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cjustice
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Posted: Fri Jul 14th, 2006 05:48 am |
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| someone has no criminal background but has a past psych background is that going to totally eliminate any law enforcement job. Last edited on Fri Jul 14th, 2006 05:48 am by cjustice
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cjustice
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Posted: Fri Jul 14th, 2006 06:04 am |
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There are many people psychological and/or emotional issues when they were pre-teen and teenagers. A department conducting a background check is going to weigh all of the circumstances. Some of those factors would be:
1. How long ago
2. Severity
3. Treatment plan
4. recurrence
5. The illness itself – for an example, some symptoms can be mitigated with treatment, but not cured.
6. Was there a voluntary/in-voluntary commitment.
7. current psychological health.
8. What has happened since.
I have also listed some of the common discretionary and mandatory disqualifiers for police officer candidates. Note that the only psyche based one is that the current Dr. doesn’t find you qualified.
Discretionary Disqualifiers
[size=The following disqualifiers ]MAY, upon review by the Tempe Police Department, make you
ineligible to become a City of Tempe Police Officer, however, any of these situations will be reviewed on a case by case basis:
- [size=Unlawful sexual misconduct.]
- [size=Excessive traffic violations.]
- [size=DUI conviction or suspension of your AZ driver license as a result of a DUI.]
- [size=Suspension of your Arizona Driver’s license or driving privileges from another state.]
- [size=Commission of a felony.]
- [size=Any discharge from the United States armed forces other than an honorable discharge.]
- [size=A pattern of failing to meet financial obligations.]
- [size=Any other conduct or pattern of conduct that would tend to disrupt, diminish, or otherwise
jeopardize public trust in the law enforcement profession.]
- [size=An inability to perform the essential functions of a Police] Officer.
Automatic Disqualifiers
[size=Please carefully review the following list of automatic disqualifiers] and contact a member of the Hiring Unit at 480-350-8764 if you have a question about a particular disqualifier PRIOR to taking the written test. The City of Tempe Police Department and/or AZ POST will AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFY ANY INDIVIDIDUAL WHO HAS AT ANY TIME:
- [size=Been convicted of a felony or any offense that would be a felony if committed in Arizona. ]
- [size=Been dishonorably discharged from the United States armed forces. ]
- [size=Been previously denied certified status or has his or her current certified status revoked or under suspension. ]
- [size=Illegally sold, produced, cultivated, or transported marijuana for sale. ]
- [size=Illegally used marijuana for any purpose within the past three (3) years. ]
- [size=Illegally used marijuana, dangerous drugs or narcotics other than for experimentation. The use of an illegal drug is presumed to be not for experimentation if: ]
[size=1. The use of marijuana exceeds a total of 20 times ]
[size=2. The use of marijuana exceeds 5 times since the age of 21 years.]
[size=3. The use of dangerous drugs or narcotics exceeds a total of 5 times]
[size=4. The use of dangerous drugs or narcotics exceeds one time since the age of 21 years.]
- [size=Illegally used marijuana while employed or appointed as a peace officer. ]
- [size=Used ANY hallucinogenic drug including hallucinogenic mushrooms (except during religious ceremonies). Hallucinogenic drugs include LSD/acid. ]
- [size=Illegally sold, produced, cultivated, or transported for sale any dangerous drugs or narcotics, other than marijuana. ]
- [size=Illegally used dangerous drugs or narcotics, other than marijuana, for any purpose within the past seven years. Examples of a dangerous drug or narcotic drug would be, but is not limited to: ]
- [size=Cocaine, crack, speed, methamphetamine, heroin, opiates, etc.]
- [size=Anabolic Steroids (after 1994), except prescription only or FDA approved over the counter preparations.]
- [size=Illegally used dangerous drugs or narcotics while employed or appointed as a peace officer. ]
- [size=Used or tried any narcotic or dangerous drug by injection. ]
- [size=Had a pattern of abusing prescription medication. ]
- [size=Convicted of or adjudged to have violated traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles with such a frequency so as to indicate a disrespect for traffic laws and a disregard for the safety of other persons on the highway within the past three years. ]
- [size=Been previously employed as a law enforcement agent and since has committed or violated federal, state, or city laws pertaining to criminal activity.]
- [size=Been convicted of any crime under a domestic violence statute. ]
- [size=Lied during any stage of the hiring process.]
- [size=Falsified his or her questionnaire or application][size=.]
Common Disqualifiers for Police Officer Positions
Below is a list of the most common areas that may disqualify an applicant for a Police Officer position with the Irvine Police Department. If you have a question regarding any of these areas, please contact Lieutenant Rick Handfield at (949) 724-7143.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Will Disqualify:
Use of marijuana, hashish, or cocaine within the last 12 months.
Use of cocaine more than 5 times within the last 3 years.
Use of LSD or heroin at anytime.
Sale of marijuana, drugs, or narcotics at any time.
May Disqualify:
Knowingly remaining in place where narcotics were used.
Experimentation with barbiturates, amphetamines, or hallucinogenics, other than LSD.
Use of non-prescription steroids within the last 12 months.
CRIMINAL OFFENSES
Will Disqualify:
Felony conviction.
On probation or parole.
May Disqualify:
Adult conviction for a property related offense.
Theft from any employer as an adult in excess of $100.00 (property or cash).
Sex act for which criminal prosecution would have resulted had the incident been reported.
TRAFFIC RELATED
Will Disqualify:
Unable to obtain a valid California drivers license.
Unable to obtain motor vehicle insurance.
Conviction of 4 or more moving violations.
Revocation/suspension of drivers license within the past 3 years.
At fault in 3 traffic accidents within the last 5 years.
POLYGRAPH EXAM
Will Disqualify:
Continued responses indicating deception on questions asked.
May Disqualify:
Withholding information from polygraph examiner.
PSYCHOLOGICAL
Will Disqualify:
Failure to meet the standards as determined by the department psychologist (written and oral interview.
MEDICAL
Will Disqualify:
Physically incapable of safely performing job duties pursuant to ADA regulations.
GENERAL
Will Disqualify:
Falsification and/or omission of any data on personal history statement.
Untruthfulness to the background investigator.
May Disqualify:
Not U.S. citizen or resident alien having filed for citizenship within the last 12 months.
Inability to communicate with a variety of types of people as is expected of a police officer.
Unfavorable work history (discipline, firing, attendance problems, etc.).
Signs of immaturity from background investigator.
Automatic Disqualifiers
[url=http://www.maricopa.edu/hrweb/cso2.html#top#top][/url]
Conviction of a felony or any offense legally considered a felony if committed in Arizona.
Previous denial or revocation of certified status.
- Current suspension of certification status pursuant to Arizona POST Rule R13-4-109.
- Illegal sale, production, cultivation, or transportation of marijuana for sale.
- Illegal use of marijuana for any purpose within the past three years.
- Illegal use of marijuana other than for experimentation.
- Illegal use of marijuana while employed or appointed as a peace officer.
- Illegal sale, production, cultivation, or transportation for sale of any dangerous drugs or narcotics, other than marijuana.
- Illegal use of dangerous drugs or narcotics, other than marijuana, for any purpose within the past seven years.
- Illegal use of dangerous drugs or narcotics other than for experimentation.
- Illegal use of dangerous drugs or narcotics while employed or appointed as a peace officer.
- A recognized pattern of abuse of prescription medication.
- Conviction or judgment to have violated traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles with such a frequency so as to indicate a disrespect for traffic laws and a disregard for the safety of other persons on the highway with the past three years.
Illegal drug use is presumed not to be for experimentation if:
- The use of marijuana exceeds a total of twenty times or exceeds five times since the age of 21 years.
- The use of dangerous drugs or narcotics, other than marijuana, exceeds a total of five times, or exceeds one time since the age of 21 years.
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cjustice
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Posted: Sun Dec 31st, 2006 08:29 am |
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| Will Attention Deficit Disorder that is controlled by medication prevent me from becoming a police officer?
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cjustice
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Posted: Sun Dec 31st, 2006 08:37 am |
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Here is what the City of Los Angeles Personnel Department Says:
"Candidates with a history or prior diagnosis of a psychological or psychiatric condition, including learning disabilities or Attention Deficit Disorder, or who have been treated with psychotropic medication or therapy, will be asked to provide relevant medical records before a final psychological determination can be made.
Certain conditions that have been suspected or diagnosed such as most learning disabilities or Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without hyperactivity, may require additional testing and review of relevant medical records. In many cases these conditions/diagnoses result in a disqualification due to a lack of adequate treatment and persisting symptoms.
Other conditions such as bipolar disorder, recurring major depression, with or without psychotic features or suicidal ideation, recurring anxiety disorders, with or without panic attacks, obsessive/compulsive disorder, and most diagnoses leading to a psychiatric hospitalization are highly disqualifying. Although the candidate will be asked to provide relevant medical records documenting the conditions and treatment received, these conditions often provide a basis for disqualification for a police officer position."
There are over 17,000 police departments in the US. They all have different standards, but I think we can view the city of los angeles as a benchmark. Also, many standards, like drug use, prior history; and, even ability change from time to time. As you can see, all of the information has to be evaluated by the employer; and, your private message contain lengthy post-diagnosis information that is favorable. In truth, its likely to be difficult to land a job as a police officer, but that doesn't mean its impossible. A few things you can do to improve you chances:
1. Keep good medical records.
2. Look at departments and their appeal process, medical/psych disqualifications are often appealable.
3. Build your history - continue and suceed with your education, continue with your employment.
4. Look into the many civilian related law enforcement jobs. While there are something link 700,000 police officers in the US, there are also over 400,000 civilian police personnel. This may have two advantages for you - if you are unable to get an actual sworn posistion you can find meaningful work in law enforcement - nothing would run right without our brothers and sisters in the civilian posistions. Second, if you are working in a law enforcement related posistion, handling that job, it may, eventually, help to counteract your medical problem.
REF
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Christopher
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Posted: Sun Dec 31st, 2006 04:21 pm |
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| Question- Do you see agnencies relaxing some of their standards regarding past drug use in order to fill vacancies? I have seen it happen in the military, it does not happen where I work, but in a big city I sometimes wonder.
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cjustice
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Posted: Sun Dec 31st, 2006 09:12 pm |
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Absolutely, these standards change constantly. Consider that as reflection of societies values, decades ago, any marijuana use was an automatic disqualifier. Now, experimentation and some use, reflecting the change in our own laws, is permissible. So, as more and more candidates come forward, the rules change. This thread has some good information:
http://www.criminaljustice-online.com/forum9/184.html
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