phs old roommates?

[caliboy02r1]

in the past i used only my phone to store phone numbers. no address book. so of course i had to lose my phone and lose all my contacts. so the phs is asking for people i used to live with and phone numbers. well i dont have their numbers or addresses, and i've tried to find these people before with no results. so should i just put their names and hope the chp has better luck finding them than i did? but i'd hate to do that since i know the longer it takes to find them, the longer it takes for my b.i. i also had a problem with my last roommate and we were not on good terms when i moved to cali. so if they got a hold of him he would definetly not leave a good comment for me. anything he would say would be bs. so i'm hoping they wouldnt dq me on just what he has to say. so if you guys know any good ways to look people up besides the white pages, and paying internet sites, then i'm all ears. thanks

[23112]

in the past i used only my phone to store phone numbers. no address book. so of course i had to lose my phone and lose all my contacts. so the phs is asking for people i used to live with and phone numbers. well i dont have their numbers or addresses, and i've tried to find these people before with no results. so should i just put their names and hope the chp has better luck finding them than i did? but i'd hate to do that since i know the longer it takes to find them, the longer it takes for my b.i. i also had a problem with my last roommate and we were not on good terms when i moved to cali. so if they got a hold of him he would definetly not leave a good comment for me. anything he would say would be bs. so i'm hoping they wouldnt dq me on just what he has to say. so if you guys know any good ways to look people up besides the white pages, and paying internet sites, then i'm all ears. thanks

411 and www.zabasearch.com, bro. You should be able to come up with better than "no results" for all of those people. They gave you the PHS for you to fill out completely, not for your BI to fill out. The last thing you want to do is give the impression that you did a half-donkey search to get the information.

And definitely don't leave off your old roommate just becasue he's going to give a bad report (not that you're planning on doing that). I remember asking my BI about the "what ifs" regarding someone simply deciding to screw an applicant by giving a bad report, and she related that if that happened she would take the bad report in the context of the whole background. If thirteen of your fifteen references say you're a knucklehead, I imagine that would carry more weight than one person claiming you came from Saturn and liked to kiss Spam when nobody was looking.

[PeckerHead]

Your appying to the CHP not Target or WalMart. YOU, do the leg work. Don't tell me you can't call a mutual friend that knows where your old roommate(s) is/are to get their current phone number and address. If your under the gun to get your PHS turned in, at the very least put down his/her name(s) and advise your BI YOU WILL get their contact numbers and addresses ASAP! There's nothing worse than reviewing an incomplete PHS and then having to hear some lame excuse about how your dog ate your address book, or you stored all your friends and roommates names and telephone numbers in your cell phone and it got lost.:shock:ops: Just because you (I'm speaking in generals here, not directly to you) made it through the Written, PAT and QAP doesn't mean your job interview is over. It is imperative that you do all you can to make yourself look responsible and mature at this phase of the application process. Anything less would be unacceptable.

[Your Mentor]

Chiming in with PH, you've got to look at the reality of what you're doing by applying to the CHP. You're applying for a career in Law Enforcement which is ALL about investigation and followup. By coming up with excuses for not being able to locate ex-roommates, you're basically saying you're a lousy investigator. So the BI, who is a stellar investigator is supposed to do it for you? Come on folks. We've been trying, over and over again lately, to relate that this isn't just a whim. This is a very serious job. Show you're mature, don't make excuses, and take the effort to find the info. All of the people who are responsible for hiring you have managed to do it. What makes you think they're going to cut you some slack. Be an adult and just do it!

[Mac]

+1 to the above.

Submitting a half-completed PHS and a fully-completed bucket of excuses won't create a very positive impression. Half-assed efforts make for half-assed results.

I'll draw a parallel to this board - I can't stand "leet speak" and "txt msg" lingo. If I were to run across a post that went something like:
"hey ppl, I m a n00b who wnts 2 b a CHP w some q's. can u tell me how 2 fill out p3 of th PHQ? tks."
...my attitude would be that if you can't take the time and effort to properly type out your question, I can't take the time and effort to answer it. I can tolerate minor typos and such, but I can't stand reading something that looks like it belongs in a myspace chatroom for 13-year olds.

This job all is about attention to detail. It's about being able to completely and accurately investigate and document incidents and articulate the facts and elements necessary to support your conclusions. It's about digging for information, developing leads and following up on them until you get the information you need. If an applicant isn't able to do this at a sufficient enough level to document their own life, it doesn't say much about their potential as an investigator.

[caliboy02r1]

I dont want to submit a half completed phs, thats why i'm here asking what kinds of methods have you used to find somebody. and it doesnt help that the people i'm looking for have common names like john smith, and brings up hundreds of people. I'm sorry I'm not a trained investigator. Most places wont release personal info either. Also there are no mutual friends to call.

[PeckerHead]

Man, that's are real bummer. You came here looking for good advice and you got better than good advice! Good luck at Target.

[2_B_A_Public_Icon]

411 and www.zabasearch.com, bro. You should be able to come up with better than "no results" for all of those people. They gave you the PHS for you to fill out completely, not for your BI to fill out. The last thing you want to do is give the impression that you did a half-donkey search to get the information.



Don't mean to be rude here, but 411 and sites like www.zabasearch.com are worthless at best unless you want to call 100+ people to find the needle in a haystack. I have tried numerous methods to contact old roomates to no avail. Caliboy, I feel for your pain. I am in a similar boat trying to locate old college roomates from 5 years ago that I didn't know when I moved in with them from So Cal to Nor Cal, nor did I make friends with them or care to know where they were up to after they graduated (not knowing I would eventually apply for LE). I think one important point that has been missed in this thread is the limitations a "civillian" has when trying to seek confidential information such as the addresses and phone numbers of certain individuals. Depending on your mehtods, you could wind up in trouble i.e. going to the DMV or other governmental agency trying to look these people up. I have already been warned once. I keep getting the "you are not privileged" answer. I tried contacting the leasing agencies of the residences where I resided during college, and they say the same thing, "unless you are a governmental official" you are not privileged. I would be extremely salty if a background investigator told me I didn't make an "effort". I have tried everything and spent numerous amounts of time doing so. Since people move around and change phone numbers like they are going out of style, all I have to say is good luck.

On a side note, I am currently in backgrounds with two other LE agencies, and both my background investigators were sympathetic to my situation (somewhat different than yours, yet similar). Their mentality was as long as I provided them with a legitmate previous address and phone number (from places resided in college) and info. that you are aware of, even though not current, is sufficient. They told me they can use this info. to track them down. IMO putting this info. on your PHS is better than leaving it blank and just prepare to explain. If I happen to get DQ'ed by the CHP for taking this route, I will be extremely upset, but such is life. I did the best I could. If applicants are getting the "Yellow Candy" for this exact situation, I have a feeling many good potential officers are being thrown in the trash. Also remember, the CHP is not the only LE agency around. Appy everywhere. "You get in where you fit in".

[Your Mentor]

Just a couple of things:

We in LE don't have access to special or secret means of locating people. In fact, if we wanted to find a friend of our own via CLETS we could be fired. Even then, computer systems only contain 'last known' information. Calling friends, family, employers, or visiting addresses is the only way to get the job done. I agree that doing the best you can do is the prudent way to go but don't just stop at the first road block and say that was the best you could do. If you leave it up to the BI it will only delay your background and hence increase the amount of time until you make it into the Academy. The BI doesn't have the knowledge you have regarding your friends or roommates, so making him or her find it is just not helping your application at all.

And, more importantly, consider this: all the sworn members of this forum did it. I filled out a background package when I was 28 and that package was not different than it is now. I tracked down hard-to-find friends and employers without any training in investigation. I did this because it made sense. I didn't want my BI to have ANY questions about my package. As such, I went from the day I took my written until the day I walked onto the Academy grounds in six months. That was a record that probably still stands. The same was true for two of my classmates and good friends. I'm sorry but the best candidate is the one who doesn't make excuses and just gets the job done. The same is true of the best officers. The choice, however, in how you approach the challenges of the hiring process, is entirely up to you and how you look at it.

[HippieChip]

411 and www.zabasearch.com, bro. You should be able to come up with better than "no results" for all of those people. They gave you the PHS for you to fill out completely, not for your BI to fill out. The last thing you want to do is give the impression that you did a half-donkey search to get the information.



Don't mean to be rude here, but 411 and sites like www.zabasearch.com are worthless at best unless you want to call 100+ people to find the needle in a haystack. I have tried numerous methods to contact old roomates to no avail. Caliboy, I feel for your pain. I am in a similar boat trying to locate old college roomates from 5 years ago that I didn't know when I moved in with them from So Cal to Nor Cal, nor did I make friends with them or care to know where they were up to after they graduated (not knowing I would eventually apply for LE). I think one important point that has been missed in this thread is the limitations a "civillian" has when trying to seek confidential information such as the addresses and phone numbers of certain individuals. Depending on your mehtods, you could wind up in trouble i.e. going to the DMV or other governmental agency trying to look these people up. I have already been warned once. I keep getting the "you are not privileged" answer. I tried contacting the leasing agencies of the residences where I resided during college, and they say the same thing, "unless you are a governmental official" you are not privileged. I would be extremely salty if a background investigator told me I didn't make an "effort". I have tried everything and spent numerous amounts of time doing so. Since people move around and change phone numbers like they are going out of style, all I have to say is good luck.

On a side note, I am currently in backgrounds with two other LE agencies, and both my background investigators were sympathetic to my situation (somewhat different than yours, yet similar). Their mentality was as long as I provided them with a legitmate previous address and phone number (from places resided in college) and info. that you are aware of, even though not current, is sufficient. They told me they can use this info. to track them down. IMO putting this info. on your PHS is better than leaving it blank and just prepare to explain. If I happen to get DQ'ed by the CHP for taking this route, I will be extremely upset, but such is life. I did the best I could. If applicants are getting the "Yellow Candy" for this exact situation, I have a feeling many good potential officers are being thrown in the trash. Also remember, the CHP is not the only LE agency around. Appy everywhere. "You get in where you fit in".

The point being made by all the LEO on the post is to advise you all to do as much as possible to get the info. Be as complete as possible and make every effort you can to get the information needed. If you run into legitimate roadblocks, advise your BI when you meet. The majority of the applicants make no effort at all, which goes to show how much they really want the job.

[2_B_A_Public_Icon]

Just a couple of things:

We in LE don't have access to special or secret means of locating people. In fact, if we wanted to find a friend of our own via CLETS we could be fired.

Really...Interesting....

I was told that the BI could obtain Soc. Sec. numbers from leasing agencies of places previously resided to obtain current address and phone number info. I went to Chico State, two of my roomates were out of state and one from the Bay Area. They have all since graduated and went to who knows where.... I have tried numerous methods to obtain their info.

If you have any "sure shot" suggestions on locating these people, BELIEVE ME, I am all ears. I would love to go into my BI meeting with the CHP having no excuses, even though presently they are fact.

[2_B_A_Public_Icon]

HippieChip. Exactly my mentality at this point. Thank you.

[pupdog]

Think positivly. I loved backgrounds because tracking people down got me back in touch with a lot of old friends that I'd lost track of over the years! You've also got a MAJOR advantage that many of the officers around here didn't have...the internet. I can't imagine getting it done without it. So no whining, just thinking. THINK! I tracked down one ex-boss by somehow remembering his daughter's name & doing a google on her. Googling the address of somewhere I worked also helped crank out a few names, seraching those names, on & on & on...it's do-able.

YM, I think the record is The ForceCHP. 4 months, if I recall! Weeklong background? Easy for a guy who's 1st time ever NOT smiling was probably pickup day.

[makakona]

yeah, i don't buy the "it's impossible" bunk. my husband spent 8.5 years in the military and thus had COUNTLESS roommates and superiors who are now spread all over the world, not just a geographic area of california. we had to do a LOT of legwork to try to track down everyone... he once lived with ten random sailors in a two bedroom townhome that no longer existed. want to talk random roomates, he spent seven months living in 75 and 230 man berthing. he was stationed on a base that was torn down and is now home to a retirement community. the townhome and base addreses he gave no longer even existed. many of his old bosses had left the military and two were living overseas. lots of "smith, schmitt, richards, roberts, johnson, simon" sorts of surnames. it was a lot of work, but it got done. we felt horrible when his bi would call, looking for even more info, but at least we knew we had exhausted all efforts and leads. (yes, i say "we." i did all of the internet search work - he's not a computer guy - and due to my husband's work schedule and the time zone difference, i was frequently the one speaking to his bi.)

[2_B_A_Public_Icon]

No one said it's impossible.... Well pretty darn close for some of my old roomies. I also have a couple of friends who were former Military Officers who had also roomed with many people. Filling out their references was easy for them. Why? Because they had the military as their resource to track them down. Piece of cake.

How bout this! Instead of saying "quit making excuses" or "think" or whatever. How about sharing the resources you all used to obtain your info. Wow, what a concept. I am retired at a very young age because I have busted my A$$ the past years. All I do these days is sit on my computer, on the phone, etc., etc. to find out the current info. of my old roomates so I can make my BI's life easier.

Try helping someone out. Heck I would almost be willing to Pay somebody to help me out. But chances are I would go broke because nothing would get accomplished.

Belive me. I have been on every freakin Internet site, etc. ,etc. to obtain this info. to NO avail. If this option worked for some, then GREAT! I believe every case is different.

People searches on the Internet for someone with the last name of Garcia and a very common first name will not get you ANYWHERE.

After calling darn near 50 people who I thought would be a close match, being unfruitful, I gave up.

[zen_out]

I am retired at a very young age because I have busted my A$$ the past years.

If you are retired, why are you looking to join the CHP? Not a smart alec question, I am just curious.

To be honest with you, it's really not too hard to find somebody if you really want to find them. The internet offers a million and one ways to locate someone if you know their age and full name. If you know their parent's names, you can always look them up and give them a ring. It's all about how hard you are willing to work. Trust me, your BI will find them and talk to them - no question about it. If you have your reasons for not wanting to find the person, which might not be the case, your BI will find them, talk to them, discover the reason for you not listing them, and out the door you go. It's not worth the wasted time.

[2_B_A_Public_Icon]

I am retired at a very young age because I have busted my A$$ the past years.

If you are retired, why are you looking to join the CHP? Not a smart alec question, I am just curious.

To be honest with you, it's really not too hard to find somebody if you really want to find them. The internet offers a million and one ways to locate someone if you know their age and full name. If you know their parent's names, you can always look them up and give them a ring. It's all about how hard you are willing to work. Trust me, your BI will find them and talk to them - no question about it. If you have your reasons for not wanting to find the person, which might not be the case, your BI will find them, talk to them, discover the reason for you not listing them, and out the door you go. It's not worth the wasted time.


After stepping on peoples necks in the cut throat business world, I want to give back to the community. I have spent years taking people's money for services rendered and haven't done anything to give back. I would work for the CHP for free if they let me:lol: I believe that if everyone does a small part in helping the community, whether it be LE, Charity, etc. the world would be a much better place to live. I just have an interest in law enforcement. Those are my convictions.

In regards to the Roomate info. I cannot obtain, I am just going to list the info. that I know of from years back and take it from there. No one is being left off at all, it's just the info. unfortunately won't be up to date. (Not by choice)

[makakona]

we mostly used zabasearch (it was beta then and gave more info for free), google, classmates.com, and facebook. we looked for old mutual friends, coworkers, parents, and so on.

the military did nothing to assist my husband in his phs. they don't record roommates and coworkers in your service record. the only info it provided was former immediate supervisors who had signed off evals. it doesn't list any chain of command info or personal info. didn't do much good to us.

[SB 405]

Well all this talk got me to thinkin' so I went on the internet to various sites and punched in names of people (old girlfriends) I haven't seen in years and have no idea where they are today. The results were not as good as I was expecting and if a name came back at all I had to spend anywhere from $15-$40 to continue the process. Now I'm not saying spending that amount of money is a big deal but I think there is more to this researching of people than just hitting a few buttons on a keyboard....JMO.

[2_B_A_Public_Icon]

Well all this talk got me to thinkin' so I went on the internet to various sites and punched in names of people (old girlfriends) I haven't seen in years and have no idea where they are today. The results were not as good as I was expecting and if a name came back at all I had to spend anywhere from $15-$40 to continue the process. Now I'm not saying spending that amount of money is a big deal but I think there is more to this researching of people than just hitting a few buttons on a keyboard....JMO.

Amen! Likewise Bro. It works like this, you punch in her name Suzie Q and what happens.... "Congratulations, we found 557 Suzie Q's given your search criteria". I have spent already close to $500 picking who I thought was the right individual via the "continue the process" pay your way. What a waste.

[Mac]

Ya know, the bottom line is that nobody here is saying that it's always 100% possible to locate everybody and everything. Do the very best you possibly can, exhaust every possible avenue.....and THEN if you have to turn it in to your BI that way, do so with an explanation that you've exhausted every lead you could possibly find. Doing it that way will make a whole lot better impression than just making a token effort, shrugging your shoulders and dumping it on your BI saying (in essence) "Hey, YOU find the information....I can't be bothered."

Believe me, this will carry over to the field. I can guarantee you that if you scratch out a hasty POS report and dump it in your AI/Court officer's lap without making any effort to do your own follow-up investigation, you'll get it back with a nastygram telling you to get your butt back out there and shake the bushes before you turn it back in. You may even have the pleasure(?) of a closed-door chat with your shift sergeant about your investigative prowess (or lack thereof).

[SB 405]

Would the term reasonable effort apply here?

[2_B_A_Public_Icon]

Would the term reasonable effort apply here?

Most definitely.

I just lucked out anyway. One of the two roomates that I had the most trouble finding got ahold of me last night to get my info. Weird Eh? Turns out she is applyin for LE as well. :lol:

All is well that ends well, I guess. For the others that are having the same difficulty, I feel for them. http://www.findafriend.com ended up working out Ok for some other roomates. If you give them their first and last name and a previous address, they can track them down. It takes a while, but they pulled it off. All complete except one roomate remaining. I assume she has gotten married and the name change might be throwing me for a loop. We'll see how it pans out.

Cheers!

[dw]

Reasonable effort goes a long way.

As SB mentioned, many of the online services now want a fee... Honestly, I don't use them too much to locate information. As law enforcement officers, we do have resources not available to the general public -- much of that is through other law enforcement agencies. No doubt finding people can be difficult -- but look at it this way: If your BI, knowing nothing about you, can locate the friends you could not find -- standby.