** Need Advice**

[Black Stick]

I was terminated from a police department over 5 years old ago for untruthfulness. Recently, I completed a three week recertification course to renew my police certifications. I want to get back into police work again. What should do? How do i go by to rebuild my credibility? :confused:

[Watchman]

Pray. :D

[R.White]

You're not going to like this advice. Given the reason you are no longer an LEO, in my opinion the best thing for you to do is to seek another profession. Unless you can absolutely prove that the reason for your prior termination was invalid or trumped up, no reputable department is going to hire you. Why? Let's assume for a minute that you did get hired somewhere. The first time you took a case to court, any defense attorney worth their salt is going to check into your background, looking for anything that will discredit you as a witness. They would have a field day with what they find in your case. As has been previously stated on this forum many times, integrity is like virginity. Once its lost, its gone. Sorry to be so blunt, but facts are facts and that's the way I see it. RW

[drunkhunter]

R. White,

I feel honored that you used my signature in your post. :)

[R.White]

Drunkhunter: Its a good line. And I've always considered plagiarism the sincerest form of flattery! RW :cool:

[kirch]

I can't imagine any reputable agency that would hire someone with your history. As was previously posted, you'd never stand a chance on the stand with even a reasonably competent defense attorney.

But let's say you can get hired and that your past transgression is something that can be argued away as "youthful indescretion". If I were you, I would become the model of police ethics. Rather than cover up the past, I would use it as an example of the results of what unethical behavior can lead to. I would be a god*amned choir boy. This may not make you overly popular with your co-workers, but it will help to rebuild your credibility. After a few years (yes, years) of flawless work and impeccable behavior, you MIGHT get most of your credibility back. But that previous termination will always be out there, lurking. You'd better be prepared to deal with it when it comes up.

[vbrenner]

No one will hire you due to the Brady case. Termination for untruthfulness is a fatal flaw which means the D.A. will never be able to go to court with any case you work on.

You young pups out there who haven't gotten on the job yet, pay heed. All it takes is one lie and your career is over - forever. Your integrity is just as important as going home each night. Once lost, you won't get it back. Always tell the truth.

[Joseph]

Sorry to say but it seems like the decision you made to lie 5 years ago will stay with you forever. Don't see any way out of this situation. Trust and honesty is something you can't get back in this line of work. The first time they put you on the stand if you could get hired somewhere you'd be dead in the water.

[Underdog]

I agree that it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to overcome this problem. My best suggestion is to apply with some of the agencies whose pribary duties aren't really police oriented. This would include park rangers, DMV investigators, animal control, etc.

Good luck.

[Don]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by Black Stick:
<strong>I was terminated from a police department over 5 years old ago for untruthfulness. Recently, I completed a three week recertification course to renew my police certifications. I want to get back into police work again. What should do? How do i go by to rebuild my credibility? :confused: </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Ok, I'll be blunt here. HORSE SCHIDT! If you have been out of the business for five years there is no way you are going through a THREE WEEK course to "renew" your "police certifications." :rolleyes:

Edit: At least not in the state of California where you say you are from.

<small>[ 04-12-2003, 01:25 PM: Message edited by: Don ]</small>

[Kotonk]

I thought CA Post was only good for a year or two if you haven't been working. Once that year is up, I heard you had to go back to the academy if you want to get rehired.

[Dave T]

I honestly feel that it would be difficult if not impossible for you to re-enter the world of law enforcement. Potential departments would not only consider the credibility issue that has been discussed earlier but would have to assume additional civil liability for your hiring. If you were found later to have once again been untruthful the department may be subject to civil litigation as they knew or should have known that you were an unacceptable risk.

Like others I would recommend you focus your employment pursuits elsewhere. Your welcome to try but its likely that you will face continued disapointment.
dt-

[Black Stick]

Thank you ALL for your advice....

[Badgerland]

Hey, I know a guy who got canned from Madison PD (allegedly) for:

1.) Running a license plate of a "hot blonde" and then asking her out later at her residence.

AND

2.) He got a hold of some porno mags from a crime scene or traffic stop on duty. Instead of checking them into property, he kept them in his locker. When his supervisors asked him about them, he lied. The supervisors found the magazines in his locker, and he got canned.

Anyway, about 2 years later, he got hired (part-time) by an agency of about 900 people near where I used to work. So it can happen if you set your goals low enough.

<small>[ 04-18-2003, 03:38 PM: Message edited by: Badgerland ]</small>