Would I be DQ from becoming peace officer.

[Itssalsatime]

I have an ELS re-4 code from the navy, dd214 states, "fraudulent enlistment, drug abuse."
Raised my hand during the moment of truth, like a naive 19y/o idiot, and admitted to smoking marijuana 20+times. (Before basic)
Frankly, I wanted out of the Navy because i missed my girlfriend..and i figured it was an easy out.. which it was.. i know, i know. Stupid and pathetic. I feel like i betrayed my country. Especially since my grandfather was a ww2 veteran.
This was in 2007.

In 2008 i kept smoking pot daily, used cocaine a few dozen times (yes, that is 36 times)
As far as 'seling' is concerned. I Would buy an ounce or a couple ounces and sell it to friends, ao i could smoke for 'free'

Got my act together in 2011. I've been clean now for 5 years, great wife and a 2 year old son. My wife is a family medicine doctor. She just accepted a job in camarillo.
I go to 'celebrate recovery' meetings at the local church and sponsor other people who are trying to get off drugs.

Think i stand a chance at becoming an officer?
If i can't, i was going to get my EMT.

I have never been arrested, no felonies, nothing else.
Thanks for reading..
Mike

[seal20]

Apply, and give it a shot.

Good luck!

[Itssalsatime]

Apply, and give it a shot.

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply. Infeel as if I'm walking into the Lions den here...anyway

I was reading more about the process. Inwish i could do the investigator part first, before i spend all of this time training and studying. Just to find out I'm a a DQ

[Desertdoc]

Simply outstanding. No career in emergency services should be a second choice. Sorry, I want people who want to live, breathe, eat and sleep their chosen emergency services profession.

With the best tact I can muster, I do not see you as a viable candidate for most agencies.

If you do make it to background. NEVER EVER lie to your investigator. Let the chips fall where they may.

[Itssalsatime]

Simply outstanding. No career in emergency services should be a second choice. Sorry, I want people who want to live, breathe, eat and sleep their chosen emergency services profession.

With the best tact I can muster, I do not see you as a viable candidate for most agencies.

If you do make it to background. NEVER EVER lie to your investigator. Let the chips fall where they may.

I would love to serve as an officer.
But if i am not able i still want to serve and help people.
There is nothing wrong with that..i would love to do either or. However I'd preface po first. I am passionate about both, really.

[Desertdoc]

I say this. Go get what you want like a wolf chasing a pork chop. If you want a career in LE, apply and let the chips fall where they may.

Go do at least 5 ride alongs each with fire, EMS, and an LEA.

I will leave you with this:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

TR

[Itssalsatime]

I say this. Go get what you want like a wolf chasing a pork chop. If you want a career in LE, apply and let the chips fall where they may.

Go do at least 5 ride alongs each with fire, EMS, and an LEA.

I will leave you with this:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

TR

Thanks for the encouraging reply.

[the42cop]

I agree with everyone else bro... I say give it a shot! You can show an upward progression in responsibility and maturity. I have heard of people who have MUCH worse backgrounds getting hired. Ultimately it's going to be a roll of the dice. But you don't lose anything by trying! I have a blog that covers things like how to make yourself more marketable and stand out from the competition. If you're interested, let me know and I will see if I can take a look at your education, work history, hobbies etc and see where you can plug some gaps.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

[Hairball]

"used cocaine a few dozen times"
For some agencies that is an automatic disqual if ever used. You could always cut to the chase and call the background investigator and ask them before going through the process. I know with my old department, that would be cause for immediate dismissal.

[Itssalsatime]

I agree with everyone else bro... I say give it a shot! You can show an upward progression in responsibility and maturity. I have heard of people who have MUCH worse backgrounds getting hired. Ultimately it's going to be a roll of the dice. But you don't lose anything by trying! I have a blog that covers things like how to make yourself more marketable and stand out from the competition. If you're interested, let me know and I will see if I can take a look at your education, work history, hobbies etc and see where you can plug some gaps.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

Thanks for the reply
I've been working for an electrical union. Had to fill in the gaps for this job, haha. Even though i was smoking lots of pot, i actually was a fairly decent commodity futures trader at the Chicago board of trade. Then continued to the education side of the business.
I never went to college, just highschool.

Really happy that i got clean (i dont drink or anything either). Really happy to have a second shot (no pun intended) at being a contributing member of society

[Itssalsatime]

"used cocaine a few dozen times"
For most agencies that is an automatic disqual if ever used. You could always cut to the chase and call the background investigator and ask them before going through the process. I know with my old department, that would be cause for immediate dismissal.

I spoke with my friend, who is the supervisor of cyber crime division for the FBI.
He told me that it isn't how llmuch you used, rather how long ago you used.
He said for something like cocaine, they like to see at least 7 years ago

But that's the FBI.

Also, That's what I've been trying to do, contact the background investigator. But i keep getting transferred all over. Left a few messages. Never heard back. (Ventura county )

[CenCal45]

Plain and simple it's all up to the agency. Some want squeaky clean boy scouts, others are willing to give you a shot as long as you've shown a genuine effort towards bettering yourself.
The good part is they will see your 5 years of sobriety as well as sponsoring of others trying to do the same.
As Desertdoc said, do NOT lie, about ANYTHING! Many agencies will forgive past mistakes but none of them will hire a liar.
If you really want it, go for it. And let prospective agencies see how bad you're willing to work for it.

[Itssalsatime]

Plain and simple it's all up to the agency. Some want squeaky clean boy scouts, others are willing to give you a shot as long as you've shown a genuine effort towards bettering yourself.
The good part is they will see your 5 years of sobriety as well as sponsoring of others trying to do the same.
As Desertdoc said, do NOT lie, about ANYTHING! Many agencies will forgive past mistakes but none of them will hire a liar.
If you really want it, go for it. And let prospective agencies see how bad you're willing to work for it.

Thanks, i plan on giving it 100%. I am so anxious to start the process, I'm trying to get informationand ask folks now (online)
It is ventura county, well that's where we are moving in 10 months
Thanks again.

[Itssalsatime]

Being clean/sober whatever you want to call it. = not being a liar. Against the steps that got me clean, heh
Cute line though, 777.. ; )

[marinelar]

I have an ELS re-4 code from the navy, dd214 states, "fraudulent enlistment, drug abuse."
Raised my hand during the moment of truth, like a naive 19y/o idiot, and admitted to smoking marijuana 20+times. (Before basic)
Frankly, I wanted out of the Navy because i missed my girlfriend..and i figured it was an easy out.. which it was.. i know, i know. Stupid and pathetic. I feel like i betrayed my country. Especially since my grandfather was a ww2 veteran.
This was in 2007.

In 2008 i kept smoking pot daily, used cocaine a few dozen times (yes, that is 36 times)
As far as 'seling' is concerned. I Would buy an ounce or a couple ounces and sell it to friends, ao i could smoke for 'free'

Got my act together in 2011. I've been clean now for 5 years, great wife and a 2 year old son. My wife is a family medicine doctor. She just accepted a job in camarillo.
I go to 'celebrate recovery' meetings at the local church and sponsor other people who are trying to get off drugs.

Think i stand a chance at becoming an officer?
If i can't, i was going to get my EMT.

I have never been arrested, no felonies, nothing else.
Thanks for reading..
Mike

I am aware of one police department in the OC area that will consider prior hard drug use. This is case by case, but if there's one, there's definitely more within the State of CA. Apply, be honest, and hopefully it works out for you. You may need a few more years between you and your past life before you become a viable candidate though. In the mean time, if you don't already, do some volunteer work. Maybe contact your local juvenile probation department and see if you can volunteer.