I am 26 and in okay shape. I was in the military, and have some college under my belt. I have never been arrested, and and 2 tickets like 5 years back, I want to join the police force, but I have a bankruptcy that I filed when I was like 23, I was married young and my ex put me and left me in debt. My credit is on the rise and I make all of my payments on time and pay more than the limit. Can I apply! Or do I need waivers and if so how hard are they to get?
2007-09-10 03:49:56 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
You should be able to. It depends on the department. Some will not allow you to because you have the tickets. Credit should not be a deciding factor in getting hired...how much college do you have? some departments require a 2 year degree at least. some do not. it depends on where you are applying too. You should be able to pass the tests they give you since you were in the military as long as you have kept up and stayed in shape. If credit is an issue you can explain the discrepancies in the interview.
2007-09-10 03:59:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Applying for a local police department shouldn't be a problem. You may run into some flak if you want to apply for a sheriff's department only because you're under the jurisdiction of a sheriff. Depending on his mood of the day will determine if you'll even be called in for an interview.
Filing a bankruptcy will more than likely void your application for any federal police jobs. The thinking being that you'll be susceptable to bribes and other financial incentives to "look away". As long as you're forthright to the interviewer about your bankruptcy, explain the reason(s) behind it, you should be ok.
Do you have plans to finish your degree? If it is related to policing, like Admin of Justice, that will help immensely. Make it a point to mention that you would like to get it completed. It's possible you might get assistance from the department to complete it.
I hope this helps. Good Luck!
2007-09-10 11:01:13 · answer #2 · answered by CyberCop 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That shouldn't be a problem.
Have you considered a Federal Agency like Border Patrol, Customs or Immigration?
Good pay and great benefits!
I've never been a fan of un-needed "degrees" in L.E. or the Fire service.
2007-09-10 13:48:58 · answer #3 · answered by tom p 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was in a very similar situation when I was hired by my department. The important thing is to be absolutely truthful when it comes to your background check. The investigator is interested in how open you are about the mistakes in your life. If you are honest about them and shown signs that you have taken positive steps to correct them, then you will have a positive background check. If you try to hide something, they will find out and reject you. Good luck!
2007-09-10 13:32:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As long as your credit is improving your future sounds good.
2007-09-10 11:29:16 · answer #5 · answered by Charlie Fingers 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋