ugly history,what makes or breaks a B.I. ?

[chopper!back!]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this site and this is my first post. I usually just read the forum for some insight on the job and the hiring process. I've been testing for the last few years for local fire dept. and police positions. I have made the C.O. interview for several fire depts. (even some hiring lists) I just made it past the initial police department written test for the first time and was given a date for the psych eval. and given a stack of background forms to fill out. MAN, this thing goes deep into everything! I'm pretty confident in all aspects of the testing process, but I'm wondering how bad my life will look on paper to the P.D.

They want information on everything since high school! I was a major screw up in high school, suspended for marijuana use, finally expelled for skipping school to much.It wasn't just school, my life was screwed up and I ran around with idiots.Plead guilty to misdemeanor theft after being caught with suspened license due to warrant for the crime at age 18.Jail time and trouble with the law taught me a swift lesson and I shaped up and left the area. Haven't touched drugs since, haven't even wanted to.On top of the poor high school history, several years ago I split up with my fiance' and girlfreind of eight years altogether. A nasty split to say the least. I had an arrest for domestic battery that was thrown out because the whole thing waas misunderstood and involved her freinds. After the split I had to file bankruptcy due to her dropping all of our bills in my lap.

Hows that for disgustingly ugly? I had the impression that only criminal convictions could count you out for the job...I've done alot of growing up and have learned from each and every one of these events and will never repeat any of these stupidities. In fact I learned enough from them that I avoid the potential for trouble any way that I can. I don't go out to bars at all.I hold down a good job and have excellent references.Will my nasty history ruin my chances even though I can prove having learned from these mistakes? I'm 31 now and I am really hoping for a carreer in the public safety field. I'd like to do something positive for a living and for myself. any thoghts?

[signal1]

Ok, I am just going to put it out there, which I am sure is what you want. 1st, you don't say how long ago the bankruptcy was. That is truly a killer. Departments want to ensure that given the opportunity, you will not take a bribe because you may be hurting for money or can't get a loan because of bad credit. Also, your domestic, though thrown out, is not completely thrown out to the administration. When I was a patrol supervisor, I was placed on a board a few times and we had an individual who worked for the Department of Corrections and had a recent domestic that he was arrested for but it was thrown out. I remember the Captain saying no to him when we spoke afterward because he was afraid it would happen again. In that case, the domestic had been within a year of him applying. Another thing, you say you have held a good job, but what kind of job and for how long. Is it a career job or just a job that you have held on to for a while?

With that being said, I think you still have a chance but unfortunately, you may have to give it a few more years for everything to clear up. Again, this is determined on how long ago those big things happened. Yeah, you had a rough teenage life, but several officers I know have.

[Traffic_82]

Given that you're 31, the highschool stuff (and the warrant) is pretty minor. Just keep in mind that every agency is different.
I've seen Officers get hired with bankruptcies, but I don't think they had the other baggage in their background.

If EVERYTHING was more than 5 years ago, you may have a chance. But you never know until you apply.

btw, they're going to ask you to explain yourself in an interview...your explanations were perfect, and it really does sound like you've changed for the better. I hope you get on.

[chopper!back!]

Thanks for your response guys. I talked to the police chief today and explained the issues. (as best I could over the phone)He pretty much repeated what you guys have said. He also said to "just be honest and fill out the report in detail".He sounded very understanding about the whole thing and said that he'd rather have someone with a little bit of a history than some "goody-goody" (HIS OWN WORDS!)but that the outcome is based on several different things:1 my competition,2 my qualifications, and 3 the academies guidelines. He definitely made me feel better, but I certainly won't get my hopes up too high.He told me that I'd get a chance to explain everything at the interview and not to "sugar coat anything". I plan on giving the best interveiw of my life and hopefully proving that I have changed and learned from my mistakes. Thanks for the helpful info and kind wishes.

[ask80]

lol. dang you were able to get in contact and speak with the Chief? :eek:

[tripledouble]

any thoghts?
Can't say anything. You may or may not fail another part of the application process regardless of the results of the background investigation.
Good luck.

[chopper!back!]

I'm confident in all the other aspects of the process. Actually I really look forward to a chance at the interveiw to explain these nasty occasions of absolute stupidity.Not only that, a chance to talk with them about why I've shaped up, why I'm interested in law enforcement, and an opportunity to display my qualifications to offset the negatives.I've passed psych evaluations before, police physical testing is a joke compared to fire dept. cpat's, and I'm pretty strong in the interveiwing department also.The only thing I'm worried about holding me back is my background.The high school era of screw ups is eleven years ago, and the domestic is five years old now. This bankruptcy B.S. happened in early 2005 and I'm worried thats too recent. Also ,the entire history from one incident to the next looks really bad in my opinion. My driving record is near perfect though! Only one ticket for passing on a double yellow.By the way, Law enforcement is my preferance in the public safety field. I only referenced the fire dept. cpat's because I've passed several of those. I don't feel completely comfortable on the E.M.S. side of things. Paramedics are crazy in my opinion.

[ask80]

generally PD physical tests are entry level and not that hard. wait until you get to the academy then you'll endure real physical testing...

why if they ask," why did you apply for fire departments, if you 're interested in law enforcement?" you might seem like a candidate that is just trying to get any job that pays well, instead of candidates who have a desire and passion to work in law enforcement.