Getting Hired With Past Drug Use

[Gestur]

Hello Jack.

I'm curious as to how much law enforcement is looking at the "whole person" nowadays regarding past drug use.

My history...

Marijuana - handful of times in 15-20 years ago.

LCD - once 20 years ago.

Steroids - 2 month cycle 14 years ago.

Ecstasy - 1 time 11 years ago.

Cocaine - 2-3 times about 10 years ago.

This is the information I'll be giving to the hiring officer.  I'm wondering if it will disqualify me from a large police department.  I'm in the Midwest if that helps.

Also, I'm fairly certain that the cocaine use was 10 years ago, but it's close.  Because I'm unsure about actual dates, is that something I would fail in a polygraph?

Thanks for taking the time to help out!

ANSWER: Jon,

You are probably aware that each police department acts independently of others so there are no hard and fast rules that cover all departments.  What might be true for Department #A might not be true for Department B and so on.

That is a lot of drug use in your life.  While I cannot tell you that you would be disqualified think about this.  If everything else is equal why would a police department take a chance on you compared to an applicant who has never used drugs?

The polygraph question would never pertain to when you used drugs.  Only IF you used drugs.

I can tell you this.  If you applied for MY department you would be automatically disqualified.

Once again I am not discouraging you from applying.  

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

Thanks for the information.  Given this statement...

"If everything else is equal why would a police department take a chance on you compared to an applicant who has never used drugs?"

What sort of things would make it "not equal" so departments would or could overlook past bad choices?  Grades, degrees, super fit, well trained, foreign languages, volunteer work, etc?  

I'm wondering if the drug issue is literally a deal breaker regardless of what else is on your resume.  I know your department doesn't represent all departments, but would that be the case in your department?  Automatic disqualification regards of a stellar resume or lack there of?

Again, thanks for your time.

[eadelmarr]

Jon,

I can only tell you what my department would do.  I have never been on any of the other thousands of police departments in this country.

A police department cannot afford to "overlook past bad choices".  Look at it this way.  Lets say that you did get hired.  Someday a former friend is going to find out that you are a police officer and know about your prior drug use.  The word is going to get out and everytime that you testify in court during your cross examination the defense attorney is going to bring up your drug use to impeach your testimony.  There are other situations that could embarrass the department also.  That is why departments don't hire people with criminal records.

All I can do is suggest that you do apply to the department of your choice and see what happens.