Posted: 3/25/2015 5:03:32 AM EDT
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So I am in the process for our local jail. Yesterday I went in for my "intake interview". This is where you get your conditional offer and schedule the poly, head shrinker and medical and they go through your background packet and ask a lot of questions. I've bee through the process with this agency twice in the past but for a position on the road, not the jail. The Lt. starts going through everything and stops at one of my bad decisions in my past. He pretty much looked at me and stated, "I'm not even going to have you sign your conditional until I speak with the under Sheriff about this" and how it was "a serious character flaw". And thats where the intake stopped. No schedule of poly etc. I've made it all the way to the very end of the process with this agency twice. And both times its wasnt a bad decision that got me it was budget and laterals filling positions. Why now is it such a big deal that he needed to talk to the under Sheriff about it? He did say that after he spoke with him he would be giving me a call back if we were moving forward or pulling me from the process. So this morning I get a call to come back in and move forward. But the entire time I was doing finger printing, signing stuff, etc. His attitude wasnt a good one. Its almost like he was told something he didnt want to hear. He is an old school cop (usually my intake people have been younger officers), was he just playing with me to try and get me to give something up or is he just being overly cautious? I dont know why but it jammed me up pretty good. Even the wife was shaking her head saying "it was never a problem before, why now"? Maybe I am just thinking into this way to much. This is that agency that you really want to work for and I have been trying since '08 to get on with them. Any insight appreciated. |
| I wouldn't worry about it too much, just keep your nose clean from now on and be honest about your past and be firm about how you're more mature and learned from your mistakes etc etc. Every cop I ever knew had stuff in his past. I know an investigator who admitted to smoking weed while he was a rookie. It got him passed up for promotion. Next time around, they promoted him. To be honest, I think most departments like people with a little dirt. Don't know why, it just seems to be a trend I've noticed. I used to work in a bar owned by a cop, and those guys aren't saints, despite what they want us to believe. |
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I'll be honest. I've never gone through the process. My history has always discouraged me from trying. I know people and family that have gone through this.
I think if they passed you to the next phase than the old school guy's just going to have to suck it up and lose the 'tude. Either that or you'll just have to ignore him. Clearly the people in charge of hiring want you so I wouldn't worry about one guys opinion. He might be the type with no history or background flaws (that the dept. knows of) and he'll never see you as an equal. Those people exist unfortunately. Sounds like he's just got a chip on his shoulder. Keep your head held high and know that if you weren't a desirable candidate they wouldn't have passed you on despite this fellows dissent. |
He's probably mad because your about to take a spot he wanted his buddy or son to get. 
I wouldn't worry about it. Most of those guys that you deal with during the hiring process are in the recruiting division. You'll probably not run into them often. When you do, they'll most likely get over it. |