Question about hiring process..Please reply!

[proudwife]

Hello! My 27 year old husband is applying for a police officer position. We are worried, because he has been arrested a few times. The first time was when he was 15, for drinking. The second time was when he was a 18 or 19 year old Army Ranger. He was arrested for minor in possession of alchohol and a firearm and discharging a firearm within city limits. The last time was when he was 20, for drinking and being drunk and disorderly. He was not convicted of any of these things.

How will this affect his getting hired? He is a wonderful man, but was a troubled kid and made mistakes. He is now a husband and a father and would be an asset to any organization. We know three police officers from our church who have given him permission to put them down as references. His oral interview is on Monday. Any comments would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Proudwife

[Mo Trooper]

Different departments have different guidelines. What might seem petty for one department may be an automatic disqualification from another. It sounds like he has got his life in order, and it has been awhile since his problems. He may have some explaining to do during the process, but should catch on somewhere. Tell him good luck.

[ranger]

In MOST states the basic criteria for appointment as a Law Enforcement Officer is that the individual may not be CONVICTED of any felony or misdemeanor for domestic violence or moral turpitude ie sexual assault on a donkey or something of that nature.

The fact that he was merely arrested is not necessarily a disqualifier.

Good luck to him on his search

[five-oh]

It will all depend on how he presents, or sells himself. If he goes in and just talks about all of the bad things he has done, he'll never get hired. In the oral interview don't volunteer any information unless they ask. If they ask then be honest and tell them how you've learned from the mistakes. Don't try and make excuses by placing blame on someone else or try and trivialize the arrest. Many departments are relaxing their standards to facilitate hiring more officers.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[TTRAIN222]

I would say if he is forced to talk about his mistakes as a "troubled kid" he should do as five-oh says, sell himself. It has been seven years since the last incident, that is good. The question is, what has he done in the seven years to change his life? I think that since the problems were with drinking that it would be good if he can say that he doesn't drink anymore (if that's the case). Also, since you mentioned church, mentioning something general, like "my faith has made me make drastic changes in my life (for the better)" I think would help his case. Tell him to pretend he is selling a car that has had some mechcanical problems a while ago, but the car was restored, has no problems now and is ready to go!

Best Wishes,
Steve

[gcc123]

No illegeal drugs involved, no domestic violence, no CONVICTIONS!! Should be no probelm, but departments will try to rattle his cage. Overall I do notsee a probelm, since most departments look for convictions. Remember, your innocent until proven guilty!! He was never found guilty!:cool:

[HK_precop]

Sounds like he has a good a chance as any if he has truly been out of trouble and changed his ways for 7 years. What's troubling about this is he wasn't a juvenile when most of this occurred he was pretty much an adult and in the military.. It may be looked on with a bit more scrutiny but I doubt it'll disuade a thorough B.I. if your hubby is on the straight and narrow since then.

Originally posted by proudwife
Hello! My 27 year old husband is applying for a police officer position. We are worried, because he has been arrested a few times. The first time was when he was 15, for drinking. The second time was when he was a 18 or 19 year old Army Ranger. He was arrested for minor in possession of alchohol and a firearm and discharging a firearm within city limits. The last time was when he was 20, for drinking and being drunk and disorderly. He was not convicted of any of these things.

How will this affect his getting hired? He is a wonderful man, but was a troubled kid and made mistakes. He is now a husband and a father and would be an asset to any organization. We know three police officers from our church who have given him permission to put them down as references. His oral interview is on Monday. Any comments would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Proudwife

[RoscoeRuhl]

He's probably only going to run into the usual situation where you disclose the information, they check and that's about the extent of it. Probably the only item of interest is going to be the firearms violations. A lack of a history of other arrest and violations will be in his favor. Accomplishments since those mistakes will give them an idea as to his ability to be successful.

Have a great day!

[Ranger337]

The most major thing is the discharge of a firearm within the city limits. But since there was no convictions that is in his favor. As stated in earlier posts what may be a little thing to one department could be an auotmatic DQ for another department.

To me it looks like he has gotten his life in order, and as long as he stays on the same path as he is on now I see no big problems. But just remember not to hide these incidents. Be truthful and a department is more then likely to pick him up.

Good luck to you both,
Ranger337

[dano]

I dont' want to be a downer but I have to disagree with some of the more positive posts.

Many depts are very sensative to alcohol related incidents - alcoholism being such a pervasive problem in Law Enforcement.

In my experience, the BI's aren't too concerned with some youthful rowdiness and drinking (mine took it with a wink, wink) ...The shrinks are a different story!

I had an open container in 1996 and you would have thought I was one of the McKenzie Brothers from the way the shrink was drilling me. They are trained to ruffle your feathers, nonetheless, it took me aback and every question after that included, 'Were you drinking at the time?' Meanwhile, my MMPI was right as rain. All for a minor incident that happened over 5-years ago! I felt like a degenerate loser walking out of there!

I can only imagine the fun they will have with your husband. Three seperate incidents, even though they were a long time ago will send up flags b/c it indicates a pattern. Your husband will need to be prepared to explain these incidents and show convincingly how those days are behind him. Also, he should be prepared for what ranger aptly described as 'rattling his cage.'

HEY -- Getting loaded and firing guns within city limits!?!?! I gotta party with this guy!!!!

[proudwife]

Thank you all so much for posting! I shared them with my husband and they have been a great help.

[Ranger337]

I am sure I speak for the entire board. It was a pleasure to be of some assitance to you and your husband and we wish you the best of luck.

Ranger337

[M D]

I think TTRAIN222 hit it on the head, it would be much to his advantage to be able to say," I was a young RANGER, a little wild (they teach us that) and since then I have quit drinking." His work record, since then, will say a lot also. I was a young MARINE involved in a bar fight in 1982, I was arrested, however, all charges were dropped, I still had a hell of a time letting my deptartment know that I was not a mean, fighting, drunk. The church thing sounds good, use it. When your young, you do stupid things and then you grow up. If that's all he has in his background, I think he'll do fine. Hang in there.

SEMPER-FI

M D