Posted: 10/1/2012 6:47:17 PM EDT
| I'm working on getting an internship with a law enforcement agency. However they have a background questionnaire and then a polygraph. I am worried about something and I was wondering if you guys could let me know if it would disqualify me based on your history. I am sort of looking for permission before putting it out there first. |
| Well there is two things. I'm currently 20 years old. I had a few medical bills go back in my senior year (high school), once I found out they went to collections I payed them off. The second, when I was 13 I was hanging around a neighbor that was older (bad influence). He said let's go to Kohl's so I went with him. He proceeded to say that we should steal something. I felt pressured and I took an $8 shirt. It was a mistake that I would never do ever again as a mature adult and I fully regret it. I have to disclose this info as there is a question about it. I have since done an internship with my local police, do an explorer's program for Customs and Border Protection and am involved in school. Will this disqualify me? |
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Quoted:
I would say there is very little chance that would disqualify you. A lot of kids do dumb things. What they are looking for is you being honest about it and not hiding anything past what you admit. this I would not worry about it. just make sure that you tell the poly guy that so they can word the questions correctly. J- |
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Most people have stolen something(at least once when they were a kid). I'm not saying made a habit of it, but taking things like coins from your dad's coin jar are expected. Office supplies from work? Oh yeah. Just don't be the guy that admits backing a truck up to the office in the middle of the night. That's a grey area.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" The most important part of that is "the whole truth." Be honest, you'll be surprised, most polygraph examiners love testing young people. Why? When a 40 yr old comes in, they have to listen to 40 years worth of shit. 20 years old with about the last 7 of them being relevant? They won't even miss lunch. Those issues should not disqualify you, especially at your age. You'll feel worse about admitting to speeding and your other undetected traffic offenses! Good luck and don't clinch your ass cheeks, it doesn't work 
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Quoted: Thanks guys. On the form it says to use the back of the page if needed to explain. Should I just explain the situation, or should I add the part of being involved and all that as I got older? Or is that just too much? They want to know everything as early in the application process as possible. If you tell them later, they are going to ask you why you didn't tell them now, and it could be an issue. |
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I would just put at age 13 took a t-shirt valued at $8. If they care that much they'll ask you about it further. This is wisdom. Also, get rid of any minimizing or rationalizing language from your paperwork. Writing things like you "felt pressured" and that the other guy was older and a "bad influence" are just excuses. Shoplifting as a young teenager is far from a DQ, but don't try to make it something else. Everyone knows why kids steal stuff. Just own any of your indiscretions without making excuses or trying to fluff them up. Your oral board won't have any angels on it, and they won't be expecting to interview one. |
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Hold up there guys.
OP: Were you prosecuted and/or convicted of the shoplifting? Here in Kansas you cannot be LEO at any decent police department if you have a Giglio Violation like that. If you got away with it and were never caught or were caught and not prosecuted than just tell them and you'll be fine. If you you were convicted of theft than forget about it. You can't work in Kansas and I would guess that many other states are catching up with Giglio violations quickly. |
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Quoted:
Well there is two things. I'm currently 20 years old. I had a few medical bills go back in my senior year (high school), once I found out they went to collections I payed them off. The second, when I was 13 I was hanging around a neighbor that was older (bad influence). He said let's go to Kohl's so I went with him. He proceeded to say that we should steal something. I felt pressured and I took an $8 shirt. It was a mistake that I would never do ever again as a mature adult and I fully regret it. I have to disclose this info as there is a question about it. I have since done an internship with my local police, do an explorer's program for Customs and Border Protection and am involved in school. Will this disqualify me? Only if you lie about it. |
I say spill the beans.....you'll be worse off if you get twisted up on your story and they find out. They will find out most likely. Not going to go into details but I had me some sticky fingers bout 20 years ago in my late teens. Never convicted cause I was a sneaky little bastard but I went into tiny minute- by- minute details when I applied for LE jobs. Also got myself arrested for MIC 5 days before I turned 21. Told them all about that one too. Told them all my dirty laundry and did not make any excuses for my poor actions. It was nobodies fault but mine. It took a while too cause the list was decent in length.  They say the truth will set your free. There is something to that. When you make up your mind to get into law enforcement you should do it the right way. I decided that I might not get hired but I SURE AS HELL was going to be honest in my attempt. Most guys I work with now were not little angels when they grew up but we all work hard at setting a good example now.
By the way, I just celebrated my 6th year on the job and now the sneaky little bastard is catching some of the other sneaky little bastards.
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Quoted:
Hold up there guys. OP: Were you prosecuted and/or convicted of the shoplifting? Here in Kansas you cannot be LEO at any decent police department if you have a Giglio Violation like that. If you got away with it and were never caught or were caught and not prosecuted than just tell them and you'll be fine. If you you were convicted of theft than forget about it. You can't work in Kansas and I would guess that many other states are catching up with Giglio violations quickly. No I was not. |
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just tell the truth and don't admit to any felonies and you'll be fine. Why? As long as the statute of limitations is out or there is more evidence required than admission, who cares? Honesty matters. The most common felony is drug use. Ever use someone else's prescription? Minor drug use isn't an automatic DQ. |