Have I lost all chances of becoming a police officer?
Certainly, you stand a chance. Most police applicants have experimented with illegal drugs. The more crucial factor is how recently you did this, and that you're truthful about it. You'll be asked about the previous polygraph exam, so just tell them what happened. It's a plausible story, although you'll still have to pass a polygraph exam to be hired. Lots of people have bad breakups with spouses. References from them tend to be taken with a grain of salt, as revenge motives are common. Your larger and more immediate problem is your credit record. Cops and aspiring cops with poor credit are often just bad at handling money and living within their means. This can be exploited to compromise the cop and force him to do extra-legal "favors" for people. You might want to rehabilitate that before you apply. Your best resource is a recruiter for whatever departments you want to apply for. Be candid with them, and they can tell you whether you are a viable applicant, or if you shouldn't bother. Every department decides where to draw the line for their recruits, and there can be considerable variability.
Is it realistic to try to become a police officer if you only have a GED?
Question: “Is it realistic to try to become a police officer if you only have a GED?”Only having a GED, rather than a high school diploma, by itself should not disqualify you from a career in law enforcement.Although some police departments may have minimal educational requirements, the tested IQ’s for police officers (including the detectives who are at the higher end of the scale) ranges from a low of 85 to a high of 116. The figures were compiled by Center for Demography and Ecology, The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin. That 85 to 116 range is essentially identical to the range for clerical personnel and service workers such as cleaners. The average IQ for a police officer is 104, just a little above average. That should give you some idea as to where you are relative to people who are already police officers.For comparison, the range for high school teachers is 92 to 125, for those in law 99 to over the 130’s, and for medicine 105 to over the 130’s.You would be more limited if you had an IQ MORE THAN 120. Many police departments refuse to hire high IQ individuals, most often using 120 as the cut off. This was made public in a lawsuit filed by a college graduate who had an IQ of 125 but was rejected by a New York police department BECAUSE OF HIS INTELLIGENCE. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower courts’ decision that police departments had the right to discriminate against those with high intelligence and approved the use of such IQ cut offs in hiring by police departments.The Court of appeals stated that the decision by police departments to not hire highly intelligent individuals may be unwise, but that the police departments had presented viable arguments as to why they deemed high IQ individuals to be unsuitable hires.
How do I increase my chances of being hired as a Police Officer?
I know that to be hired as LEO is extremely competitive. Currently, I am wanting advice on how to make myself a better candidate. I am currently a freshman attending college for a degree in criminal justice with a minor in spanish. I am also enlisted in the Army Reserves as a 25U (Signal Systems Support Specialist). Once I graduate college I am wanting to attend OCS (Officer Candidate School) and be a Officer in the Army Reserves. After that, I am wanting to be hired with a Police Department somewhere in the Midwest. My first choice of department would be one in Kansas or Oklahoma. While in college I am planning on obtaining a part-time job and holding it for a long period of time. Is there a type of part-time job that would be more impressive than another. I was considering retail. I will probably also try to get experience in the CJ field during a college internship. Also, I was going to get involved in at least one volunteer agency, probably Big Brothers/Big Sisters or something similar. On top of that I have been keeping in excellent physical shape. I have no convictions and only have one non-moving traffic ticket. Are here any type of college clubs or anything else I can do to increase my chance of being hired by a Midwest Police Department.
Can i become a police officer with a juvenile record?
I have a juvenile felony criminal record, i was convicted and charged as a juvenile. I want to become a police officer, or join the FBI, or the military, can I? there is a drug charge, as well as a couple of others, i never served any time, but, the charges are there. HELP!
Becoming a Police Officer but unsure about polygraph?
Hello heres my situation im 22yrs old and lived in El Paso Tx (Drug City)(I moved) I have dealt, stole (stole alot not for drugs but for food and gas In high school) in my past im not proud of what i have done in my past. on july 24th 06 i placed my hand on bible and promised to never Use, Steal, or Deal drugs again and havent done so since. I have no criminal record at all and have a AS. I thought it was cool at the time but it got me nowhere but playing games with my life. Im sure if i would have listened i would have been a whole lot better off. I want to become a police officer to help take criminals off the streets(like the person i was), along with to remind me if i would have not stepped back into the church and found Christ where would i be. Would i be in jail, dead, living on streets. When i take my polygraph im going to be completely honest? But unsure if any departments would accept me:( Perhaps has anyone been hired with past similar? But mine is almost 2 years ago
Can I join the marines and become a police officer after a auicide attempt?
I m 17 years old and attempted suicide about a year ago. I want to join the marines and become a state trooper afterwards but I was admitted in a hospital for four days after the attempt. Is there any chance I could still accomplish my goals or is it out of the question?
I'm 44, is it too late to become a police officer?
Well, legally no problem except for Federal law enforcement which I believe is 35 yrs max to start.But, patrol work is a young man’s job. Irregular always changing shifts, long hours, lack of sleep, going to court on days off, going from zero to full speed of strenuous physical activity in 1/2 second is not easy (e.g., sudden and unexpected physical struggles and foot pursuits).At 45, most cops are gravitated to non patrol jobs which require less physical stress. But many departments don’t have lots of those jobs, especially the smaller departments.Can you do it? Yes. but initial training will be harder at 45 than 25 physically. That said there are lots of 45 year olds who are in better condition than some 25 year olds. And lots of 45 yr olds in patrol cars that do great…but lots that shouldn’t be there (overweight and heart attacks waiting to happen). Its hard to stay in good physical condition with the poor sleeping, irregular shifts, eating, and job and personal stresses that go with being an officer. But it certainly can be done.Now, retirement? Most agencies have mandatory retirement for cops at 60. So at 45 you will have 15 years on the job. Most places you are vested in 10 years..but you wont get full retirement with only 15 years service. Its usually based on age and years of service formulas.But 45 yr olds also have lots of life and work experience that is very valuable. So if you prepare yourself physically for the academy (lots of running and physical endurance exercises and defensive tactics) and are ready to return to an intensive academic environment with subjects new to you for 6 months, you can do it. Can you run at least 3 miles and do 4–5 endurance PT exercises back to back (push ups, pull ups, burpees, sit ups)?All that said, the psychological challenges for work and personal home life are greater than the physical challenges or the life/death risk. Every cop gets damaged psychologically and personally, relatively few get seriously physically hurt or killed. But, its the only job where folks are intentionally trying to hurt you! Your entire life will change……..some good, some bad.
Is it possible to become a police officer with schizophrenia?
Sorry. No. It is not a realistic or prudent career to pursue if one has schizophrenia.There is psychological testing and the applicant's medical history including psychological diagnoses and treatment will be investigated. A person's mental health will be placed under extreme stress in police work. If there is a history of more than something like mild or short term depression or anxiety, I would not expect the applicant to get past that background investigation.Can you imagine the potential liability if an officer used deadly force or made a decision that caused severe permanent injuries to someone, and it was revealed that the agency knew that they had schizophrenia when they were hired? The other issue is that other officers must trust the person working with them to have their back when that person's judgment could mean life or death for them. This type of psychological condition is going to go over like a lead balloon with other officers who are sitting on a hiring board. There is no accommodation that can make this work given the critical nature of the job duties.