Drug use and reality question.

[rockygalil]

I'm trying out for several law enforcement jobs presently. i have tried a variety of drugs in the past (and i dont mean just pot once when i was 13), but not for the past few years. from what ive read here i stand NO chance but i know several LE officers in various LE agencies from county cops to the Feds, that have the same past as me. SO what accounts for the different outcomes? question 2) i have GOOD contacts at several places I've applied to. I have gotten very good feedback on my applications. I.e. the people i know have talked to the people actually reviewing them. How will the special traing and skills i have affect the disclosure of my past?

[996s]

If you lie on your application, then thats your first strike of dishonesty.

Then you have to pass a polygraph, while lying, and pass.

If you can do that then you have to pass a background investigation. Having anyone they ever talk to.. old teachers, friends, things like that. They better not say they rememeber you using drugs or anything like that.

But if you can get through it all, then you might get the job. Then you would have to worry about the fact that you lied to get the job. And then you would have to hope at no time in the future they ever found out about it, cause if they had proof you would get fired.

Be honest, see what happens. If you where doing coke and LSD a few years back then no, chances are you will not be a cop.
Either way good luck.

[K9 Police]

I agree with 996s. Your chances, as you even said, are not high but go for it. Just remember to be extremely honest throughout the process. Bad things can happen if they find out after the fact. Especially when they find out during a trial in which you arrested someone for LSD. Just a scenario that could turn very bad. Criminal go free, you lose your job, and who knows even criminal charges. (I don't know anything about crim charges, but I am guessing it is possible?)

Good luck

K9

[Kahuna5150]

This question depends on many factors. The agency you apply for, the drugs you've used, the time frame (how long ago, how often, and at what age you used them). Generally speaking most agencies will disqualify you for having used any "Hard" drugs such as Meth, Coke, Heroin, LSD, etc. Different outcomes come from different hiring standards and requirements.

Your background and/or special training will make you a better applicant, but none of that will erase the mistakes with drugs you have made in the past. Most agencies will also not hire you if you have used drugs as an adult wile serving in the military or another position of public trust. So the guy that smokes marijuana three times at college when he's 20 is probably in a better spot to get hired than the same guy who did it at the same age while serving in the military. Same thing with working in a law enforcement capacity. Smoke marijuana at 20 years of age while in college and you can still qualify for the FBI. Smoke marijuana at 20 years of age while you're working as a police reserve officer or part-time officer and you now are permanently D.Q.'d from the FBI process.

Same violations, different circumstances....

Kahuna

[rockygalil]

thanks for the responses guys. I was expecting to get jumped on but got honest well written information. I appreciate it. I've tried alot of stuff in the past (no lsd or pcp) but.... I'm just going to tell the truth if i dont get in Oh well. Thanks guys:)

[Raven231]

I can say this HONESTY is upfront and foremost in this profession. I have seen people get hired that didnt have quite as clean a backround as other applicants but they were upfornt and totally honest about their mistakes and had a good amount of time between looking to get hired and their indeiscretions.

Just keep trying and all a department can do is say no thank you.
You never know you may impress a board and get the job you want.

Raven231