Can I be part of the CHP?

[GoldBadge]

IMO, you’re going to need at least a few years between your fun loving days and steering clear of driving issues and other indiscretions.

[Rober0193]

If you make a COMPLETE change, you may eventually have a shot.

Complete change has been made. Next is to prove I can maintain it.

[Rober0193]

Long shot. You're a pothead and a bad driver. I would imagine you'd get the same letter from CHP that you did from LAPD.

Fair enough!

[Rober0193]

IMO, you’re going to need at least a few years between your fun loving days and steering clear of driving issues and other indiscretions.

I agree. I may be exaggerating my record a bit but I’ve always been the type to expect less and give more.

[Rober0193]

10-15 years ago, you’d be a firm / hard, No-Hire, in todays nationwide, understaffed climate who knows,……..

The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, personally I don’t feel like enough time has passed, 26 is still so young with your almost yesterday baggage.

I’m 100% with you on this. The times are changing. Most people on this forum seem to be old timers. People who come from the zero-drug tolerance policy days. I respect that.

I’m on my phone at the moment and can’t quickly recall who referred to me as a criminal for smoking marijuana haha. I would have never smoked marijuana if it was illegal.

When I was smoking weed I used to think people never changed. They were who they were and that was it. I mean, how could a person go from liking this to that? But that suddenly changed when my mind expanded and I took interests in other things.

I can’t even remember the exact date I stopped smoking because I never made a point to stop. I just didn’t care for it.

My point is.. people along with the times.. change.

[GoldBadge]

I’m 100% with you on this. The times are changing. Most people on this forum seem to be old timers. People who come from the zero-drug tolerance policy days. I respect that.

I’m on my phone at the moment and can’t quickly recall who referred to me as a criminal for smoking marijuana haha. I would have never smoked marijuana if it was illegal.

Understand that while weed is legal in many states, it’s illegal under federal law and departments don’t want their people using it.

[Aidokea]

I’m on my phone at the moment and can’t quickly recall who referred to me as a criminal for smoking marijuana haha. I would have never smoked marijuana if it was illegal.

Marijuana is a federal drug crime in all 50 states.

[Rober0193]

Marijuana is a federal drug crime in all 50 states.

Touché.

Curious who the last person to get tried in federal court for smoking a joint was lol.

Jokes aside, I really do respect your straight edge pov on the issue.

Nonetheless, my packet is in. I was completely honest. I can’t change the past but I can control what happens from here on out.

The rest is out of my control.

[Bing_Oh]

If you believe the legalization advocates, Federal prisons are full of people in there for possession of a joint. But that's a different conversation with political undertones...

[Captain Max]

I promise you, people don't go to federal prison because of personal possession. Drug dealers plead guilty to possession as a lesser charge instead to avoid being found guilty of distribution.

[GoldBadge]

Smoke a joint on federal land and you’ll likely get locked up.

[Rober0193]

My point exactly. I was consuming small quantities at a time. Never enough to land me in federal jail, much less tried.

I’m actually against legalization now. Sometimes I can’t even believe how my mind did the complete 180.

Legalization will only slow and hinder people’s lives. It’s happening today.

[Bing_Oh]

My point is.. people along with the times.. change.

Yes, some people change. And, then again, a great many don't. After dealing with many "regular customers" (more than a few of whom use the "I've changed!" line as a mantra, usually shortly before we find their substance of choice in a pocket), LEO's tend to hold by a couple of simple rules...actions speak louder than words and talk is cheap.

I'm not doubting your sincerity, but you have to realize that LE agencies as a rule put more stock in past actions than the words of someone they don't know.

As for times changing, there are some things I agree need to change...and others that don't. I'm much more liberal in my beliefs regarding appearance standards than some other LEO's, for example, but base hiring standards are not something I believe should be "re-evaluated" so we can have access to a larger candidate pool. Certain behaviors should not be overlooked when hiring for a job that is supposed to be populated by morally-upright, honest, trustworthy individuals.

[CCCSD]

Not to mention that POST is much more stringent now…

[Aidokea]

Touché.

Curious who the last person to get tried in federal court for smoking a joint was lol.

That's irrelevant to your situation.

A more relevant question, would be who was the last person to get hired to be a cop just a few years after purchasing, possessing, and using illegal drugs hundreds of times, driving DUI drugs countless times, getting 7-8 traffic tickets, being at fault in several motor vehicle crashes, walking off 6-8 jobs with no notice, and so on.

The answer to THAT question, is nobody.

[Aidokea]

I DO like the fact that he uses paragraphs...

[GoldBadge]

Unlike so many other posters!

[L-1]

I don't know folks. Back in the 1970s when I was sent to supervisor's school, one of the first things we were taught was to stay away from the motor officers because they were all crazy people. Sounds like the OP might be a good candidate for motors. Just sayin'.

[Rober0193]

That's irrelevant to your situation.

A more relevant question, would be who was the last person to get hired to be a cop just a few years after purchasing, possessing, and using illegal drugs hundreds of times, driving DUI drugs countless times, getting 7-8 traffic tickets, being at fault in several motor vehicle crashes, walking off 6-8 jobs with no notice, and so on.

The answer to THAT question, is nobody.

Not so irrelevant when I’m applying for a state job and not a federal one. That isn’t meant to minimize or justify my actions in anyway.

“Driving DUI drugs countless times” so much conviction in that statement it’s hard to respect. I was HONEST on my application. I drove under the influence one time. Never again.

Heck with that logic there’s no telling how many times you sped on the job without reason or how many times you disrespected citizens or even went beyond that in illegal activity. Very easy to fall down that slippery slope when you let emotions take place over logic.

Regardless, you’ve come off as the hard rear end I expected to encounter and if your goal was to dissuade me or make me think I have any less of a shot than I did before, you have failed.

There’s obviously work to be done and only time will demonstrate I have carried it out.

Out of sheer respect and for the sake of not turning this into a back and forth discussion I’m going to thank you for your input and keep working on myself.

This just got fun. Here’s to never quitting and dream chasing.

Thanks again!!

[Rober0193]

I don't know folks. Back in the 1970s when I was sent to supervisor's school, one of the first things we were taught was to stay away from the motor officers because they were all crazy people. Sounds like the OP might be a good candidate for motors. Just sayin'.

Those Harley’s DO look nice haha