3 vices on background a problem?

[rt02]

I am considering applying to a police department but am concerned about 3 acts which I have been involved with in the last year and would appreciate feedback.

#1. Online gambling. I had read that it is legal because the servers sit overseas and you are placing bets with a company where gambling is legal. I placed bets on basketball and baseball games for a period of about 4 months. I recently read in another newspaper article that the feds are trying to crack down on these casinos and they reminded people that placing bets from the US is illegal.

#2. My "dealings" with a hooker in Mexico about 4 months back. This was perfectly legal in their country and is the one and only time I have been with a prostitute.

#3. Pornography. I recently bought a DVD player and a friend let me borrow his porn collection. Some of the new ones really blew me away so I made several orders with online porn companies. Now I have all I will probably ever need and don't plan on ordering any at least for awhile. Do BI's only run credit checks, or will they see an account of all my past credit card charges? If so, will the BI think im a pervert?

During the time of these incidents, I was not interested in being a cop otherwise I would've thought twice. However, I have a friend that got hired as a police officer out of town and I went on a ride along with him and fell in love with the job.

Now I am freaking out because I have heard all the horror stories of being DQ'd and started by immediately stopping the gambling. I didn't consider this a problem habit, I actually won money and just gambled mostly on games that were on TV for fun. Also, I have an excellent background. I am in my mid 30's, prior military, no tickets, no debt, large amount in savings, great employment record, good references and I think I would make a good cop.

Have I screwed up my chances here? I wouldn't see these as a problem if several years have passed, but I wonder how they will respond since so recent?

Thanks in advance for reading and taking the time to help.

[Niteshift]

Just my take on them:

#1: Does your state have a lottery? If so, then gambling in and of itself shouldn't be a disqualifier. It's problem gambling that will hurt you. I do, however, see the potential for questions since you're more or less bypassing the state law with a technicality.

#2: I'm not certain that prostitution is legal im Mexico. Not well supressed maybe, but IIRC, it's not legal.

In any case, if departments excluded every guy that was with a hooker while in the military or something similar, there'd be a lot of guys looking for work.

Don't make an issue of it. No dept. I've worked for has asked about it.

#3: They run a credit check normally, not a check of all your past charges. Again, if they DQ'd every guy that has looked at porn, a lot of guys would be looking for work. And again, none of the depts. I've worked for have ever asked about it.

[Don]

Ahh, we've all know a lot of cops that have the sexual morals of a tom cat. Unless your porn stuff is kiddie porn don't worry about it.

And if it IS kiddie porn, you not only don't belong in LE you don't belong taking up valuable oxygen!

[BRICKCOP]

The gambling and Hooker incidents should be ok. Answer truthfully on everything they inquire about, but I wouldn't necessarily volunteer info not asked for.

As far as the porno tapes that impressed you so much- that could be a problem, I'm not sure. Mail them to me for review and I'll let you know if they're ok. :D

<small>[ 08-11-2002, 09:44 AM: Message edited by: BRICKCOP ]</small>

[kirch]

I don't think you'll have a lot of problems with the backgounds, but of course, different agencies will hold applicants to different standards.

I would be concerned, though, about making a career choice based upon a single ride-along. If you fell in love with the job based upon one ride-along, that must have been one he11 of a shift.

Keep in mind that being a cop isn't all drawing guns and handcuffing bad guys. Are you willing to devote yourself to a career where you have to:

- Write reports documenting every action you took and making sure you write it in a manner that will hold up in court. Then writing supplemental reports. Then writing supplements to the supplemental reports. Etc., etc., etc...

- Stay awake at the end of a double shift while running traffic in a downpour. At 4:00 a.m.

- Smile and say "Thank you, drive safely" to the person that just called you a "no-good mother****ing son of a ***** bast*rd ***hole whose mother was ugly but still did the entire ****ing Seventh Fleet" and that you should "Be out finding some real god**** criminals rather then harassing a hard-working person like me!"

- Stand around in 90-degree heat and 98% humidity while wearing a dark blue polyester/rayon uniform, 20 lbs. of gear and body armor that should be issued to Arctic expeditions. Then chase a suspect for 4 blocks before wrestling with him for a couple minutes while you wait for your backup to arrive.

These are just a few of the unglamorous aspects of police work that TV doesn't show.

Don't get me wrong -- it's a great job as long as you can accept the bad with the good. But do a little more checking into the job before committing yourself.

At least, that's my opinion.

[rt02]

Thanks for the great responses. To answer some questions:

1. My state does have a lottery. It also has Indian casinos and horse betting. If they have a problem with my gambling, it's like wtf? As mentioned, I think the big issue is whether offshore gambling is legal or not. Some say yes, some say no. The Government talks big but has done nothing to crack down on it which leaves me confused in this situation because each department will have differing opinions as well.

2. Definately no kiddie porn. My concerns here are that I get assigned a female BI. She has a husband, children and goes to church every Sunday. That would make me feel slightly uncomfortable being the sex crazed fiend I am (lol).

3. Your thoughts are noted, but it was more than just 1 ride along. I have watched about every episode of "COPS" and always found the work intriguing. My friend has warned me of the mass paperwork issue though which TV does not show.

4. No you can't borrow my porn collection, but you can start by buying Hustler Platinum:Brazilian snake. Wowza, im glad these DVD's last 50 years.

I do have a couple follow up questions.

1. Will gambling and prostitution even be asked about in a BI? I was told above that prostitution wont. Curious of others experiences in the hiring process.

2. How much does personal opinion play out in the hiring process? In other words, if Church lady is my BI, then will I get canned based on her personal or religious beliefs against hookers or gambling or is there a formal process/guidelines in the departmental chain?

Thanks again-

[garyg]

Many people have an image of us as Eagle Scouts who finally grew pubic hair, and while that may apply to the State Troopers, it normally doesn't fit the average cop. It's been said that there isn't much difference between the Police and the people they chase around. Experience has led me to believe there is more than a little truth there.

Nobody expects you to be a saint. The BI is looking to see if you will be a risk to the particular dept. in many different areas. Each PD is different in how they measure risk. Most are nervous about finances, all worry about lying, cheating, criminal history, recent drug use, and so on. It's impossible for anyone here to say specifically how the PD you're applying to will react, but some things are the same everywhere. Be honest always. Don't try to duck and dodge questions or put a spin on things. FWIW, what you mentioned wouldn't cause so much as a raised eyebrow where I work.

Good luck

[BRICKCOP]

Rethinking my last post a bit.........

You personally don't find anything wrong with the off shore betting or the hooker. That may be fine- I don't know how intensive your BI will be. But be careful not to sound like an (indirect) advocate for these subjects if they arise with your investigator.

If during a BI I heard a potential recruit saying he offshore gambled and used a hooker, (however infrequent) I would take it as a red flag. It could be applied to character or judgement issues.

Again, that's all subject to how BI's are conducted and evaluated where you are seeking employment.

[DesertRat]

Assuming you are applying with a smaller department in MO, most of these things might not ever come up????

If you were applying in NV, forget it. The prostitute thing will send you packing and they will ask here.

Just be honest but don't volunteer anything.

[Don]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by DesertRat:
<strong>If you were applying in NV, forget it. The prostitute thing will send you packing and they will ask here.

</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">ARE YOU SERIOUS???? In the only state where prostitution is legal, they will give you the boot for using one????? :confused: