You probably know!!

[ACrowley]

I'm 22 now and was arrested when I was 18 for being involved in a shooting incident. When the truth of what had actually happened came out I was released and all charges were completely dropped. I have been going to school for a degree in Police Science since then and have been working security to better my chances in getting hired eventually. I completely understand that this incident will be scrutinized and looked into extensively anywhere I apply, but I dont think it will bar me forever. I have a clean record with no convictions and I was told by the last agency I applied at that I just needed more time in between the arrest and the present. I also have a letter of recomendation from the police agency that arrested me saying that I would make a great candidate if an agency was willing to consider me. I'm going to test down in the Phoenix area and am nervous that I will be DQ'ed right away. I have a family member that works for the Apache Junction Police department near Phoenix but I have yet to actually talk to him concerning the matter. Any advice and insight would be greatly appreciated, and please.......I already know that it was a huge mistake and that your agency probably wouldnt consider me..ETC.....Advice is what I need, not put downs.......Thanks once again guys.

[Ceeplark]

This maybe goes without saying, but be completely honest about it. My advice is to apply and see what they say because ultimately only the hiring agency will know how it will be handled.

Best of luck.

[Up_On_Base]

I'm 22 now and was arrested when I was 18 for being involved in a shooting incident. When the truth of what had actually happened came out I was released and all charges were completely dropped. I have been going to school for a degree in Police Science since then and have been working security to better my chances in getting hired eventually. I completely understand that this incident will be scrutinized and looked into extensively anywhere I apply, but I dont think it will bar me forever. I have a clean record with no convictions and I was told by the last agency I applied at that I just needed more time in between the arrest and the present. I also have a letter of recomendation from the police agency that arrested me saying that I would make a great candidate if an agency was willing to consider me. I'm going to test down in the Phoenix area and am nervous that I will be DQ'ed right away. I have a family member that works for the Apache Junction Police department near Phoenix but I have yet to actually talk to him concerning the matter. Any advice and insight would be greatly appreciated, and please.......I already know that it was a huge mistake and that your agency probably wouldnt consider me..ETC.....Advice is what I need, not put downs.......Thanks once again guys.

Did you get your charges expunged? Even though you were never convicted you should get them off your record for non LE jobs.

Once you put some time between that event and walk a straight path you should be OK. College degree, time, and steady job really help your cause. Maybe a stint in the military will be the best option moving forward, that training and disipline are invaluable.

Good luck.

[ACrowley]

I was told by my attorney that there was nothing to actually expunge and that everything was as best as it could be record wise. I really do appreciate all of your advice and I think that with a positive attitude and hard work I can make it happen in time. I just called my relative in Arizona and he is a background investigator. He told me that as long as I was honest that they would hire me and that the shooting was something that would be looked at, but I wasnt convicted so it shouldnt be a huge deal.

[mtxpro752]

I'm 22 now and was arrested when I was 18 for being involved in a shooting incident. When the truth of what had actually happened came out I was released and all charges were completely dropped. I have been going to school for a degree in Police Science since then and have been working security to better my chances in getting hired eventually. I completely understand that this incident will be scrutinized and looked into extensively anywhere I apply, but I dont think it will bar me forever. I have a clean record with no convictions and I was told by the last agency I applied at that I just needed more time in between the arrest and the present. I also have a letter of recomendation from the police agency that arrested me saying that I would make a great candidate if an agency was willing to consider me.

What I don't quite understand is that if all charges were dropped and you were cleared from any criminal charges and no investigation was pending why they would need more time b/t the arrest and applying. Dept's usually want separation between things you have actually done and when you apply. If you didn't do anything wrong in the first place, why would they want more time between the event and hiring you?

I can't say due to the limited details of the "shooting incident" you gave but I think the "more time" they asked for was a polite way of saying NO WAY BUD.

Unless you want to tell us more about the shooting incident and how exactly the police found you to not be involved criminally then none of us can appropriately answer your question.

[occ]

Unless you want to tell us more about the shooting incident and how exactly the police found you to not be involved criminally then none of us can appropriately answer your question.

Agreed. It's none of our business, but we can't really say for sure unless we get a short story of what happened. If it's not something you want to discuss here on the forums then you can always private message someone and talk to them privately.

[ACrowley]

Hey, its no big deal to me, I'm going to have to explain it anyways....right. Here's the short version for you guys. When I was in high school I was into recording music. One day I met a guy at a car show that told me he had a recording studio where I could record for free when he had some free time. Naturally I was excited when he called me a month or two later and asked if I wanted to meet him to record some music. I agreed and said sure. I went with my friend and we met this guy at a local gas station. He told me that we would go record musci as soon as he made one more stop to work something out with some other aquaitance of his. We followed him out to a house where we met a guy in a car that was pulling out of a drive way. My friend and I sat outside of my car talking when we heard these guys arguing and the guy in the ca pulled a gun out and began shooting at everyone. My friend and ran behind my car and hid. Now, before you automatically come to a conclusion about what I'm fixing to say next, keep in mind that I lived in New Mexico which is made up of desert and hills. My friend and I always used to go shooting out in the hills as do a lot of people that live in that area. I had two firearms in my car which were both holstered and under the seats legally. My friend was able to get his gun out from under the passengers seat and unholster it. He then fired two shots and all shooting ceased. Everyone else drove off quickly and we were the only ones left stading there dazed and confused. We were young, dumb and scared at the time and figured since everone else had left we should to. We immediately went home hoping to not get in any trouble since I had never been before. A few days later I was arrested and after everyone was interviewed by the police I was released and all charges were completely dropped. So thats it, thats the whole story. Since then I have stayed out of trouble, gone to school, and worked hard. I was also given a letter of recomendation by the NM State Police Department who originally had arrested me.

[mtxpro752]

Nice, I wouldn't hire you. Sounds like you have extremely poor judgment on who to hang out with and situations to get yourself involved in. As well as being involved in the act as much as you were w/o reporting it to LE just waiting to get picked up and booked..... nope, sorry pal, I am not riding in a patrol car with you.

[Good_to_go!]

I was also given a letter of recomendation by the NM State Police Department who originally had arrested me.

Are you opposed to working for the agency that has written you the letter of recommendation?

[ICE2DSS]

Since you weren't charge or prosecuted, and have no other problems in your past, I think you do have a chance. It's definitely an obstacle that can pose a challenge but in time and with determination I think you have a chance. The only way you will really find out is if you apply and see what happens. Times are changing and things that weren't acceptable in the past...are today. As there becomes a greater need for officers you see departments lowering their standards. Just explore all your options and chances are in time you'll be given an opportunity.

[lapd2fbi]

I don't see a problem, still, you're probably seen at a lower level then the guy with a squaky clean record who has never been involved with the law. Is it right? Eh, subjective. But I think you're still in the green, so go for it.

[ACrowley]

Yeah, thats kinda what I was expecting, some really positive answers along with those other negative ones. Well, I think that it will just be an obstacle that I will have to be honest about to get over. The Officers at the NM State Police agency know me personally and I do sand a greater chance getiing hired there. I just dont want to go back to NM. I moved for a reason, thats because I hated living there. Prayer, schooling, hard work, and determination, and a positive attitude to hope for the best outcome is all I can have I suppose. I guess sometime some people look at one incident in your life and put you in a small category of bad forever and cant do anything right from then on. Following someone you just met to go make some music and then having some knuckle head try to shoot you.......then shooting back becauseyour just a kid, yes even at 18 and you dont really know what to do.......To me thats not exactly a poor judgement call, not reporting right away, yeah I'm an absolute idiot for that........its call a poor decision or mistake, I still agree that it doesnt bar me forever though......Thanks guys, I really appreciate your insight....

[ICE2DSS]

Definitely don't get frustrated or make your decisions based on the comments here. I think you heard opinions on both sides of the spectrum. Chances are you will get similiar responses when you apply. Some people are going to write you off immediately...on the other hand...you may find the guy who is willing to give you a shot. People can give you opinions here all day, some you'll like and others you'll hate. The only way to really get your answer is to apply and see what happens. Good luck to you!

[ACrowley]

Yeah,thanks man, I think it will happen for me somewhere! As for why I dont like New Mexico, well lets just say that the small towns besides Albuquerque are not really suited for me. I couldnt ever explain the people there but growing up there I can tell you that there is a different kind of people that live there. It has nothing to do with race or ethnicity but more or less just a general mentality that is ghetto oriented. Now this doesnt mean that everyone is ghetto there, just a lot of people there are though. I mean if I absolutely had to, I could survive there for two yers and then lateral to an agency in another state. I'm just going to try my best though to avoid that route if I can.

[occ]

I think you have a very good chance.. this doesn't seem like a huge problem..

This is what I would do:

On your job applications mark "yes" for have you ever been arrested, of course. Where it says "If yes, explain" Write "Please see attached letter." Attach a typed or written letter (your choice I guess) of what happened. At the end of the letter say you have a letter of recommendation from the department that arrested you.

[copter]

Don't listen to your lawyer, get it expunged or it will be public record for the rest of your life.
If your lawyer really told you not to expunge a charge you were not convicted of you need a new lawyer.
Get it off your record even though LE will still have access to it everyone else will not.

[ACrowley]

Hey, thanks for the advice. I may get a second opinion from a different attorney about getting my record sealed and all. As for attaching a letter to the application as to why I was arrested, I will definetely be doing that as well. With all of the insight I've been getting lately, I think that I will do a lot better this time around and if I can just get my foot in the door I will be set for sure!