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[Bing_Oh]

I learned long ago that failures are greater teachers than successes could ever be...if you let yourself learn from them....

[Bing_Oh]

There are three types of promotional processes...

1. They promote whoever they want. These are usually the suck-up promotions (unless you happen to have someone in charge who makes the decision logically and dispassionately...which is very uncommon) and what you're dealing with.
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[Bing_Oh]

Your profile says you're 21, and you stated that you did inhalants 10-15 times between the ages of 18-19. So, you're saying that you were huffing in the last 2-3 years. I would say that's a pretty strong "no" for the vast majority of departments.

And, I'm not sure why you think...

[Bing_Oh]

I'm going to address a few things before I give you recommendations. Please, consider them with an open mind...

First, we drive A LOT in law enforcement. It's realistically probably the highest-liability activity we do simply because we put in a lot of hours and miles behind the wheel,...

[Bing_Oh]

So, in short, unless it's a violent felony (and maybe not then), people can pretty much do whatever they want in Dallas and not be prosecuted.

This guy better hope that criminals come out to vote, because otherwise he's gonna be a one-term prosecutor. On the up side, the next prosecutor...

[Bing_Oh]

As with anything in the hiring process, you're going to have to learn patience. "Hurry up and wait" is a mantra you should recite...repeatedly. The hiring department doesn't have any control over how quickly another agency checks their records and forwards them back, and the clerk at the agency...

[Bing_Oh]

There's no secret solution (besides a bag of replacements in a desk drawer, or getting admin to get rid of the outdated shiny crap all together)...there's a reason they call them "dammits." The new thing seems to be earring backers.

[Bing_Oh]

Interesting. I had never seen it disputed after my academy days, but it appears there are now several legitimate sources that confirm that it's an urban legend. Thanks for setting the record straight (though, obviously, the "train-as-you-fight" mantra is still a good one)....

[Bing_Oh]

Not that early in the process and not at an agency with that many potential candidates, anyway....

[Bing_Oh]

Wait...they still make Jolt cola?!...

[Bing_Oh]

Ah, but is your stool black and tarry?

I love psych exams......

[Bing_Oh]

If you've done polygraph, psych, and medical, then I'd assume that you've already received a conditional offer of employment. That pretty much means, unless YOU got disqualified because of one of those things, you should have the job. Police departments don't spend money on people they don't intend...

[Bing_Oh]

That's a pretty standard use of force continuum, but no use of force continuum says that you have to use all lower-levels of force before escalating...it's "appropriate/minimum force to overcome the resistance." Otherwise, that would mean you'd have to try all those lower use of force levels...

[Bing_Oh]

You would be a hard-sell if not a total no-go for the departments I've worked for (all "smaller agencies," btw). Just the reckless op, leaving the scene, or contempt of court (fail to complete community service) by themselves would throw up red flags, and you've got all three. They're bad...

[Bing_Oh]

LEO's drive...ALOT. We drive in all kinds of weather and traffic conditions. Sometimes, we have to drive fast while multitasking. And, because of all these things, driving is a HUGE potential liability for a police department...if you screw up behind the wheel and get someone hurt on duty, your department...

[Bing_Oh]

This was the example of "you fight as you train" when I went through the academy (anyone unfamiliar with the incident should note that the dead officers were found with empty brass in their pockets, because they trained to dump the brass from their revolvers into their hands and drop it in...

[Bing_Oh]

You should consider some of the requirements of the job...

Writing reports is a huge part of LE. The reports have to be understandable and contain all information vital to the investigation...that means you have to have at least moderate written communication skills.

You have...

[Bing_Oh]

Let's just say that my options are limited. I'm heavily invested in my pension (5-6 years from minimum retirement), so the "golden handcuffs" are a factor. I'm too old for most civil service hiring, so my options in LE are limited to pretty much villages or Sheriff's Offices in my state. The...

[Bing_Oh]

Thanks for the input. I'm fighting the good fight at the moment (as there are few other options...and I'm a stubborn SOB). Just tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel....

[Bing_Oh]

Any suggestions for dealing with it? Asking for my own info, as I'm dealing with a certain ongoing "situation.". If you don't want to get into it or want to send a pm to keep it off the boards, that's cool....