Getting a police job. What a crock... Options

[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

[Rob Hood]

Was he actually arrested or detained for those incidents? If so, what was the outcome?

Look to other counties within VA, or check out other states nearby. Or, have him look into one of the military services (my preference is Navy (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ). His degree should work fine in the intelligence field, or for the most part any other military specialty save medicine or law.

In my current career as a background investigator, I've seen WAY WORSE backgrounds for people in the defense sector and in the military, and they keep their job.

[rpoz-29]

Not arrested, fined or anything. The only way the PD ever found out was his admitting it on the application. In fact the detective that worked with him during the process told him he was "too honest", and asked why he mentioned it on the application. Patrick, (my son), told him that he figured it would show up on the polygraph, that he wasn't a good liar, and felt like he should admit to it. Too honest to be a Police Officer. Now that is sad.

[nape]

Not arrested, fined or anything. The only way the PD ever found out was his admitting it on the application. In fact the detective that worked with him during the process told him he was "too honest", and asked why he mentioned it on the application. Patrick, (my son), told him that he figured it would show up on the polygraph, that he wasn't a good liar, and felt like he should admit to it. Too honest to be a Police Officer. Now that is sad.

It's a good thing you don't live in Chicago. Sometimes, I think they only hire thugs and idiots.

[Rob Hood]

Not arrested, fined or anything. The only way the PD ever found out was his admitting it on the application. In fact the detective that worked with him during the process told him he was "too honest", and asked why he mentioned it on the application. Patrick, (my son), told him that he figured it would show up on the polygraph, that he wasn't a good liar, and felt like he should admit to it. Too honest to be a Police Officer. Now that is sad.

I've interviewed people who have done that (brought up things from their past, even when it is outside the scope of the investigation). It is much better for that to happen than for me to find out from another source (friend, coworker, family member). That raises the honesty flag and causes more work on my part.

Frankly, given the low level of those incidents, they are extremely minor and as long as they were isolated should not pose any problems in the future. I've seen DUIs get treated with less scrutiny.

[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.

[BigEnos]

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.

He's better off with one of these federal jobs, too. Does he really want to be a small town cop?

[rpoz-29]

Being over educated is something I've wondered about. My oldest son graduated with a degree in finance. He had a job in DC working for an accounting firm that worked with the DIA. He had an FBI security clearance for the work he was doing, and he also tried to get on with Chesterfield. They asked questions in his panel interview that he had never heard before and told him that, "they doubted his interest is becoming a law-enforcement officer", because "all of that information is on our web-site". It isn't. Of course, they may have seen that he would be taking a 18,000 dollar a year cut. He now works as an accountant at at Blackwater Security. I still know some of Chesterfields patrolmen, and they've told me that they no longer have any real input in the selection process. Human resources handles virtually everything. But to answer the question, he wants to go into Federal law enforcement, but thought that he needed to start at a local level.

[z28tt]

Sounds like your town needs officers, but doesn't want to pay for the police academy. They want someone else to pay for it!

A.

[TOO Z MAXX]

I found its always better to not tell the authoritys anything. They lie to us all of the time, so why not return the favor.
I was pulled over by a cop 1 night for somew BD thing he made up, then he asked me if I had been drinking. I thoiught I would do the honest thing and tell him yes. (I had 1 drink and a beer roughly 5 hours before, so I was far from intoxicated, even 5 minutes after I had the drinks I wasnt drunk). So he gets me out of the car anmd does the whole sobriety testing and said I was very close to going to jail. What a crock and I will never admit to anything again.

[02midevil]

Sorry to hear of your son missing a job due by being honest.
If he wants to see immediate action get him to apply with the local big 'city. They will take anyone and everyone and staying on is easy. I know of several that have been near kicked off due to the number of cruisers wrecked. Also the overtime/afterhours pay (far better than actual city cop pay) with the local big 'city is great being a bouncer in uniform at local bars.

The local counties and local big city here have a LARGE turnover rate that must be for a REASON, so maybe its better that way.

[jensend]

While I agree the process that was used is verging on stupid, it raises a more important question for me. Do you really want your son working in a situation that takes that kind of skewed approach from the outset? I can't imagine them treating him any better if he had any issue with them after he were to be hired. For as unrealistic and unfair as the situation may have been, I see it as fortunate that he isn't compelled to work with people with that kind of thought process. Just the way I see it as a parent.

[QUASAR]

While I agree the process that was used is verging on stupid, it raises a more important question for me. Do you really want your son working in a situation that takes that kind of skewed approach from the outset? I can't imagine them treating him any better if he had any issue with them after he were to be hired. For as unrealistic and unfair as the situation may have been, I see it as fortunate that he isn't compelled to work with people with that kind of thought process. Just the way I see it as a parent.

x2

[rpoz-29]

I understand what you're saying. I also wonder what his chances for promotions are if the hiring process is this idiotic. It really bothers me since we told him all his life that he ,"can do anything if you study, and stay out of trouble". Well, he studied, he told the truth, and one night of being a dumb-ass is causing him more grief than if he had shop-lifted, or smoked pot regularly. Thanks for all the responses, I'm now less likely to go do donuts on the courthouse green.

[Milkman]

Hey man, I used to live in Chesterfield County, and I used to work in the Public Safety field, and the best advice I can give is that these jobs are as much political as they are skill or anything. Think about how the Richmond Times Dispatch would love to do a story on an all-American kid with great grades and the right degree wants to stay in his home community and protect the citizens he's known all his life, and he can't get a call back because that belittles the evil county's contention that they can't find anyone, and they maybe don't need to spend tens of thousands of tax dollars on out of state recruiting junkets, etc. This story writes itself, and would be really embarrasing to the county. Since he wouldn't want to work there after that story broke anyway, the story sounds a lot better if he gets on with the Feds or Richmond (Va Beach and Arlington are the two best forces I know of in the state) and this story has an even better footnote. Local boy's stills valued away from the community, not locally. Why again are taxpayer dollars being used on these recruiting trips? Does someone in HR have a girlfriend in NY? :-)

These municipalities need to realize they serve the residents not the other way around.
-jeff

[rpoz-29]

I like that. Especially the last sentence.

[TOO Z MAXX]

These municipalities need to realize they serve the residents not the other way around.
-jeff

I think that is true for just about every government agency these days. Its all about them and not serving the people that pay their wages.

[CMC #37]

I feel lucky as I live in a county where government agencies really do serve the community very well in many aspects including law enforcement.

[SS2win]

The first thing I thought was he was being too honest. A friend of mine got into law enforcement only to quit two years later. He didn't like the dishonesty that goes with the job. ironic, isn't it?

Last speeding ticket I got was in an area it's safe to drive 55. Posted limit is 30 and no one drives that slow. 100 yards from where I was busted it goes 2 lane, there's student crossings and the limit goes up 10 mph. It's the most stupid area in town. I looked the cop in the eye and asked "who goes 30 on this 4 lane highway? Next time you're driving down here 'off duty' think about me when you see 45 on your speedo". I could tell it got to him. I'd hate to be a cop. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Milkman]

Last speeding ticket I got was in an area it's safe to drive 55. Posted limit is 30 and no one drives that slow. 100 yards from where I was busted it goes 2 lane, there's student crossings and the limit goes up 10 mph. It's the most stupid area in town. I looked the cop in the eye and asked "who goes 30 on this 4 lane highway? Next time you're driving down here 'off duty' think about me when you see 45 on your speedo". I could tell it got to him. I'd hate to be a cop. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

There's good and bad cops everywhere. I know a lot of law enforcement officers, and most of them are really good people who do a good job of keeping us safe, ticketing those who are messing up, giving breaks to those they can, and sometimes enforcing "traps" they're told to enforce.

There's bad cops too, those that cut their hair shorter than their department's uniform code requires, and think that THEY have the power, and you're nothing. Good cops hate the "Hitler-youth" cops. So do the judges and the DA's.

But as a general rule, they're good people who have a tough job I don't think I could do for long. And you know what, if you treat them like human beings and aren't messing up tooooo bad, then they really will cut you a break. Sometimes, they're under orders, they can't cut you a break.

Just my observations,
-jeff