I appreciate your honesty on this. I’m considering a career as a police officer, but I had some struggles growing up, including a few stays in outpatient rehab for alcohol. I’ve been clean for almost three years now, actively work a recovery program, and feel much more hopeful. When I was 22, I was involuntarily committed to a psych ward due to suicidal ideation caused by alcohol. However, I haven’t had any legal issues or mental health crises since then. Would applying be a waste of time? I appreciate any insight you can provide. Thank you!
What Are My Chances
r/AskLE
Comments
Three years isn’t very far removed from those incidents.
Sorry dude but I don’t think you’d have a chance. One or the other… MAYBE given enough time but both is likely too much.
You’ve got years to wait before anyone is going to consider you.
Can only speak for my agency, but you wouldn’t even be looked at. You need to put some more time between yourself and those previous issues. I would say if you remained squeaky clean for 10 years, you might be considered where I’m at. Maybe less for an agency that’s really hurting for bodies.
I’m not a cop but do psych evals for pre employment. This is never gonna make it to my desk. Not even if it had been ten years clean. It’s not just could this person be a good cop but if something went wrong would the hire look reckless. Does this hire open us up to litigation or being crucified in the press? In this case even if all your psych testing showed you to be a model cop, history alone sinks you.
I’m not sure what draws you to this career path but I would think of other ways to serve community, be part of an organization, or whatever your motivation is.
0 chance.
(Not Le) Very similar situation for me. I was involuntarily committed at 17, and I have drastically improved (now 22) but I’m still wary that would strongly mitigate my chances of ever becoming an LEO.