Hello Bryan! I'm retired military. Thank you for your service and sharing this valuable information. Stay frosty out there. These are some crazy time were living in.
Thanks 🙏 for the positive feedback and thank you for your service. While others hesitate because they are unsure 😐... I hope you are applying to a group of large departments while these massive hiring events are taking place. The sooner you are hired, the higher your seniority as other are hired and older officers 👮♀️ continue to retire. Let me know if you have any questions - follow me on Instagram Bryan.Silva.PhD
Once you submit the PHS statement - the background investigator BI will submit letters to all the references you listed as well as Co workers and other persons. You should encourage these people to complete the questionnaire and mail back to the BI as soon as possible. The time to complete this process is how long the BI has to wait for these questionnaires to be returned as well as how fast s/he receives all the needed reports from DMV, DOJ, Social Security dept, etc. the length for this process can be as short as 30 days and as long as 6 months ,
Sara Elabiary yes- you will either meet in person with the BI or via Zoom video call depending on what is happening with COVID. Most of the time you will meet the BI in person and s/he will go over each page on the PHS document. You will initial and date each page confirming that the info on each page is correct and truthful. Be prepared to answer the hard questions. BI will ask what skeletons he will find during your background - this means: what negative information you expect that he will find? Ex boyfriends/ex girlfriends or ex wives/husbands or employers who may offer negative details about you. What drugs have u experimented with, what crimes you may have committed as a minor? What college degree education do you have? Spouse’s or dating partner’s name, where were you born? What individuals u hang out with? BI will tell u to answer all his/her calls as the faster he gets answers or forms, the faster the Background investigation part can be finished.
I feel like I am receiving negative references during my background check!!! Do I need to break down every position with the same employer or just the last position?
I passed all the hurdles and now I m on background investigation part, idk if its karma or what but just few weeks ago I was arrested for DUI and I was not driving but I was sleeping in the car. I think my dream to be police officer ends here because of my one stupid decision. what's your take on that ? its a non sworn position !!
I’m sorry this happened. Maybe this is the universe redirecting you to a path that’s more authentic to your soul. Wishing you the best of luck on where life takes you! ❤️🙏🏼❤️
what's the reasoning behind asking about your history in school? I got suspended one time, is the best way to go around this to show remorse for what you did in the past, and highlight it as a mistake you're regretful for?
Thank you for your guidance and wisdom!!! Wondering How long does a Personal history statements stay with a police agency and do they share that information with other departments . Thanks you.
You are very welcome. Most agencies hold on to the personal history statements for 3 to 5 years and then shred them. If you complete a notarized release, waiver that grants permission to contact anyone for any information on you. So yes, sign the waiver provides permission to the back investigator to contact anyone including agencies as part of your background investigation process. Make sure you are expanding your application radius outside of your local residence area to improve your chances of getting hired. You have to be willing to move and always keep in mind that I have to gain some experience. You can then return to the agencies that are closer to your desired living area .
Most departments discard those documents after 3 to 5 years. If you were fingerprinted for a peace officer position, that information stays on your criminal history file through department of justice for the rest of your life.
Hey Bryan, have smiler question my PHS was done by Electronic Statement of Personal History (eSOPH),is that same amount time, 3 to 5 years. until they discard that information?
Preparation is key! Get a good night sleep the day before and have good eye 👁 contact. Make sure you understand questions before answering them. U got this! 😊
I was denied for personal history and I asked my references if they got any calls or emailed and everyone said no and I didn’t get a chance to interview or anything
How many agencies did you apply to? Have you re-checked PHS form to see if all information is accurate? On the drug questionnaire … did you list using drugs that are instant disqualifiers ?
Hello Bryan - The background investigator 🕵️♀️ BI wants to see your. Military DD214 form to make sure you were honorably discharged. If you were dishonorably discharged, this may indicate conduct unbecoming an officer behavior which may disqualify you on the background investigation
Not necessarily. A lot has changed in terms of personal drug use when applying for law enforcement agencies. Each agency is different in terms of what drugs/ they will accept as personal use when you were younger. Either way, you will need to wait at least 3 years from the last date of use to when you decide to apply for a law enforcement agency. A year ago experimenting with cocaine or meth was a disqualifier. Today, it all depends on how many times you used and under what circumstances. You will get drug tested when you apply. If you are clean, you should consider how you will explain your previous drug use to your background investigator. One more thing: Drinking alcohol excessively can also damage your chances of getting hired. So -- make sure you are not drinking every day or every week. Once a month is okay but whenever you show a pattern: Every week, every day... then you are considered an alcoholic.
I'm a naturalized citizen and I used to live in China , will they actually call my Chinese Friends and my Parents or even my school teachers for the background investigation? 😂
Background investigators will use all their available tools to contact all prior references. One thing you have to keep in mind is that if you hide anything during the background investigation process, it can be used to disqualify you - even when you have been a police officer for several years. There was a case where a law enforcement applicant in the US failed to disclose that he was a suspect in a burglary in his home country of Romania. The person eventually passed all the tests and became a police officer, however - years later - someone who found out he was a police officer - told the agency about the burglary case and after a thorough investigation, the officer was relieved from duty. Main learning points is to be as thorough and honest as possible when applying so that you don't have to worry about those skeletons in your closet later.
I’m applying now and I never got into trouble until one day someone claimed I stole something then they voluntarily dismissed it. So I had it expunged and now I’m not sure if that’ll bite me. Also, it says if I ever used illegal drugs like Marijuana but I never used it illegally because it was legal in Massachusetts but I don’t like it and haven’t touched it again so I’m not worried about the drug test but I did write it on the application that it was legal and I tried it then I was like aw man it’s asking about illegal drugs so I’m worried about that 🫤
Every state has different laws and my expertise is mainly in law enforcement and background investigations in California. I am not an attorney, and nothing of what I say can be considered legal advice. I am aware that in California Penal Code section 1203.4 allows for people who have misdemeanor convictions to have them dismissed after seven years of no other criminal activity, please check with your state to see what similar laws they may have. You mentioned that the Taft accusation was false, and that the whole thing was dismissed. As a former Background Investigator, I would be curious to see if you can get some type of written reports to confirm that it was, in fact, a false allegation. additionally, in terms of the drug use, you mentioned, in California most agencies want you to be drug-free for at least three years. Some experimental drugs are not disqualifiers, however, using LSD, PCP, and other hallucinogens may be automatic disqualifiers. Please check with the agency that you were playing with to see what the drug policies are. 😊
Oh dude I’m the same with marijuana. I tried it out 2 weeks ago with it being legal in California. The lady who called me about the phs gave me shit about it saying it’s still federally illegal, so I’m not sure if that looks bad for me, but I didn’t like smoking and do not intend on doing it ever.
@@koolkat214 most California 👮♀️ agencies will require you to be drug-free for at least three years in one day before you can apply for any sworn law enforcement jobs , Job
@@koolkat214 experimentation of marijuana will not disqualify you as long as it has been three years in one day since the last time you used it. Keep in mind that some of these Background Investigator‘s will try to push your buttons to see how you react to conflict. You simply cannot get upset if the back or investigator tells you that although marijuana is legal for recreational purposes in California it is still illegal at the federal level. it is best to listen and pause before you respond to such a statement. Better to come across as humble and understanding, rather than engage in a tug-of-war with a person who is simply trying to push your buttons. If you are committed to entering the law enforcement profession, you must learn to be patient, and use critical thinking skills to respond to questions or events. Yes, you experimented with marijuana, but did not like the experience and have sense taking college courses in criminal justice, discipline and exercised to mentally prepare you for a career in law-enforcement. 😊
