Oakland PD Background and firearms.....

[tazmanian devil dog]

Maybe I'm paranoid, I could be. But I was sitting here filling out my Oakland PD Background packet to be a peace officer. There is a question in the packet which concerns me greatly. They ask for a list of all firearms I own by make model caliber and serial number. WTF!!!!!!!!! How is that their business and why. I have nothing to hide but it feels like a big FU$@*&% invasion of my privacy. I have filled these out before and have never been asked for this information.

Any LEOS out there that can explain this BS to me?

[Guntech]

Hm..I have several family members in LE I'll ask them and get back to you.

[SkyStorm82]

Some departments ask that of you as part of the background packet. Others don't. If it bothers you that much than don't apply to that department.

[saigon1965]

How many lines are there on the form for your answer?

[tazmanian devil dog]

How many lines are there on the form for your answer?

Only room for one. But they tell you to continue on another sheet if necessary.

[tazmanian devil dog]

Some departments ask that of you as part of the background packet. Others don't. If it bothers you that much than don't apply to that department.


I hear you, but unfortunetely I need the job if I can get it. It just really creeps me out that they ask for that info. I know they can look it up themselves, so again, WTF? R they just trying to see if I'm honest or are they going to judge me based on how many guns and what type I own?

[DM5]

Dont worry about it. List the firearms and get over it. Never lie on a background and save your original packet you submit ie. photocopy it. This way you never have to worry about all the PIA the first one took and no discrepancies if you apply somewhere else. My department did not ask but others I applied at did. My neighbors son works for OPD and has lots of guns. Dont worry about it.

[DM5]

It just really creeps me out that they ask for that info. I know they can look it up themselves, so again, WTF? R they just trying to see if I'm honest or are they going to judge me based on how many guns and what type I own?

No they will not judge you on what guns you own. They want to see how honest you are. They can look it up themselves and will after you submit yours. That way they can compare what you wrote, to the DOJs list of weapons you own.

[SkyStorm82]

I hear you, but unfortunetely I need the job if I can get it. It just really creeps me out that they ask for that info. I know they can look it up themselves, so again, WTF? R they just trying to see if I'm honest or are they going to judge me based on how many guns and what type I own?

Who knows bro. Every dept. will be trying to see if you're honest though.

Whether or not they're trying to judge you based on how many guns you own....apply anyway then if you need the job. If you get denied for that reason then I'd say you wouldn't have really wanted to work for that dept anyway.

[Standard]

I was not asked in the packet for Stanislaus County Sheriff.

[tazmanian devil dog]

Dont worry about it. List the firearms and get over it. Never lie on a background and save your original packet you submit ie. photocopy it. This way you never have to worry about all the PIA the first one took and no discrepancies if you apply somewhere else. My department did not ask but others I applied at did. My neighbors son works for OPD and has lots of guns. Dont worry about it.


I really do want the job and I will list ALL my guns. I guess it just felt so Orwellian and Facist like. My bad for jumpin' the gun. (Pardon the pun)

I will trust that they are fair and impartial. I appreciate you guys support on this.

[SkyStorm82]

I really do want the job and I will list ALL my guns. I guess it just felt so Orwellian and Facist like. My bad for jumpin' the gun. (Pardon the pun)

I will trust that they are fair and impartial. I appreciate you guys support on this.

Good luck. Apply to other depts. too though.

[tyrist]

I had the same thing on my background packet. At the time I did'nt own any guns so had nothing to place there. They are just making sure you don't have any illegal (ie stolen) firearms. Just wait till you take the psyc examine. There are numerous firearms related questions for you to answer.

[DM5]

If you need any help with the background let me know. I know it seems excessive on the background with all the wierd questions but it truly does matter. Put yourself in an their shoes and now you have some crazy guy with a gun who goes 5150 on the street. Its not safe for the officer, department or community. They dont know you from Joe Shmoe. You would not want to work with some 5150.
You lose atleast 50 percent of people through each part of the process, maybe more. I have not heard of a gun owner being denied just for having many guns. Alot of guys in my class had more than 4 guns. Just wait for the written physc 600 questions of loony toons! You will get a good laugh if you are sane.

[USN CHIEF]

I had the same thing on my background packet. At the time I did'nt own any guns so had nothing to place there. They are just making sure you don't have any illegal (ie stolen) firearms. Just wait till you take the psyc examine. There are numerous firearms related questions for you to answer.

Like what? :eek: Do you recall any of the questions?

[SkyStorm82]

Just wait for the written physc 600 questions of loony toons! You will get a good laugh if you are sane.

hahahaha yeah..."I wake up evil" yes or no.

quite a few people could be heard chuckling when you take that test.

[RossRinSD]

haha, I thought it was the questions about whether or not you had smoked pot.

But seriously, this is just the beginning of the mind**** they are going to put you through.

[tazmanian devil dog]

:eek::eek::eek: 600 Questions!!!!!!!!!!

[tazmanian devil dog]

:eek:You mean I can't have smoked pot!!!!! Egads!!!!!

Should I tell them about the other stuff?:D

[SkyStorm82]

:eek::eek::eek: 600 Questions!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah....it's like 3 or 4 hours filling in those stupid bubbles.

[DM5]

true or false do you like toy trains?
true or false do you want to be a farmer?

[USN CHIEF]

true or false do you like toy trains?
true or false do you want to be a farmer?

True

and

True

Did I answer right?

[SkyStorm82]

True

and

True

Did I answer right?

Most of the questions don't have a right or wrong answer. They take them all together and do their little profile thing to see if you'd be a good match.

However, answering true to something like "I wake up evil" will probably DQ you right off the bat.

[RossRinSD]

:eek:You mean I can't have smoked pot!!!!! Egads!!!!!

Should I tell them about the other stuff?:D

Um, you'll have to tell them about everything. But, depending on the agency, smoking pot 3 years ago isn't a disqualifier.

[DM5]

do you dream about blood?
it gets worse from there just plain rediculous. Here is the best part. They lose 50 percent of people in each portion of the process
written
oral
physical
background
phsyc/oral physyc
medical

So a good portion of people fail this portion. Man thats gotta suck!

[DM5]

Um, you'll have to tell them about everything. But, depending on the agency, smoking pot 3 years ago isn't a disqualifier.

And from what I have heard OPD is looking for warm bodies so be truthful and you should be fine. I have seen alot of soup sandwiches get hired and people that have definitly smoked there fair share. OPD does have a lie detector as a portion of the hiring process.

[Max-the-Silent]

It's a pretty common question now, and I know of a certain agency that will want the applicant to go into some detail about their firearms experience and detail how they came to be a gun owner, etc.

Just answer every question truthfully.

Best of luck.

[tazmanian devil dog]

Um, you'll have to tell them about everything. But, depending on the agency, smoking pot 3 years ago isn't a disqualifier.

It's sad, but I was kidding, the only drugs i have done are over the counter.

I am predictably duddly do right. Boring ain't I?

[SchooBaka]

Maybe I'm paranoid, I could be. But I was sitting here filling out my Oakland PD Background packet to be a peace officer. There is a question in the packet which concerns me greatly. They ask for a list of all firearms I own by make model caliber and serial number. WTF!!!!!!!!! How is that their business and why. I have nothing to hide but it feels like a big FU$@*&% invasion of my privacy. I have filled these out before and have never been asked for this information.

Any LEOS out there that can explain this BS to me?

Maybe they're just trying to determine if you're the Tacklebury type. :eek:
Joking, I have no idea. :p

[RossRinSD]

It's sad, but I was kidding, the only drugs i have done are over the counter.

I am predictably duddly do right. Boring ain't I?

I'm not trying to give you a hard time, but those can be abused just like anything else.

I know a guy who was an EMT/paramedic. He wanted to become a fireman or policeman. He applied everywhere before he was finally hired as a fireman out in Colorado. He passed his psych/lie detector test with an agency. I can't remember which one right now... I want to say Torrance PD... The guy giving the test comes back and says. "We know you are lying. We know that you know how to beat the polygraph."

I applied for a job once, actually my second job ever. The whole pre-employment screening was questions like:

Everyone steals from their job, so you must have stolen from your job. How much did you steal?
A. $10
B. $20
c. $50
d. $100 or more

How do you answer that? Especially if you have NEVER stolen from a company. There were quite a few questions along those lines. It was so irritating, I stopped halfway through and left. Would you want to work at a place that assumes and then accuses you of stealing before you've ever worked there? Imagine how they are after you work there.

My brother got DQ by the CHP when they asked if he had ever stolen anything from his work, or if he done anything that could be construed as stealing by anyone, ever... He said that he left work once, and had a shop towel in his back pocket. He noticed it when he got home, and brought it back the next day.

I mean really? When is honest too honest??

[DM5]

I hear alot of horror stories but have never encountered them in the 3 backgrounds I have passed. It does suck. You have to be just honest enough to be honest if that makes sense.

[GuyW]

Maybe they're just trying to determine if you're the Tacklebury type. :eek:
Joking, I have no idea. :p

Huckleberry??

As in, "I'm yor' huckleberry!"

[tyrist]

Like what? :eek: Do you recall any of the questions?

yes I recall some of the questions. The ones about sex were the strangest though. The whole taking the test I think was part of the exam. If you could stay at a desk for 5 hours filling in bubbles without trying to kill yourself you pass.

[GuyW]

I'm pretty sure that when OPD hired my grandfather in the late '20s, all they asked was whether he had a mean swing with a rosewood billy....

[erblo]

I wouldn't sweat it. I recently applied for a local PD and they asked for the same. I was a little worried about my OLL's, but they didn't even mention it. My background investigator just read over the list and verified I owned the listed firearms, including the OLL. No big deal.

[Bobula]

Dont feel bad I had to add more paper too.

[leelaw]

Couple thoghts:

Be honest. That said, you had one misconception - they may NOT look up all the firearms you own. Only handguns will have records with make, model, and serial. Longguns will just be known amount of an unknown type.

If you put down a bunch of firears, be prepared to explain why. "Because I like to shoot stuff, bro!" isn't a good answer. "Because I thin kit's important for a peace officer to have knowledge of all types of firearms, so he can safely deal with them if he encounters one, and I'm also a collector" is a much better answer.

I've not heard of a department asking for this, specifically. It is interesting.

It's also an image concern. PDs don't want to hire gun-happy guys with a macho complex. A large collection of firearms might be a sign of such a person.

[tazmanian devil dog]

Dont feel bad I had to add more paper too.

I am assuming your interview went great. Dude I had to add a whole other full sheet. Holy Crap:eek:

[tazmanian devil dog]

I'm not trying to give you a hard time, but those can be abused just like anything else.

I know a guy who was an EMT/paramedic. He wanted to become a fireman or policeman. He applied everywhere before he was finally hired as a fireman out in Colorado. He passed his psych/lie detector test with an agency. I can't remember which one right now... I want to say Torrance PD... The guy giving the test comes back and says. "We know you are lying. We know that you know how to beat the polygraph."

I applied for a job once, actually my second job ever. The whole pre-employment screening was questions like:

Everyone steals from their job, so you must have stolen from your job. How much did you steal?
A. $10
B. $20
c. $50
d. $100 or more

How do you answer that? Especially if you have NEVER stolen from a company. There were quite a few questions along those lines. It was so irritating, I stopped halfway through and left. Would you want to work at a place that assumes and then accuses you of stealing before you've ever worked there? Imagine how they are after you work there.

My brother got DQ by the CHP when they asked if he had ever stolen anything from his work, or if he done anything that could be construed as stealing by anyone, ever... He said that he left work once, and had a shop towel in his back pocket. He noticed it when he got home, and brought it back the next day.

I mean really? When is honest too honest??

It is a mind *&%$ isn't it. Oh well, I can play that game. I think there is a balance between honest and too honest. I know that sounds weird, but I think it's accurate.

[ViPER395]

If you're trying to be a cop and you're worried about questions on a preliminary test being intrusive you've not seen anything yet.

I'm a decent person and I wouldn't think of answering half the crap on those things or letting the psychs visit my friends, family, coworkers and home and interview them.

The rigorous induction process is enough to turn most honest folks away from a career in LE. It did me.

[Bobula]

I am assuming your interview went great. Dude I had to add a whole other full sheet. Holy Crap:eek:

I have to wait till i pick up the CZ to finish that section, lol.
Interview went great, I spoke with charlie just through the luck of the draw.

[gotgunz]

Can't you get a list from DOJ????

Attach that form to the packet and send it in... nice, neat and readable with no room for error as afterall..... It came from DOJ. How could it be wrong? :D

Wait until they ask you the questions about your prior relationships and sexual stuff... those were interesting.

One of the interviewers on my background was the father of a former girlfriend that knew I had shagged his daughter, shagged her rotten I tell you!... LOL!

I didn't get hired but it was worth it to see him squirm with anger.

[packnrat]

Can't you get a list from DOJ????

Attach that form to the packet and send it in... nice, neat and readable with no room for error as afterall..... It came from DOJ. How could it be wrong? :D

Wait until they ask you the questions about your prior relationships and sexual stuff... those were interesting.

One of the interviewers on my background was the father of a former girlfriend that knew I had shagged his daughter, shagged her rotten I tell you!... LOL!

I didn't get hired but it was worth it to see him squirm with anger.

i got that list from the doj about me...and it is wrong, it has guns on there i do not own. (all pistols).
doj stated they do not keep track of long guns.

:TFH:
.

.

[SkyStorm82]

If you're trying to be a cop and you're worried about questions on a preliminary test being intrusive you've not seen anything yet.

I'm a decent person and I wouldn't think of answering half the crap on those things or letting the psychs visit my friends, family, coworkers and home and interview them.

The rigorous induction process is enough to turn most honest folks away from a career in LE. It did me.



Why would you want to be a cop anyway? You seem to have taken Piper's place in cop bashing.

[bonjing]

if this is your first background, don't forget to make copies of all the papers you filled out, dates of applications and all that other stuff.

[ViPER395]

Yes, it's Viper, the big-bad cop-hater. I see a badge and I instantly think, that guy's an ******* and I hate him! :rolleyes:

So is it ok to label you the Viper-basher? Since this is like, the third time in three days you've labeled me as a cop basher, anti-LE... whatever makes you happy.

Why would you want to be a cop anyway? You seem to have taken Piper's place in cop bashing.

[heavyrecoil]

Huckleberry??

As in, "I'm yor' huckleberry!"

Tackleberry (sp?) was a burly "gun-nut" guy in the Police Academy movies.

[Crazed_SS]

Tackleberry (sp?) was a burly "gun-nut" guy in the Police Academy movies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx1TWk-V4P0

[heavyrecoil]

Crazed SS: I'm familiar with the "Tombstone" quote, but I was responding to post #32 (see above).

[gotgunz]

I think he meant this guy :rolleyes:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJdmnMtpAwI

Or.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vom9iLDfb-Y&feature=related

[trinydex]

how much of the employment history do they get of you when they do a background investigation?

[DM5]

how much of the employment history do they get of you when they do a background investigation?

Everything! I have had alot of jobs so its a PIA for me:p

[cseabass]

between both places ive worked at and family member i know a few OPD officers and ALL of them own a fair amount of guns(more than me)

[workinwifdakids]

The investigator for LASO asked me if I ever did drugs. I started laughing and said, "No." I was thinking that the kind of people I know who did drugs wouldn't really be cops. He took my laughter as evasion and told me that if he found out I was lying, he'd burn me to the ground. Real fire-and-brimstone type ****, you know?

So, they hook me up to the "everybody's-a-crook" machine and ask me my name, and my favorite band, and who my wife is, and SURPRISE HAVE YOU EVER HAD SEX WITH AN ANIMAL!?!?!??" I just about threw up! So, of course they say I showed "deception." I said, "Deception? Let me hook that thing up to you, and ask you how many times you've had sex with your dad." The funny part? Before I took the polygraph, I'd have been on a jury and really felt like that stuff was great. Afterwards? No one can convince me those things are anything short of voodoo.

So, on to the psych eval. 600 questions - which were exactly 20 questions, asked 30 different ways. Really. Frickin. Annoying.

[Grimjack]

The investigator for LASO asked me if I ever did drugs. I started laughing and said, "No." I was thinking that the kind of people I know who did drugs wouldn't really be cops. He took my laughter as evasion and told me that if he found out I was lying, he'd burn me to the ground. Real fire-and-brimstone type ****, you know?

So, they hook me up to the "everybody's-a-crook" machine and ask me my name, and my favorite band, and who my wife is, and SURPRISE HAVE YOU EVER HAD SEX WITH AN ANIMAL!?!?!??" I just about threw up! So, of course they say I showed "deception." I said, "Deception? Let me hook that thing up to you, and ask you how many times you've had sex with your dad." The funny part? Before I took the polygraph, I'd have been on a jury and really felt like that stuff was great. Afterwards? No one can convince me those things are anything short of voodoo.

So, on to the psych eval. 600 questions - which were exactly 20 questions, asked 30 different ways. Really. Frickin. Annoying.

I agree completely. The Poly is only there to intimdate guys into admitting stuff because they think the poly is gonna dime them out anyway...

My favorite psych question was either "Do you like to play with fire?" asked like 50 times. Or "Who was a better president? Abe Lincoln or George Washington?" again asked like 50 times.

[norcal-ar]

that and if u have any ar type rifles id list them as they are listed on their site for ex: ds arms calls it their "dzm4" so id say its a dzm4 rifle your not lying. if thats what the manufacture calls it then thats it.


Maybe I'm paranoid, I could be. But I was sitting here filling out my Oakland PD Background packet to be a peace officer. There is a question in the packet which concerns me greatly. They ask for a list of all firearms I own by make model caliber and serial number. WTF!!!!!!!!! How is that their business and why. I have nothing to hide but it feels like a big FU$@*&% invasion of my privacy. I have filled these out before and have never been asked for this information.

Any LEOS out there that can explain this BS to me?

[code33]

Everything. Look at the employment section on the Personal History Statement.
http://www.post.ca.gov/selection/histories.asp

how much of the employment history do they get of you when they do a background investigation?

[tyrist]

On the topic of people applying for the police department....At my department there has been more than a couple of occasions where somebody applied who had an outstanding felony warrant. The background investigator asked them to come in...upon showing up they were handcuffed and booked.

[norcal-ar]

LOL! thats funny its like those convicts that escaped during hurricane katrina and were hiding out in texas and when they heard everyone was getting money to help them with their losses they showed up asking where their money was at!LOL



On the topic of people applying for the police department....At my department there has been more than a couple of occasions where somebody applied who had an outstanding felony warrant. The background investigator asked them to come in...upon showing up they were handcuffed and booked.

[Bird of Fire]

Yeah if you feel violated now, wait until the whole "sex with an animal" question :D

edit - you can try to make light of the situation and inform them that they run too fast :(

[Casual Observer]

I agree completely. The Poly is only there to intimdate guys into admitting stuff because they think the poly is gonna dime them out anyway...

My favorite psych question was either "Do you like to play with fire?" asked like 50 times. Or "Who was a better president? Abe Lincoln or George Washington?" again asked like 50 times.

They can also ask questions to test your honesty without quantifying it.

ie. "Have you ever stolen anything?" It doesnt matter if it was a candy bar when you were 10, or millions when you were 30. They just want to see you tell the truth.

[Casual Observer]

Yeah if you feel violated now, wait until the whole "sex with an animal" question :D

edit - you can try to make light of the situation and inform them that they run too fast :(

technically, aren't we (humans) animals with higher cognitive functions?

So, technically, you have had sex with an animal (unless you're a virgin).

[Bird of Fire]

technically, aren't we (humans) animals with higher cognitive functions?

So, technically, you have had sex with an animal (unless you're a virgin).

Touche. Excellent point.

I guess the idea of retaining a right to privacy while working for the PD is just a hopeful wish. You won't. If you want to retain your privacy, don't apply. Just my .02$