[rpoz-29]

For whatever reason my youngest son wants a career in law enforcement. He graduated from college on the Dean's List with a BA in criminal justice. Should be a slam-dunk, right? When filling out the mountain of paper work that goes with the application, he mentioned a night where he and a couple of friends were coming home from the gym. One of them found some paint balls in the floor of the car and they tossed them at some street signs as they drove past. He also told them of a couple of parties he had in college where there was booze and minors in attendance. He can not get a job. He was told that because he was almost 21 when he threw the paint balls, and over 21 when the parties were held, AND he had already declared his major, he showed poor judgement. I agree, it was stupid, but DAMN! He applied for a job in Chesterfield County where he had two ex officers and a circuit court judge, (who have known him since birth), all send letters recommending him for the job. The county never even contacted them as references. The county has held job fairs in New York, Ohio, Michigan that I know of pleading for officers, but won't hire someone born, raised, educated, in the same county. All the while they advise the citizens to "Keep your tax dollars" at home. I know of 3 other kids this has happened to, and all 3 eventually got jobs in Law Enforcement. Oddly enough, once they were out of the academy, 2 of them were contacted by Chesterfield for an interview. Neither went, and one is now in the Secret Service, and the other is a Detective with the city of Richmond. Sorry to be long winded, but this is the only forum where I think enough of the members opinions to write.

This post has been edited by rpoz-29: Dec 15 2007, 03:16 AM

[00 Trans Ram]

First off, I've got a somewhat similar story. In college, I was cited for Public Intoxication for underage drinking (imagine that!) This is a Class 3 misdemeanor in TX (in the same category as parking in front of a fire hydrant). Charges were eventually dropped as I pled out and paid a fine. I was in AFROTC at the time. In the interest of "full disclosure" I informed our Colonel of the citation. A week later, I was called to the COs office and told that I was being given a General Discharge. Evidently, the military puts a PI in the same category as auto theft and assault (no joke!). I fought it all the way up to AFROTC Command and finally got them to drop it.

Now, your son is a graduate in CJ? He's over-qualified for a local or county law enforcement job. Heck, the Louisiana State Police only requires 60 hours of college credit (or did 10 years ago). With a degree and on the Deans list, he's qualified for FBI, Secret Service or other Federal jobs.