questions or online interviews. Young people should not rely on the Internet for interviews. Local police officers are normally very agreeable to assist students with interviews and surveys.

Experience

Worked as a police officer/detective for 26 years.

Graduate of the University of Maryland.B.S. in Law Enforcement.Attended numerous schools and training courses involving investigations, interviewing, interrogations, crime detection, domestic violence, and others. Recognized in court as an expert witness.

Received numerous awards during my police career for expert investigations. Handled the most sensitive and confidential investigations. In 1999 I won an award for my work with high school students while working in my new career in a large suburban high school.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.