Can I get a job as a police officer?
Hello, I was just accepted “officially” into the Police Academy. I am self-sponsoring myself, but I still had to be accepted. The only thing is that I am not “guaranteed” a job when I graduate. I was wondering if anyone can tell me if some things would keep me from being actually hired.
I was a dispatcher in ’01 for a college P.D. and I was terminated for running backgrounds…. just being bored not anything else. No other action was taken. Then I kind of had a “spotty” job record. Never been fired (other than the dispatch) but I quit a lot….. since I have been 21 I have not had a job for less than a year or so. I have a past bankruptcy from 4 years ago, but have had NO problems at all….every payment on time. I have no convictions or any problems with the law at all!
The academy investigators say there are current officers with “more baggage” that me, but do I really have a chance?
July 25th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Illegal background checks while you are ‘just being bored’ will disqualify you. No police agency wants their officers ‘going fishin’ while bored or not. Your financial situation may not effect you too much but will also be an issue. Your chances do not look real good. Self sponsoring for the academy is just a waste of money.
July 29th, 2009 at 5:37 am
Considering that some of the police officers from New Orleans were found to have actual criminal records, I would say you would be fine. Provided that you successfully pass the Academy and make decent scores, and I suppose it also depends on what state you are in (see below).
(After Katrina, the Houston PD offered to hire them… Then they did their routine background check, and found out that some of these guys had violent criminal records… Having lived in New Orleans myself (I love the city despite this) it doesn’t surprise me)
July 31st, 2009 at 7:41 am
Private academies will accept just about anyone that doesn’t have a serious criminal record. They are out to make money and as long as you don’t have anything so horrible that they can’t certify you, they are going to tell you it’s okay.
Being fired from a police department is a huge black mark on your record. Although, many dispatchers do run background checks. (Show me a female dispatcher who has a blind date that hasn’t ran the dude through NCIC). Still, it was illegal and got caught.
Spotty work history is going to hurt you also. Why should a PD hire you, give you $3,000 worth of equipment, then train you only to have you leave in a year. You might argue that you stick around, but police departments deal in facts and the fact is that you don’t hold down jobs.
Credit, meh. My department doesn’t focus on it. Some do, some don’t. If you apply to a department that does, it can hurt you.
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:04 pm
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