Advice from current LEO's within Bay Area

[nglrivera]

Greetings All!

Here is some background information about myself. I am currently senior in college and I am double majoring in Criminology as well as Sociology. I am a pending member of the Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society for the Social Sciences and currently hold a GPA of 3.6/4.0. I have done previous internships with a private agency that works with various police departments as well as lawyers/judges across California. I have applied to Fremont PD, SJPD, CHP, SFPD, as well as Berkeley PD. I have my PELLETB test on tuesday (10/29) and my WTSB on Nov. 12th. If it isn't obvious by now, I want to become an LEO somewhere within the Bay Area.

Here is my setback. Back when I was 18 (4 years ago) I decided to experiment with marijuana. For about seven (7) months I was really smoking to the point where my grades were slipping and I gained more than 20 pounds of weight! I did not know I wanted to become an LEO at the time that I was doing this act of stupidity. After realizing I wanted to pursue the career path of becoming an LEO, I shaped up and decided to quit smoking marijuana and focus on my studies and becoming physically fit in order to get read for the academy. Marijuana was the only "illegal" substance that I have tried while in college and since that time my grades have improved quite a bit, my RA's have commended me on living above the influence, and I have finally reached my goal of being physically fit. I am still confronted with the usage of marijuana by nearly every student on my campus, however, I do not succumb to the pressure. Also, I do not have a criminal record, nor do I have any speeding tickets. The only mark that would possibly be on my record would be getting a ticket for no front license plate on my car while it was street parked

So, my question for all of the LEO's who browse this thread...will my prior usage of marijuana disqualify me even if the occurrence of the incident was more than three years ago?

If you need any other information about my situation that I did not cover above feel free to ask me!

[SVT-40]

You mentioned that marijuana was the only illegal substance you tried while in college. .... what about the years before colloge?

What would be the total number of times you used marijuana?

[Rogue187]

It would depend upon the agency you apply for.
Each agency sets the level of usage allowed before you reach the disqualification level..
Some are very strict and some not so strict..Your background investigator should be able to tell you that info.

[nglrivera]

You mentioned that marijuana was the only illegal substance you tried while in college. .... what about the years before colloge?

What would be the total number of times you used marijuana?

Before college I have never tried marijuana nor any other substance, not even alcohol! That first year of college was a huge regret in my life...and I would smoke at least once a day for 3-4 days a week for that seven month period. However, that excludes Christmas break which is about a month long and only a week into March. So I would say for about 5.5 months I was using Marijuana

[ckim34]

Depends on the agency. Just be honest about it. I was about 4 years removed from my last time using marijuana when I was hired.

[WyattandDoc]

I agree with the above posts. It depends on the departments needs. Some will lower their standards and allow people in they normally wouldn't during "needy" times. VERY FEW of us were complete angels when we got hired.

Be completely honest!!

[OldSchool]

I forget the guidance, but I'm thinking you either had to be a minor or the smoking had to occur more than 10 years ago.

I know someone that was declined for local and federal for "it's been 2 years since I smoked".

I also know of someone that smoked when they were a minor in high school and is now a LEO.

[Artema]

When I was looking to join the Air Force I was told because of a bankruptcy and limited marijuana use I not only wouldn't get in, but if I did I'd not get a security clearance. Now I've been in a half month shy of 8 years and have had a top secret the entire time. I don't know how that will translate to the organizations you are interested in joining, but if they reject you, consider AFOSI.

[cacop]

At my agency that is not going to be a problem. 4 years removed from the weed usage of only six months. It also helps that you saw your grades slip and you took action to reverse it.

Granted if you are competing for a spot with some guy who only used it once or twice you might get passed over. As in the chief is looking to fill that last spot and it is between you and a guy with a clean background you may loose out.

Besides very few cops have absolutely squeaky clean backgrounds. Some do but most have things like underage drinking, petty theft, past bad credit, divorce, out of wedlock kids, being fired from a job, failing out of school, etc.

Any number of things can be DQ's. We had a chief that turned down a candidate because while in the service and single he used the services of a prostitute where it was legal. The chief's argument was that it was immoral. The sheriff in my county hired him.

Stay clean and sober, watch your speed, pay your bills on time, keep your credit card debit low (or none), stay away from crazy women, and stay in shape.

[Artema]

Any number of things can be DQ's. We had a chief that turned down a candidate because while in the service and single he used the services of a prostitute where it was legal. The chief's argument was that it was immoral. The sheriff in my county hired him.

Reminds me of a guy who got a top secret in the Air Force. He was asked if he ever used any illegal drugs and he said no. But the investigator pointed out on his paperwork that he admitted to smoking marijuana. He said yes. After a bit of explanation he said that his father was in Amsterdam for business, and he had smoked it there, thus no illegal activity. Took a while for the guy to wrap his head around it.

[fourXfour]

I never smoked weed, but most of my co-workers have. You should be fine. Just be honest.

if you plan on applying to the larger agencies like SFPD, SJPD or Oakland prepare for a long hiring process. They will most likely put you through their own academy.

Any smaller department will expect you to put yourself through the academy. Once your doing well in the academy, many are swarmed with job offers. It's starting to get competitive again.