Political Party & Hiring Process

[ThirdGen]

Has anyone here ever felt like you were looked at more closely or received extra questioning based on your political affiliation?

I'm planning to start Phase I testing for a couple departments this Spring and was curious whether being a Libertarian might raise more eyebrows than normal. I have a crystal clear background check so there's no worries there, just wondering if political affiliation has ever left anyone feeling a bit out of place in the hiring process. Thanks!

[Kieth M.]

I applied to eight departments from winter '07, to spring '08...not one asked about my political party affiliation.

The only question which usually, ever, comes up is the one about membership in any organization who advocated the violent overthrow of the government.

Although, to be fair, I never applied in Oregon. Must be a hippe/cooter thing.

[SleepyCop]

Has anyone here ever felt like you were looked at more closely or received extra questioning based on your political affiliation?

I'm planning to start Phase I testing for a couple departments this Spring and was curious whether being a Libertarian might raise more eyebrows than normal. I have a crystal clear background check so there's no worries there, just wondering if political affiliation has ever left anyone feeling a bit out of place in the hiring process. Thanks!

If a department inquired about an applicants political affiliation, and used it as a determining factor; they would most certainly face a law suite.

-SC

[damode1985]

Lol, i guess all cops are redneck republican loving americans!!!!!

Relax, most applications just ask if you are part of any group or affiliation that wants a violent overthrow of the government.

And yes, you can believe in whatever the hell you want and be a cop.

[ThirdGen]

Thanks for the replies, I wasn't implying anything, just curious if 3rd party affiliations ever warranted any further questioning based on the party platform. Glad to hear it doesn't matter though.

*Not sure if I'm allowed to respond to my own thread?

[ateamer]

Back in the mid-90s, when I was back home in PA, I picked up an application for one of the local PDs. It asked the usual questions about groups advocating violent overthrow, and also asked if I was a member of the Communist party.

[barkalot]

I had an oral board ask me if I was going to "preach" to people I arrested when they found out that I had a religious degree.

[Kieth M.]

If I'm ever in a position to hire, I will tell applicants right off that if they're either truthers and/or birthers, I don't need them working for me.

[just joe]

Who the hell even asks about that!?

[StudChris]

Considering you want to be cop, your Libertarian views obviously aren't TOO strong.

[ThirdGen]

Considering you want to be cop, your Libertarian views obviously aren't TOO strong.

This is the reason I was curious if it would raise eyebrows, based on people not really understanding the principles, or just inferring more than is logical based on political affiliation.

[ray8285]

Has anyone here ever felt like you were looked at more closely or received extra questioning based on your political affiliation?

!

I do BI's for our department, that is never asked and this is a Sheriff's office (election every 4 years)

[ray8285]

.

And yes, you can believe in whatever the hell you want and be a cop.

If this is the same damode from FLA, you would definitely be proof of that

[TheKansan]

I applied to over 20 positions in the last 2.5 years. I was never asked about my political affiliations. I was not discriminated against in any way for being a democrat in a highly republican job field. I don't discuss my political beliefs at work (heated political arguments amongst coworkers in a prison would be stupid). Regardless of what my fellow officers believe politically, I stand behind them always.

[damode1985]

Yeap, same damode from FL.

I got posts and threads in officer.com thatll make most police officers cringe but the way i see stuff doesnt affect how i do my job. I still do it just as good/bad as the next guy.