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austin wrote:

govnor wrote:

austin wrote:

govnor wrote:

My fellow DoJ

Leopards don't change their spots much.

What's that supposed to mean? I'm not talking about previous felons or armed robbers or rapists. I'm talking about someone that experimented with drugs in college, and never got arrested for it, mind you. For your information...that's a lot of people.

It was not meant to be personal, but I could see how it could be taken that hay. Hats off for taking it cool.

There are a lot of people who are totally clean and who have always zigged rather than zagged. No one wants to stand before a board of inquiry and explain why they took the college druggie over joe prep. That is the FBI.

Well, you do have a point...

austin wrote:

govnor wrote:

My fellow DoJ

If you haven't done anything illegal in three years then that should be a reflection on your character. Not something that you did for fun when you were in college.

I disagree.

Leopards don't change their spots much.

What's that supposed to mean? I'm not talking about previous felons or armed robbers or rapists. I'm talking about someone that experimented with drugs in college, and never got arrested for it, mind you. For your information...that's a lot of people. Most of them go on to be successful people and never do that stuff again.

I also don't appreciate your condescending tone when making a judgment about my character. People sometimes do stupid stuff when they're young. Now that I'm a successful middle aged guy, I don't even think about going out and partying like I did in college. I certainly wouldn't have anything to do with drugs or people that use them.

I'm assuming that you've never done anything wrong in your life by making that statement. And hey, maybe you haven't, but I would find that hard to believe.

My fellow DoJ component, the FBI, declared me ineligible based on exactly the same information. At the time, my TS background investigation for the Army was still current. I could handle Top Secret nuclear launch codes, but I couldn't investigate bank embezzlers.

I read a news story a few months ago about the FBI having to relax their policies on weed a little bit. Most of the applicants had smoked weed a few times and it was disqualifying a lot of intelligent, highly qualified people. I think it's funny personally. I don't even like marijuana. In fact, I like beer a lot more. But the fact that a plant is illegal is just ridiculous to me.

Just goes to show the stupid policies that are in place to disqualify relevant applicants. I'm kind of PO'd when it comes to that. I think the lie detector should go back about three years. If you haven't done anything illegal in three years then that should be a reflection on your character. Not something that you did for fun when you were in college.

Kids need to hear stories like these to keep them on the straight and narrow. I knew a lot of good soldiers who never got past Secret clearances due to stuff like this and they never got promoted past E5/O5 as a result.

Some financial and government sector jobs will also DQ on stuff like this.

You are absolutely right man. When I was in my early 20's at a club partying and someone says "hey man, you want a key bump!" Did it ever cross my mind that I might want to do something in law enforcement? No. I mean, it was really stupid, period, and I'll add...the worst hangover I've ever had. I hated it. Drugs hold a lot more implications than people realize. I've never been addicted, but that doesn't matter. In fact, I tried coke twice and only once did I do enough to make me have the terrible hangover. I guess the first time I didn't take very much at all. Even though it was more than ten years ago, it's enough to keep me from being a police officer.

I was on the party scene in those days though. I've had friends die from drug overdoses. I would never think about doing anything like that now (okay, maybe some Jack Daniel's, but that's legal ).

Seriously though, I think I'd be good for law enforcement since I know the crowd, can spot a drug user or seller. I don't necessarily agree with all of the laws but would have no problem arresting someone for it. I mean, hey, you got caught... bottom line.

Wow! I just read this entire thread and it was a several month expedition rolled up into about ten minutes!

As for wanting to be a LEO. I also wanted to do that. I even contacted Dallas recruiting and asked some questions. For one, I know that there is a serious lie detector test. I talked to the recruiter and told him that in my youth I did cocaine a couple of times, didn't plan to lie about it and if that would keep me out. He said it would. Same reason I didn't join the military. I missed one question on the military test and they wanted me really bad, but with my former drug use, it didn't matter how smart I was...I couldn't be in the nuclear program.

I've thought about it and at 36, I make way more money than a senior cop does. I don't have to risk my life, and I'm at home every night. That still doesn't quench the urge for action. I'd love to be out there kicking some BG rear end.

I wonder if you'd consider detective work or something like that? With your degree you could probably apply for FBI, BATF or some other government agency. You might not be in the field every day, but it might satisfy your urge to do something for your fellow man.