Expert: Jason Grabill - 3/22/2004

Question
Dear Sir:

I am interested in becoming a police officer in but I have a few questions. I looked at your website and still had some questions. I thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, as I know you must be busy. So, here are my questions:

I am thinking about a career in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma or Missouri!

As far as personally:

I did use some drugs when I was younger but I have not touched them in years (No drugs within the last 5 years, and most way before that). What drugs would hinder me from joining? Are their specific ones that will stop me?


I also have a class B misdemeanor for a bad check (4 or 5 years ago) and a class C misdemeanor for an MIP of alcohol when I was 18 (5 or 6 years ago). Will these stop me?


I have about 21 hours of college. Is that enough education or do I need to go to some kind of academy?


What are the weight and body fat requirements? (I weigh 250 and I am 5'9)


Also, what is asked on the polygraph test? What areas of my background could hurt my chances?




As far as training goes:

What is your rate of pay?


Is there an academy I need to attend? If so, where and when? What

Classification do I need? Do you pay for the training or do I?


Do you hire before training?


Are any academies better than the others in your state?


What steps do I need to go through and what are the best steps to guarantee me a job?


If I cannot get in with your department, is there a department in your state that is more lenient and may accept me?




So, knowing all that, can I get in? I want to help people like me; I have turned my life 100% around. Thanks a ton for your time.


Interested,

Tuck C.


Answer
Tuck:

  First, sorry for the delay, I was attending training the past week, and working this weekend.

 I've answered the questions as you asked them:


am thinking about a career in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma or Missouri!

Good luck!  I can only give advice on Maryland, but will do the best I can.

As far as personally:

I did use some drugs when I was younger but I have not touched them in years (No drugs within the last 5 years, and most way before that). What drugs would hinder me from joining? Are their specific ones that will stop me?

Yes, LSD, cocaine, heroin, any lifetime use will prohibit you from becoming a police officer, at least in Maryland.


I also have a class B misdemeanor for a bad check (4 or 5 years ago) and a class C misdemeanor for an MIP of alcohol when I was 18 (5 or 6 years ago). Will these stop me?


It shouldn't be an issue, as long as the check was taken care of, and you tell the background investigator everything.

I have about 21 hours of college. Is that enough education or do I need to go to some kind of academy?

You'll have to attend an academy no matter what state you try to work in.


What are the weight and body fat requirements? (I weigh 250 and I am 5'9)

As long as you can pass the physical tests, it shouldn't be a problem, but you should consider losing weight.  Police have the highest rates of heart disease.  We don't eat right and don't excercise.

Also, what is asked on the polygraph test? What areas of my background could hurt my chances?

Everything is asked;  drug use, theft, lying, etc.  Just be honest, and you'll do fine.  Tell the investigator everything.




As far as training goes:

What is your rate of pay?

It depends on the agency.  Most agencies have websites that tell you what they start rookies off at.

Is there an academy I need to attend? If so, where and when? What

That will be agency specific.  Each one is different.

Classification do I need? Do you pay for the training or do I?

Sometimes, you can pay your way through an academy to become certified, at least in Maryland.  Otherwise, the agency will send you.  You'll get paid in the academy.


Do you hire before training?
Yes.

Are any academies better than the others in your state?
No, they all follow the same curicculum.

What steps do I need to go through and what are the best steps to guarantee me a job?

Basically, just be honest.  Each agency is different in how it hires people.  Check out the websites of the agencies you are interested in, they almost always give that process in great detail.

If I cannot get in with your department, is there a department in your state that is more lenient and may accept me?

Again, you'd have to go through the process first.  We don't automatically reject people unless they have used the above drugs, or have a felony conviction for something.  No department, in Maryland at least, is "lenient";  Maryland has a set of standards that every department has to follow, with no exceptions.



So, knowing all that, can I get in? I want to help people like me; I have turned my life 100% around. Thanks a ton for your time.

Yes, you probably could.  Just keep trying. Good luck!

Jason
Interested,

Tuck C.