I have a bit of a situation and I wanted to find out what a few of you in the Law Enforcement field think. I am a former Marine Sergeant with ten years of honorable service, active and reserve, under my belt. Six months of that is combat in Iraq. I was honorably discharged from the reserve in 2006. My problem is that I received a psych DQ from the NYPD, also in 2006. After leaving active duty in 1998, I had some trouble adjusting to civilian life and floated around for a couple of years so I spoke to someone at the hospital employee assistance program where my mother worked at . As part of this program I was required to consult with a psychiatrist, who prescribed me a weeks worth of anti-depressant, which I took, and recommended I speak with a social worker, just to blow off some steam. All of this was completely voluntary; at no time was I required to proceed with this. I spoke with this counselor once a week for about three months until I started feeling like myself again, then discontinued the counseling with the counselors blessing. I then started college again before returning to active duty in the Corps after 9/11. Now, I'm not much of a scholar but I assume this situation of mine had a lot to do with my being DQ'd. Aside from this and having 2 short periods of unemployment I have nothing in my record, not so much as a traffic ticket, that I believe would be a DQ condition.
Now, finally, to my question. I'm applying to two other departments and I'm wondering if I should just keep my mouth shut about this and about the NYPD DQ. I know because of HIPPAA laws this info is protected and that nobody can look at it without my say-so, but my instinct is to be honest. At the same time, I want nothing but a career in law enforcement and I don't want to hurt my chances by talking too much like I did with the NYPD. Anybody got any advice on how to proceed? Thanks in advance.
Now, finally, to my question. I'm applying to two other departments and I'm wondering if I should just keep my mouth shut about this and about the NYPD DQ. I know because of HIPPAA laws this info is protected and that nobody can look at it without my say-so, but my instinct is to be honest. At the same time, I want nothing but a career in law enforcement and I don't want to hurt my chances by talking too much like I did with the NYPD. Anybody got any advice on how to proceed? Thanks in advance.
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