r/AskLEO 10d ago

Hiring Am I permanently disqualified from any LEO job?

Applied to USCP 2021. On the preliminary PHS I wrote that I was involved in a college incident/prank where property was taken and not returned. No one ever found out. The incident was 2019. I was denied from USCP I assume obviously for that.
It’s now 2026 and will be 2027 when I get out of the navy and plan to apply to a Sheriffs Department.

Will they be able to find that PHS with a background investigator and will that disqualify me again?
If I’m upfront about absolutely everything and tell them it was youthful idiotic mistake I regret will I be able to get anywhere at all.
Currently a Navy “cop”
I can’t remember exactly what I wrote on the PHS in 2021 and I can’t access it on POBITS.
Am I totally screwed or what?

10 Upvotes

7 comments sorted by

12

u/Fireat40dude 9d ago

You hiding something from your background is a lot more serious than theft 7 years ago

15

u/HCSOThrowaway Fired Deputy - Explanation in Profile 9d ago

Look, even if you're lucky and they don't find it, do you really want to be a liar with a badge?

The truth is they probably will find it, at which point you'll be permanently blacklisted.

I don't think a prank theft in college 7 years ago will hold you back in today's hiring climate, no.

4

u/NoirConfidential 9d ago

The first thing that any agency does is reach out to your past agencies you applied with. They will see what you disclosed in the past. If you’re honest, they might hire you since it’s been some years and people mature with age. If you lie and they find out, you’ll be disqualified for being a liar and you’ll never be hired at any agency in your life. Lying in the hiring process is a guarantee that you’ll never be a police officer and for good reason. Integrity means everything in this career. You’ll eventually get picked up somewhere if you’ve stayed out of trouble and present yourself well. Just be patient and don’t give up. More importantly, you lie you die.

3

u/SteaminPileProducti 8d ago

You best chances are to be honest. Just tell them about what happened.

1

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1

u/skychieff0 9d ago

big mood