Disqualifiers for LEO Position

[Stoner]

As long as it has been awhile since you got hammer, drinking is not a problem. Bad credit used to be a major concern, however with the current housing situation, there may be some room to explain your situation. The key to most of this is being a person who takes responsibility for your actions, and is making every effort to make it right.

I would make the rounds of most of the agencies in the bay area and pick up applications. Even during these lean times, there are lots of guys retiring. Not all are being replaced, but most agencies will have openings to fill.

And as far a collage goes for my department, an AJ background was better then no collage, but they preferred a business background. The academy will teach you what you need to know for AJ, they were interested in business degrees

[whobob]

I don't know where you got your information, but it definitely is WRONG. LASD is still hiring but things have slowed down significantly this year. We have that many retirements each year (and I'll be one of them in two years) but we difinitely don't fire that many a year.
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Okay if I'm wrong then what is the correct number? Don't call me out and not give the answer. The info was given to me by a LEO.

[BigDogatPlay]

Bearing in mind that some large agencies with their own programs may well make you go through their entire academy, even though you've graduated from one of the regionals. CHP, for instance.

[supermario]

IMO the following will DQ you in your LEO app.s

Lying (on the app or during the process), addictions (sex, drugs, arson etc.), not taking personal responsibility for the bad stuff you've done or been through, and spurts of mental/personality problems (obsessive-compulsive/manic-depressive etc.)

I was disqualified for having bad credit and i drove without car insurance for one year (that was BEFORE they made it a law that you had to have insurance). They told me to clean up my credit and write a letter explaining why i drove uninsured for a year.. I wasnt able to clear up my credit and the reason i had no insurance and bad credit was becus i was poor and barely making it.. But oh well, i guess it wasnt meant to be.
This was 13years ago and I still have bad credit..

[TheBundo]

In some states, with an 8th grade education and a GED, you're good to go

[Bobshouse]

Some of my agencies biggies are:

Use of marijuana within the past 5 years.

Use of any illecit narcotic within the past 10 years.

Criminal History...NCIC check.

Failure to pay debts.

Credit report shows unpaid debts with no attempt to pay. (even repossed cars can knock you out of a position)

And if you lie to pass the integrity interview, don't expect to make your first year. I don't know how many we lost due to that fact. They would always come up and say, "well, yeah, but I figured I'd show you how good of an employee I was and you'd overlook that..." WRONG!!!

During the interview, they have already ran your NCIC and credit report. I once interviewed a guy who was caught with marijuana at a airport, he ran from the police and was caught attempting to flush it down a toilet. It was in his NCIC check. When asked about his criminal history he said "nope, clean..nothing." My follow up question was "Ever been to Dallas?" His eyes lit up and said "Oh, yeah! Completely forgot about that incident!!" Right, how often do you forget about being chased down in an airport, handcuffed and put into a police cruiser...never!

[CnCFunFactory]

During the interview, they have already ran your NCIC and credit report. I once interviewed a guy who was caught with marijuana at a airport, he ran from the police and was caught attempting to flush it down a toilet. It was in his NCIC check. When asked about his criminal history he said "nope, clean..nothing." My follow up question was "Ever been to Dallas?" His eyes lit up and said "Oh, yeah! Completely forgot about that incident!!" Right, how often do you forget about being chased down in an airport, handcuffed and put into a police cruiser...never!

That is one of the funnier pre-employment interview stories I have heard. Thanks for the morning chuckle.

[what2be]

Some of my agencies biggies are:

Use of marijuana within the past 5 years.

Use of any illicit narcotic within the past 10 years.

Criminal History...NCIC check.

Failure to pay debts.

Credit report shows unpaid debts with no attempt to pay. (even repossed cars can knock you out of a position)

And if you lie to pass the integrity interview, don't expect to make your first year. I don't know how many we lost due to that fact.

Hmm..interesting, ...just out of curiousity , what consitutes criminal history? What if 10 years ago someone was arrested but never convicted, due to bad warrant or screw up on the investigation, something like that? Is that still considered a disqualifier?

Also, what do you mean by if they lie to pass the integrity check? From what I understand, there is the testing for the position, then they do the NCIC, background check, then the poly, then the interview. DO you guys not do a poly? Isnt the poly the integrity check?

[5hundo]

I'll try to make this short and sweet. I have been thinking about perusing a career in law enforcement for about a year, I have some doubts and misgivings but I am coming to a point where I will have to make some sort of decision about my future. While I have no criminal record, have never been arrested, never used any drugs, and have never even gotten a moving violation while in college I did my fair share of underage drinking. Will this indiscretion be overlooked or should I find another career.

They're not looking for priests...

They're looking for cops...

From the sound of it, you should be fine. What's your health like? Any bad injuries to speak of? (that's sometimes a deal-breaker)

[bluestaterebel]

Unless you want the graveyard shift in Compton

Any good cop would love to work nights in Compton. for many that would be their first choice.

[Bobshouse]

Hmm..interesting, ...just out of curiousity , what consitutes criminal history? What if 10 years ago someone was arrested but never convicted, due to bad warrant or screw up on the investigation, something like that? Is that still considered a disqualifier?

Also, what do you mean by if they lie to pass the integrity check? From what I understand, there is the testing for the position, then they do the NCIC, background check, then the poly, then the interview. DO you guys not do a poly? Isnt the poly the integrity check?

We didn't use the polygraph at our institution. We were all trained on reading body language to determine if they were telling the truth. You would be surprised what people do when lying..lol Our integrity check is a oral interview. The questions were designed to test a person's honesty. Many questions are repeated, only asked differently to catch people off guard.

A sample would be... "Marijuana is a illegal substance used by individuals to get high. While we are all not perfect, alot of us have used marijuana in the past." If the individual is observed agreeing with you by shaking his/her head yes, more than likely he/she has used marijuana sometime in their past. Our follow up question would then be "When was the last time you used marijuana?" If they are shaking their head no, they are disagreeing with your statement and our follow up would be "Have you ever tried marijuana?" More than likely this individual will answer no.

Same with criminal history, we enquire about the NCIC findings but also the individuals past with regards to doing things he/she didn't get arrested for. Again, ask a leading question and look for body language responses...depending upon the response, ask follow up questions.

It was some of the best training I'd received at DOJ... The interview process is also followed up by an intesive background investigation going back 15 years. Investigators visit old neighborhoods, schools, jobs. After completion you can request a copy of the investigation through FOI...mine was over 200 pages long.

[7222 Hawker]

I would say that at this point getting into the law enforcement field is kind of a bad idea. No one is hiring from what I hear. I had friend in the academy that got let go due to budget cut backs.

CHP is hiring like crazy.

[Knight]

CHP is hiring like crazy.

CHP is always hiring . . .