Currently I repair tubs, sinks, countertops and appliances. I make less than $40k a year but I make my company nearly $2k a day M-F all year, I’m 22 and it really hardly hit me the other day that I’m in the wrong profession. I’ve had someone brandishing a firearm at my front door and my leasing office and local PD wouldn’t do anything about it. Meanwhile I work for folks that complain about the color of their tub drains. Ive been rear ended twice with drivers without insurance and hit and run once (got the plate but it was a stolen plate and vehicle)
I’m extremely proficient in firearms, always have been my whole life, I go to USPSA comps, and have always thought about public safety as a CCW holder. I have tax stamps for suppressors and passed background checks for those. My biggest problem is I have a marijuana poss charge as a minor, it got dismissed through classes and community service. I wouldn’t have a problem admitting this under a polygraph whether or not it disqualifies me.
Tear me apart, downvote, ask me questions, I don’t care. I’m honestly just ready to do something meaningful with my life that I’d love with long term state benefits, handing out tickets, arresting DUI and reckless drivers, and writing accurate accident reports, etc. It’s the right thing to do. I’m just ready to do something meaningful with my life. I don’t care about shifts, or hours, as long as I get SOME time off every now and then. I’m a workaholic.
Is there anything I said that would disqualify me? Should I just reach out to my areas recruiter and ask him/her? Would I have to move depending on where I’m stationed/assigned?
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I would google the state patrol in your state and I’m sure they have a career page. Check into it. See if you qualify. Usually you need a degree of some sort maybe. In Wisconsin you need 60 college credits. It’s definitely worth a try or even look at border patrol. I’m kind of in the same boat as you and I’m in the running for state patrol at the moment. Shit I waited till I was 46 and sick and tired of the business world. Time for a change. Good luck and there’s tons of options out there. Just gotta do a little research.
Best advice. Join the Coast Guard or Air Force for 3 years. Get the GI Bill. Then go to the police academy in any state you want on the government dime and collect a housing stipend while doing so. You also get VA home loan. policing ain’t going anywhere. Your young. agencies love seeing military for three years, and will overlook that silly marijuana arrest. Pick a state that pays well, Some mid west pay well, West coast, north east.
CHP is hiring like crazy. They start at 90k in academy I think. Yea you would have to work in LA or Bay Area for first few years then you could pick anywhere in CA, make bank.
Nothing you’ve posted would have disqualified you from my agency, provided that the possession charge was dismissed as a minor. If you can articulate why it happened and haven’t exhibited a pattern of behavior, you’d be golden here.
Reach out to a recruiter and see what their standards are (PAT, written score, immediate disqualifiers, etc). I wouldn’t worry about the firearm and high-speed low-drag stuff too much. It will help you in academy, but the people involved in the hiring may not see it the same way.
Every agency is different. Reach out to a local recruiter and -if you’re deadset on working for a state agency- don’t be afraid to look at other states as well.
As others have noted, joining the military or guard may get you civil service points or veterans preference and GI bill money for post-secondary education. I would recommend staying away from military LE as most of it is either static guard duty and writing tickets on a military base or active combat / counter-insurgency as seen in recent theatres. Take the ASVAB, pick a job code or occupation specialty that requires a security clearance and can provide you with a career after the military if you decide LE isn’t what you thought it would be.
Reach out to the court where you got the dope charge and discuss what the process would be to get it expunged. Good luck.