Q&A: Becoming a Police Officer With Felony Acts in the Past?

Question by Sig: Becoming a Police Officer with felony acts in the past?
I am a senior in college and am waiting to take the police exam for local pd. i have done a few drugs in my day including E and mushrooms a few times. I have tried cocaine once and smoked some weed, I have also sold marijuana for 6-8 weeks. All of these acts aside from marijuana usage were isolated incidents meaning they took place and never happened again. The lieutenant of the local pd department is very excited to get me on board and I have been told by the officer who I did many ride alongs with that he will put a “bug” in the chiefs ear for me due to the impression I have made. I have been a city employee for seasonal work (summer and winter) for the past four years and have always passed drug tests for both my job and NCAA collegiate sports. I am 21 and have my heart so set on becoming an officer. Although I screwed up big time and made some really poor choices, I feel as though I will be able to help others and keep them from going down the road I went. I want to know if there is anyone out there who is credible and/or knowledgeable about this topic and can let me know if the polygraph will ultimately be the make or break section of recruitment along with my choices in the past, that will ruin my chances. please help me out, thanks everyone
i appreciate your honesty. you say you are an officer and I take your words to heart. This is difficult because those who know me would attest to my character as being someone that is accountable and reliable and also one that makes acceptable choices based on societal standards. Should I just give up and not even take the LEC exam? I talked to the cop that I did my ride alongs with and he told me not to worry, i talked to him and told him i experimented with drugs, and his exact words were, ” so long as you aren’t mainlining dope, you’ll be ok. Just make sure you aren’t doing anything when you take the exam and stay clean.” I didn’t disclose that I sold marijuana for the short amount of time but i really am not sure what to do. I feel as though the oral board portion and the background check with friends, employers, coaches and neighbors may outweigh the few poor choices that I have made, i just don’t know what to think.
I have never had any convictions of any kind, nothing even as little as a written or verbal warning for anything. My family, friends and co-workers would be surprised to find out all of these things that I have done, simply because in my own personal opinion I have not let them effect me in a negative manner. I have been an active member of society working and volunteering for the last 6 years of my life and am a captain of a collegiate sports team. I understand what I have done is frowned upon, I myself am disgusted with the fact that I did what I did, I just have so a drive and strong passion to become part of law enforcement and really hope that everything else that I have going for me, from those who know me to the positive things I have undertaken, will outweigh my stupidity.

Best answer:

Answer by Chris M
why don’t you do some research on the requirements for the job. It will tell you there.

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