Hello all.....

[jcabin]

perhaps you have a preconceived notion about who or what type of person i am. as stated i used to mess around when i was a teenager but thats it, ive never been in trouble with the law, ive never even had a speeding ticket. i've done everything the right way in my life, hell i never even cheated on a test in school. what im saying is if making up a simple cover story to protect my eligability for a job ive wanted since i was a child is what i must do, then it must be done. i believe its because of people like you that i would have to be dishonest in this area because obviously what a 16 year old kid did to you, weighs heavily on his character 10 years later with a bachelors degree and 4.0 average..
i never said i wouldnt admit to smoking marijuana in the past, but as far as denying anything else it would be the best thing to do, advice from any LEO ive ever talked to on the subject, and most of them have admitted to spending time with drugs when they were younger as well.. im not really worried, ive never done anything horrible and when they do have an investigation and they see the things ive accomplished and volunteered in life im sure "smoking a doob" when i was in high school wont amount to anything..

[Harris]

You criticize "people like me", and fail to understand, that I would be the first one to support your being hired if you provided ACCURATE information, and showed no propensity to use drugs in the future.

To lie to get on is a huge problem. What do you do when you're finally a key witness in a big case, and a defense attorney asks you all the same questions about your background that were asked when you were hired? Now you're under oath. Commit perjury? I can assure you, there's nothing more pleasant than knowing that there are no skeletons in your closet. Anyone who would advise an applicant to lie to get on is giving HORRIBLE advice.

You're right that illicit drug use is EXTREMELY common. Most departments will tell you exactly what will and will not disqualify you from consideration. Your stated use would not disqualify you from most places. Every department is recruiting from the human race, and most have learned the applicants who truly have made no "mistakes" also have so little life experience that they don't usually work out to be the best officers.

If something in what I wrote left you with the impression that I am perfect, or consider myself to be so, I apologize. That's not the case. In fact just the opposite. When I tell you about things to avoid it's mostly from my own bitter experience.

Please, do yourself a favor, and start your career off right, instead of on a foundation with a huge crack in it. You'll find plenty of ways to get in trouble later, believe me.

Harris

[jcabin]

You are right in what you say and thankyou for your information. ill have to do some more research into things. I was being a little defensive, i tend to do that when i think believe someone is telling me im not able to do something.

[ttus]

Originally Posted by jcabin

i can assure you i have no integrity issues, and by the time i get my bachelors degree it will have been 7 years since ive touched any drugs.. if lieing is necessary than so be it, im not going to let some minor drug use as a youth effect something ive wanted to do since i was a child. besides, youre going to be kidding yourself if you believe most cops have never tried marijuana, at the least.

I can TRUELY state, I have NEVER used anything.... Stronger than beer.

using ANY drug, and being on the street. you would be NUTS. You can

get in a JAM before you know it and then What????

Enough Said,

[jcabin]

Originally Posted by ttus

I can TRUELY state, I have NEVER used anything.... Stronger than beer.

using ANY drug, and being on the street. you would be NUTS. You can

get in a JAM before you know it and then What????

Enough Said,

It seems like you're confused, we were talking about drug use prior to entering academy and becoming an officer, not on the job drug use. so i hope you just didnt admit to drinking beer while in the job.. lmao

[ttus]

Originally Posted by jcabin

It seems like you're confused, we were talking about drug use prior to entering academy and becoming an officer, not on the job drug use. so i hope you just didnt admit to drinking beer while in the job.. lmao

Seeing you were not Born when I joined the force, I will pass commenting

on your post. reply or whatever you intended it to be.

[jcabin]

hahaha sh*t, idk what to say.

[nhill0408]

Originally Posted by jcabin

is there really any way they can tell?

Yes, they are trained to investigate things, that's why it's called a Background Investigation, they interview people from your childhood, sometimes people you've completely forgotten about...

back in high school i smoked my stuff and tried mushrooms once.. never did acid or anything that would classify as a narcotic...

First off, acid isn't a narcotic, it's a hallucinogen, and both acid and mushrooms are on the same level of severity. That one will be a hard one to overcome.

Originally Posted by jcabin

i can assure you i have no integrity issues...if lieing is necessary than so be it...

Do you realize how ridiculous those statements are when placed back to back?

Does the same hold true for lying on the stand under oath, in front of a judge and jury?

Originally Posted by jcabin

i've done everything the right way in my life...

Except those times you BROKE THE LAW and did drugs.

what im saying is if making up a simple cover story to protect my eligability for a job ive wanted since i was a child is what i must do, then it must be done.

You have ZERO integrity.

i believe its because of people like you that i would have to be dishonest in this area because obviously what a 16 year old kid did to you, weighs heavily on his character 10 years later with a bachelors degree and 4.0 average..

People like you? Remember you want to become an LEO and UPHOLD THE LAW. You want to become one of us, start acting like it.

i never said i wouldnt admit to smoking marijuana in the past, but as far as denying anything else it would be the best thing to do, advice from any LEO ive ever talked to on the subject,

Disclose EVERYTHING, but since you've admitted you don't have any integrity, I feel I'm talking to a wall here. If multiple LEO's have told you that you should lie about drug use on your application then it's my personal opinion (and I'm sure most other's here) that they should be fired.

im not really worried, ive never done anything horrible and when they do have an investigation and they see the things ive accomplished and volunteered in life im sure "smoking a doob" when i was in high school wont amount to anything..

You're right on track here, finally. The background investigation is a WHOLE PICTURE type of deal. You've been a straight arrow since then, and contributed to the community, all of that will be taken into account. The key is that you give the background investigator all the information necessary to make an adjudication based on the whole picture, which means including ALL past drug use

All you need is a little attitude readjustment and you'll be good to go. You just need to realize that all an LEO has is his word, and from what you've said here so far, your word means nothing. If you can come to grips with the idea that your past drug use might disqualify you from LE, and apply in good faith with honesty about the past, then whether or not you are found suitable for the job, you can sleep at night knowing that you gave it your best shot.

[jcabin]

jeez Nhill it felt like you were really into rippin me a new one until i got to the very end, then it slowed down. i just need to do more research. that part where you said its a WHOLE PICTURE kind of investigation its rather relieving actually. i know i spent some time being foolish, but it was when i was younger and before i started college, as i said, i never did any harm to anyone and i never got in trouble with the law.

[UtahConcealer]

+1,000,000. Kudos to you.

I would agree whole heartedly. I experimented w/ things when I was younger as well and disclosed everything in my application. I also put a letter in explaining everything in extreme detail. Much better to start w/ a good foundation. You said it all when you said that all we have is our word. You don't want to start a career based on integrity with lies however "small" they may be to you.