So, I'm at this gathering.....

[MTB_Patrol]

I'm hanging out with bunch of really good folks with whom I go Mountain-Biking with quite a bit..... I know some of them "party" but it's never been an issue.

Last night, we go over one of the riders' house and are enjoying some post ride BEvERagers, shooting the sh!t, and somone "fires up" and passes it around the circle.

I politely passed it on down the line while simply stating "Sorry, I can't, I'm "Studying" for a blood test".

These _are_ really cool people, and just shrug it off, no "peer presure" or anything like that, thankfully. but I did make me feel a bit awkward.

I left the room, offering to get everybody fresh drinks while they finished..... More for fear of anything showing up up on my blood-test should I get popped for one.

How would you have handled this?

Can simply being inthe same room @ the time show up on a blood test?

[nj1118]

I personally don't associate with people that use drugs. Since I've left police work, and went to law school, I've encountered this situation several times. There are a lot of users in law school. I always leave, and don't hang out with them again. Your real friends know that you're interested in LE and wouldn't do something like that in front of you. As far as showing up on a drug test, I've heard no, but I definitely wouldn't chance it.

[DelC]

Exactly!! You may find some of your ex-friends doing this just to get a reaction from you. If you want to soar with Eagles you can’t hang out with Ravens!!

[MTB_Patrol]

Originally posted by nj1118
Your real friends know that you're interested in LE and wouldn't do something like that in front of you.

Actually the _ONLY_ people (besides you folks, here ) that know I'm going after a career IN L.E. are my direct family members (wife and kids,)and those I put down as references on my application.

I'm keeping it as "hush-hush" as possible until I actually make the jump.

[dmclark]

You've gotta' leave, period. I've done it scores of times and its never the "fun thing" to do. Don't make a big deal out of it, just initiate a practiced "fade" and be gone.

When you see your friends again, you have a choice...(1) Tell them the dope was definitely not your thing, you've got some serious career plans and don't need the hassles. or (2) If you can't deal with the truth, tell them you got sick and just went home. But eventually, when you make the LE commitment, the truth will be your best bet. Respect me, respect my career and don't do it in my presence.

Stay safe, DM

[Tampa_#63]

At this point you don't want anything getting in the way of your LE goals. Continuing to hang with these people will only present you with more problems IMHO. Consider it a learning experience. I suggest you not hang with these people anymore. You must keep your sights on the prize, which for you is a job in LE. Good luck.

[LeeRoy]

Being an LEO is a lifestyle as well as a career. Part of that lifestyle is not associating with folks who partake in using drugs. You'll have to become somewhat of a square but it's not that big of a deal. Most of your friends will be cops because your goofy schedule will only allow you to hang out with folks you work with.

Easiest thing to do is move on and pick some new friends. What would you do if you rolled up on some of your friends engaged in a dope deal in a parking lot on your beat? If you work in the town they live in there is a chance that will happen.

[OldRookie]

One of my polygraph tests asked the question when you were last at a party where marijuana and others drugs were used. They then wanted details. For me it had been years and the use was by people I didn't know ever used it (40 year old public school teacher + some of his friends I hadn't met before). They went outside to do it, but I was clear that I wouldn't be at any of his parties if drugs were present. I don't think the poly or my subsequent hiring for LE would have gone well if the party had been recent or I went to parties knowing that people would be using it there. A choice for LE will exclude hanging with certain people if that is part of their lifestyle.

OldRookie

[UncleSugar]

Originally posted by MTB_Patrol
I'm hanging out with bunch of really good folks

Good folks and illegal drugs don't go together. Get new friends.

The last time that happened to me I stated I didn't think the behavior was appropriate and left ASAP. I was surprised those people thought it was OK to do that, and have never socialized with any of them again. They were new folks I had met so no big loss, and my real friends don't behave that way.

Just my two cents.

[CaptRidley]

I don't know how the blood test works in relation to drug screening, as I'm only familiar with the urine sample. In any event, and this is Marine Corps specific, if not Armed Forces Specific. During the urinalysis there is a specif cut off for nanograms of a specif substance in your urine. Your body naturally produces THC in low quantities. However, someone who took a hit instead of passing it around, will jump off the chart.

Supposedly they can determine if someone has elavated THC in their system as a result of second hand smoke. In my opinion, that is too close for comfort for me. Yes I to had friends, ay back in the days, before I even joined the Corps, that would be outside on the streets, drinking (also illegal, open container plus we were all under 21, barely 18 if anything) so as the 40 or the joint came my way, I would just pass it along.

Once I did joined the Corps hanging out was no longer an issue, as I was always gone. However, lets take this friendly gathering a bit further. Lets say you did npt drive your own vehicle, and you had to catch a ride with one of your fellow riders, who happens to believe that Marijuana should be legalized as it comes from the Earth. God made this for me, etc, etc, etc. Long story short, you are getting a ride, little do you know, about an hour ago, your buddy stopped and got some of that funny stuff, for medicinal purposes of course. One, he may already be watched, or better yet, two, gets involved in a minor traffic infraction (busted tail light, failed to come to a complete stop, etc, etc, etc) and now has been pulled over. Figure out what happens next.

Someone mentioned the Polygraph, and I think this may have messed me up on my Poly for USPIS. When asked have I committed any crimes, well, to me, not telling on friends that do drugs, and stuff like is a crime, or leads me to question my integrity or responsibility.

I recently attended a funeral of a young man I did not even know. I knew his Sister-in-Law from the gym where I work out, so I stopped by to show my support. Well, at the gathering after the funeral, since it was not too far from my house, I stopped by as well. The girl from the gym, while she does not know me, she knows what I don't do, and indulge in drink or drugs is not me. Everyone was in one part of the house, and I was in the other. When I got up to join the others, she was like Mike you don't want to go there now, and I was like is that right.

Two days ago I was invited to play cards with them. I went, but I will more than likely never go there again. When I first walked in, on the living room table was a zip lock bag, with a substance that looked like aregano to me. There were also some philly blunts, and some eazy wider paper (I think that is what it is called) on the table. I'm hoping they guys that were there, did not realize it was there, or perhaps they hoped I did not realize it was there. In any event, I think they were both already off of their rocker, as when the women came back, one of them, took all the stuff and took it in the next room. When one of the other women came in asking for it, the other women told her to shut up, because Mike does not do that stuff, while the men did not know where it was.

You would be better off staying away from those kinds of after parties, as you never know when you may have some "unexpected company." I have a shirt like that from 7.62 design, and it shows to SWAT guys, ready for a dynamic entry, with the words "Unexpected Company" Also, once you are FLE, it no longer is an option to be around stuff like that and not say or do nothing.

If I were you, rather then getting tripped up during a Polygraph, I would mention this to your polygrapher, as believe you me, you will more then likely start to think about this situation, and end up spiking during the poly. Better to be safe then sorry.

Just my 0.2, also I think you are good to go for the blood test, but again too close for comfort for me. I was really feeling uneasy when I saw that bag in front of me, and the house had a funny smell to it, and I was not sure if it was cigarette smoke or a more then likely a mixture of the two. I was really nervous. I didn't want to move around a lot, in fear of releasing some of the trapped smoke in the sofa and inhalling it, crazy stuff like that, then the fact that I may have to take another Poly for USPIS soon did not help either. From now on, I iwll just meet with these people in the gym, as I'm sure they are smart enough not to bring that funny stuff to the gym, as about 75% of the members are some sort of FLE or LE.

Good luck!!!
Out here!!!
Mike-D

[universible]

When I did my last poly, they asked about any recent activities where drugs were present, or something like that. I thought about it, and realized that I had recently gone to a concert where a couple of people in front of me were passing around a pipe (marijuana)...I mentioned that, and the lady laughed at me.

When I decided to make the jump into getting into this career, I took stock of all my friends...what habits they have, and found only 1 real problem. I hadn't talked to that person in over a year, in large part because of his drug problem. He's an addict to "non" addicting marijuana...when I was in college, I use to think it was humorous when he'd have to go get "lacquered" (we worked in a music repair store, where we had a lacquer room he would smoke in)...then it dawned on me one day that he had to get "lacquered" quite a bit for someone who didn't have a "problem". That's when the distancing started to come into play.

Best bet, stay away from it...realize that some people have different value systems than you, and you will have to either adopt the appropriate one (which I would think you would already have, considering what you're applying for)...and take some steps away from the others.

By the way, I got invited to that guy's wedding in 2 weeks. He tracked me down, sounds like he's doing well...but...I made certain to lay out, in no uncertain terms, that I'd only come if he kept that activity out of sight, and far away from me. Hope that doesn't bite me in the ass.

Ted

[ATF SAC]

Another view. You get the job, they'll ditch you or break your stones with cracks about busting them that you'll just fade. Sooner or later the issue is going to arise in your mind that you ought to find out who their dealer is and the equation of friendship is gone. Easier to do a social fade early.

[universible]

Already had some of that happen...went to an "inlaws" dinner...wife's sister's husband's (yikes) sister and boyfriend were there. We started small talking and they ask how work is going. I filled them in on the apps I had out, as that was the only thing going at the time (was still unemployed then). The boyfriend looks at me and says "Why do you want to be a cop? They're all d*cks"....:rolleyes: Made for interesting coversation the rest of the night.

It all has a way of working out though.

Ted

[Cam]

JB,

Are you trying to get your 911jobforums Sgt rank by the end of the week? You're responding to every old post out there.

Just busting your balls.

Cam

[RedWhiteBlue]

I thought I read something about a sensitive hair sample test for either FLE applicants or officers. Anyone know anything about it?