If you used illegal drugs in the past and are now considering a career in Law Enforcement then this post is directed at YOU!

We here at PL are constantly bombarded with questions from people who want to know if prior drug use will automatically disqualify them from a Law Enforcement career.  In order to alleviate the flood of such questions jamming up the boards I offer the following general information.

1. There are some LE agencies that will hire you with prior drug use in your past.

2. We do not keep a list of those agencies, nor do we plan to start such a list.

3. You need to call the LE agency that you want to apply to and ask them about their specific hiring standards in regard to prior drug use.

4. The prior drug use caveat generally refers to "Experimental Use" (1-3 times) and not to prolonged use.

5. The "Experimental Use" caveat generally refers to Marijuana and not to other drugs such as Cocaine, Heroin, Mushrooms, PCP, etc.

6. Those agencies that do hire candidates with prior drug use generally require that the use be a minimum of 3-5 years prior to application.

7. Any arrest and conviction for drugs will generally be an automatic disqualifier for hiring. This is especially true if the arrest was for "Distribution" or "Intent to Distribute" illegal drugs.

8. Even if you get a drug arrest expunged from your record the LE Background Investigator will find out about it.

9. You must be TOTALLY HONEST about prior drug use during the application and interview process.  Lies or attempting to hide such information will automatically disqualify you from hiring.

10. Understand that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of applicants for each LEO position.  Competition is stringent and most of those applying have NO PRIOR DRUG USE in their past.  This will give them a definite advantage over you.

11. Understand that prior drug use is often seen as being indicative of your character, your decision making process, your credibility and reliability.  It can also become an issue once you get hired and can come back to haunt you in court testimony (Defense attorneys dig deep and use such information against you to attack your credibility).

12. Understand that the LE Community is a very tight-knit group that is suspicious by nature and often perceived as being "in-your-face".  We hold ourselves to a high standard and do not appreciate it when members of our LE Community break the law or act  in a manner that brings dishonor or disrespect to our profession.  That being said there will certainly be LEOs that will not trust you (after you get hired) because of your prior drug use and they may not want to work with you.

13. Understand that since the LE Community is a very much "in-your-face" group we do not always tell you what you want to hear, we tell you the way it is in the real world.  If you are not thick-skinned enough to handle the truth then don't ask questions.

14. Understand that if you do not like the answers that you get, and then insult the LEOs, individually or as a group, you will be dealt with by the Moderators in an expedicious manner and your account may be sanctioned or closed.

15. Understand that it is common courtesy here at PL to post an introduction in the Introduction Forum (http://policelink.monster.com/discussions/130-introductions/topics), prior to posting any questions in the threads, so that members will get to know a bit about you before you ask members to answer any questions that you might have (you would certainly not walk into a room full of strangers and just start asking questions without first introducing yourself).

16. Understand that many drugs are still illegal and, as such, are viewed quite negatively by the LE Community.  Do not attempt to justify your past drug use or get into a diatribe about the legality of drugs.  Don't try to use the "Medical Marijuana" excuse, if you need "Medical Marijuana" then you would probably not pass the intense pre-hiring medical examination.

17.  You are a GUEST here, act accordingly.  Be polite, be respectful or be gone.

Second that bump

An old professor of mine used to say, "...and THIS one will definitely be on the test...and there will definitely be someone in this room who will still get it wrong."

A for effort, Retleo--I hope it helps!

P.S. I hope this will finally be a thread I participate in that doesn't get locked and vaulted.

SUPER BUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks RetLeo. Just contact the agency and axe.

SkoolCop says ...

OMG.......... Somebody finally addresed this issue with some guidelines.  I am however, extremely pessamistic as to the desired results that it will have.  In general, the type of person who will ask the question in reference to thier past usage of drugs is the same person that dosen't stop to read the sign that is right in front of him/her.  For example, in a prior position and working the information booth to a very large mall, I watched people all day long pass six separate signs each showing them the direction to the restroom(s) and what other stores or landmarks were in that same area.  The seventh sign was about six inches to the right of thier head with the arrow pointing to the right as they leaned into the window past the sign only to ask me where the restroom is located.  Just as those idiots don't read signs, they won't read this and I just know someone will inevitably ask the same S-T-U-P-I-D question, "I have used X,Y and Z for only five years and have been clean for the extended period of three minutes........ Can I be a cop?

I will BUMP the effort and hope that it will net at least some positive results.

 

I definitely have to agree but it is a good attempt by the moderators.  Most of the OPs that post these types of questions are just trolls and are making this crap up just to get a rise out of us.  We'll have to wait and see and it'll be nice to reference this thread for them.

This gives us another reason to pounce on them when they completely ignore it, too. 

rickm says ...

good post but six months from now this will be buried and the same questions will arise again.

Perhaps… But, the “First Responder” can now simply tell the OP:

“Please refer to the ‘Owner’s Manual for the Experimental User’... Here”:

http://policelink.monster.com/topics/77644-does-prior-drug-use-automatically-disqualify-you-from-an-le-career-check-here-before-you-ask-in-the-threads/posts

And… The thread can be politely locked forthwith… So, EXCELLENT.

dont we have "stickies" that is threads that always appear and dont go away?

rickm says ...

dont we have "stickies" that is threads that always appear and dont go away?

But... They don't "Stay at the Top"...

Great post retleo,but ya gotta know the question will keep raising its ugly head.Lot of people out there with a learning disability.

BUMP

Beautifully done.  Thanks RetLEO.

I had a girl ask me a few days ago, "I have three class B felony convictions for distribution that were suspended imposition of sentence.  Can I be a cop?"  Seriously.

Pancho thatnk you for your post, however please review the TOU policelink.monster.com/topics/18924-forum-faqs/posts and post an introduction policelink.monster.com/discussions/130-introductions/topics about yourself.