chances of getting into the police academy

[mike91]

Ive been looking everywhere for a police department that hires under 21 and i did. I just turned 18 They are accepting pre applications now so im going to put one in as soon as i can. But the next civil service exam isnt until next spring so i have awhile for that. I was going to join the marines when i turned 18 but cant now about a year ago i found out i was type 1 diabetic, and i cant think of anything else id want to do or be better at than being a police officer. This department doesnt require any college credits but id work on getting that once i got hired, just a diploma or GED and i have my GED. But im sure just haveing a GED ill be at the bottom of the list so i guess i just have to score really high on the civil service test and someone told me i should do some community volunteer work until then to, anything else i should do?. But one thing im kinda worried about is my drug history now i havent done anything big but ive smoked weed maybe 11 times in the past 4 years the last time being about 8 months ago and done pills twice in my life about 8 months to a year ago will that hurt me? And what about paying for my self to go through the police academy then trying to get hired?

[pappabacon]

I could be wrong here, but I'm not sure how you could get a job in law enforcement where you would be carrying a hand-gun when you typically have to be 21 to carry a handgun. Just something I know from the Left Coast.

I'm not even going to get into the drug use, it might be too much, too recently.

[FutureTrooper1]

Diabetes can disqualify you in the medical portion of hiring for law enforcement. Your drug history is too recent which means you probably wouldn't be picked up anytime soon.

At this point it looks as if your age isn't the limiting factor you should be worried about. You CAN be a police officer in certain areas at 18 years of age.

Best thing for you is to go to school right now.

[leif]

what type of pills, that could be an auto dq for quite some time if not forever.

[ask80]

i'd recommend military, work experience, and / or college. you're just way too young, being straight out of high school. gain some life experience and maybe it will help since you have recent drug usage.

[mike91]

what type of pills, that could be an auto dq for quite some time if not forever.

they were OC 15 mg and i didnt even do the whole thing either times

[mike91]

Ok so with the past drug use even though it wasnt that much, since it was recent there is pretty much no chance of me getting hired this year or next year? I think you guys are right the best thing is to get in school. Will an associates degree be enough? And will that be long enough since the last time i used drugs? If not ill get a bachelors degree will that be long enough?

[pappabacon]

Many agencies require a good amount of time between use and hiring (think 5 years). Also the amount of drugs you have used could be an issue. Every department is different, but most take issue with other than experimental (a couple of times 2-3) use of marijuana. You can search, many people have asked, it really depends on the department.

[DARE_SUPPORTER]

In my opinion, Your to young to carry a gun and enforce laws. I'm not trying to bash you but I have a younger brother who is 18 and i wouldnt want him running around trying to arrest people or waving a gun around.

Maybe you should go enroll in school and maybe apply for a Cadet program or volunteer with the explorers post, Until you are older you need life experience.

Also, your drug use is/will/can be a problem with most depts.

Good Luck

[mike91]

because of my past druge use would i be wasteing my time getting a degree in criminal justice?

[MPSniper]

Getting a degree is never a waste of time. If you don't get accepted, just go to school, study hard, STAY AWAY FROM DRUGS, and you'll come out good on the other side. Just don't get unmotivated by what you see or read on here. If law enforcement is what you really want to do, then stay focused and do what you got to do.

[DARE_SUPPORTER]

because of my past druge use would i be wasteing my time getting a degree in criminal justice?

The degree is not required to be in Criminal Justice...

[ask80]

and get a bachelors degree in something other than LE related, just in case you can't make it into LE or you change your mind.

[SuperCFD]

+1 on ask80's post. In case LE doesn't work out, have something else to fall back on. Moreover, CJ degrees are a dime a dozen (no disrespect to those who have them) when it comes to police applicants. I suggest you get a different degree not only for the reason ask80 mentioned, but I think it may actually help you in your police applications. Having an accounting degree (just as an example) will make you stand out.

I will disagree slightly with the other posters on the drug use topic. Try and find an applicant who hasn't smoked weed these days. In a couple of years, no one is going to care about your drug use. Where I do agree with the other posters though is that you probably need to give it some time. No one expects you to be a saint in high school/college, just reasonable. Smokin' weed 10 times is not going to keep you from getting hired at most places. Pills, I don't think that will hurt you much either. But doing so in the last year is probably an automatic DQ.

Bottom line is take the opportunity now to get some education, whether it be associates or bachelors, in whatever subject(s) you want. By the time you are done, enough time will have passed that most places aren't going to care about your minor drug use. Just my opinion. Maybe agencies in some areas are more picky about drug use than mine, but I could count on one hand the number of coppers I worked with who NEVER smoked mj even once.

My $0.02.

[AWarr]

Try and find an applicant who hasn't smoked weed these days.


I Havent!
But then again...I sometimes get strange looks from background investigators who typically say, "Really?"

[mike91]

what would be the best degree to get (that will still help me out when trying to get hired)? idk about my major but Criminology or criminal justice as my minor?

[mike91]

what would be the best degree to get (that will still help me out when trying to get hired)? idk about my major but Criminology or criminal justice as my minor?

[SuperCFD]

I would recommend business, economics, accounting, or IT, but that's just my opinion. I don't mean to suggest a CJ degree isn't worth it, but in terms of standing out or having something to fall back on in case LE doesn't work out, those degrees would really help.

[SHU]

Accounting is the way to go.

[mike91]

ok thanks for the replys