The not so great backgrounds

[Processing]

So I don't mean to come off like a jerk... I am just curious. Alot of us post our success stories about the process, and how our backgrounds are going. But there must be some that have their bad news too. Has anyone on this forum been dropped from backgrounds, and if so, is anyone willing to disclose their BI's reasons? We hear alot about what types of things will DQ us, but never hear from those to which it has actually happened.

[Soon2BCHP]

I totally agree. that would be some interesting info. I havent been on here in a while either. Also to add to that question. how long will it usually take for the BI to contact you after you submit your PHS? Thanks fellas.

[pupdog]

Info I'd love to know about myself, frankly!
See, in 2004 I applied to a big metropolitan PD. Let me back up...they were testing for dispatcher, and I figured it was a foot in the door in LE and applied. Same hiring process, but the written test is MUCH MUCH MUCH tougher (IMO after taking several cop writtens), plus there's a typing test. But same oral board, background, psych, polygraph. Meanwhile, they began testing for police officers, so I applied for that too (I wasn't the only one). They certainly wern't going to do 2 simultaneous backgrounds, so my background was for both. In the background seminar (in CHP talk, the hours of paperwork to fill out and tire your hand out good BEFORE filling in a few zillion bubbles called the MMPI, when you get your background packet) they clearly stated that if you failed your background, you would not be told why. I wasn't worried, I wasn't hiding anything. Nothing worth hiding.
So all seemed well for dual applicant who'd rather be cop but who by then only wanted to work for CHP when about a year ago I got a letter stating that I had sucessfully completed the background for dispatcher, but had not been selected by the final hiring board. BUT... a few weeks later, I received another letter stating I had been eliminated from the police officer testing due to a something found in my background, and in big letters "PLEASE DO NOT REPORT FOR ANY ADDITIONAL TESTING." Mind you, this was the SAME investigation. I took the 2 letters to one of my teachers, who also happens to be head of the recruiting for this PD. He said the dispatcher background wasn't as strict, and not to worry, it's just a form letter (don't worry? This is my future here!). He said ignore what they said at the background seminar and gave me the name & number of who to call, tell him he sent me, perhaps he'd tell. I called, no dice.
So...I'm in CHP backgrounds now (process started, haven't had the initial BI interview yet). The only thing that worries me is some undisclosed unknown. I've been very open with CHP about this, and at the written, when the proctor stated that we would be 'called to the carpet' about anything they found, several applicants looked scared. I smiled! Please, ASK ME!!! This department offered me NO final interview with my BI. The only contact I had with the BI after the initial interview was on my part, calling to say I'd found another co-worker from 10 years ago's current whereabouts or something along those lines. So I have NO IDEA why I failed (yet passed!) I've done lots of my own investigating since, of course. Most people said they never heard from the BI. One former boss said that, but happened to mention it to her husband, who remembered a message from a cop a few months before and thought it was a wrong number, so he erased it (he's since been instructed otherwise!). I figured "that boss" (and so many of us have had 'that boss') sold me down the river in some sort of way (the BI knew ALL about him going into it), but that boss apparently purposlly avioded getting involved, handing it to a former co-worker with human resources experience. Might be the job I apparently ehld without knowing it...see, at a CHP info seminar, the officer mentioned that we could get a list of every job we've had from Social Security (CHP was the only dept. to mention this!). One may think, why? Who forgets jobs? I decided to do this (of course it arrived the day AFTER I submitted my personal history of me!) anyway and learned that a few years back (yes, while working for that boss), the place pretty much went under. I still had a team competing and we worked out at another gym. A few days into that, the business was able to run again. turns out that for that blink of time, I was being run through that other gym's payroll. So get that work history from Social Security NO MATTER WHAT!
Or, perhaps that had nothing to do with it. I truly don't know; these are just guesses. I've lost lots of sleep over it, because from my applicant perspective, my career hinges on the unknown!

[retchp]

OK, It is still a little embarassing but I'll confess. The reason I'll confess is to give you hope and to stress that honesty is the only policy when dealing with the application process and the BI particularly.
It took me four tries to get into the Academy. I always passed the written easily. I had veterans preference points. I had held a top secret cryptograph security clearance in the military. I was an athelete. Yet I always failed the Oral interview or the BI if I got past the Oral.
Remember this was circa 1968 through 1974. Possession of Marijuana was a felony back in those days. Even a seed would get your car ripped apart by an officer. I had smoked MJ on several occasions. Unlike Bill Clinton I even inhaled! I admitted that each time and it always washed me out either at the Oral or during the BI.
Ultimately, after going through the process four times over a six year period I was hired and the rest as they say is history, I survived almost thirty years on the job. I had the respect of most of my superiors and co workers. I think I served with honor and was an above average officer and employee. I have the accolades to prove it.
The point is, if you want this job and there is a glitch along the way, don't just fold your tent and steal away into the night. Confront the problem. Be honest and up front with the BI.
Unless you are some sort of horrible person or felon, perseverence and honesty will pay off in the process.
I told my last Oral panel and BI that they would be looking at me every testing cycle until I was too old to apply because I wanted to prove that I was worthy of the job and would be an asset to the department once hired.
So, hang in there and honesty is not the best policy. It is the only policy. If you know someone is going to try to trip you up, such as an ex wife or ex boss, get out in front of it and do a pre emptive strike by getting the information out first. I also found that my BI investigators were always up front with me about what was going on and encouraged me to keep applying. I later worked with one of them.
Good luck to you.

[Dipmo]

Thanks retchp. As someone that just finished my 3rd QAP (still waiting for the score) this is encouraging. Like you did, I plan to be there every cycle until I?m too old or they just plain tell me to forget it. The bonus is that I get to be there four times a year now as opposed to one.

[jdmHboy]

OK, It is still a little embarassing but I'll confess. The reason I'll confess is to give you hope and to stress that honesty is the only policy when dealing with the application process and the BI particularly.
It took me four tries to get into the Academy. I always passed the written easily. I had veterans preference points. I had held a top secret cryptograph security clearance in the military. I was an athelete. Yet I always failed the Oral interview or the BI if I got past the Oral.
Remember this was circa 1968 through 1974. Possession of Marijuana was a felony back in those days. Even a seed would get your car ripped apart by an officer. I had smoked MJ on several occasions. Unlike Bill Clinton I even inhaled! I admitted that each time and it always washed me out either at the Oral or during the BI.
Ultimately, after going through the process four times over a six year period I was hired and the rest as they say is history, I survived almost thirty years on the job. I had the respect of most of my superiors and co workers. I think I served with honor and was an above average officer and employee. I have the accolades to prove it.
The point is, if you want this job and there is a glitch along the way, don't just fold your tent and steal away into the night. Confront the problem. Be honest and up front with the BI.
Unless you are some sort of horrible person or felon, perseverence and honesty will pay off in the process.
I told my last Oral panel and BI that they would be looking at me every testing cycle until I was too old to apply because I wanted to prove that I was worthy of the job and would be an asset to the department once hired.
So, hang in there and honesty is not the best policy. It is the only policy. If you know someone is going to try to trip you up, such as an ex wife or ex boss, get out in front of it and do a pre emptive strike by getting the information out first. I also found that my BI investigators were always up front with me about what was going on and encouraged me to keep applying. I later worked with one of them.
Good luck to you.

Is CHP still that strict about drug history?

[pupdog]

I was honest. We spent a very long time talking about 'that boss.' Did I do something that someone didn't like that I don't remember or didn't know was a problem to someone? Was it just that 'job' I didn't know about (my ex husband always delt with the taxes, so he delt with any W-2s, and he didn't recall this job either)? I just don't understand the policy of not telling me! I'm sure there's a good reason, but it's MY background! MY life! If every department had such a policy, I would never get hired anywhere and never know why! An invisible roadblock, when ironically, I want a career that on some days, involves clearing roadblocks!
I want to clarify now, because I've seen how persumptions get made and things get a tad out of hand on here...this is NOT meant to be an attack on the BI (who was a very nice, likeable person) or the PD (one known for excellence). It's just such a baffling policy!
Something that I LOVED about the entire process was the lack of getting ahead because of who you know. Seems so many of the companies & careers out there have way too much of that. In this case, I had the head of recruiting as one of my college teachers, and he was really pulling for me...getting me the garunteed action packed ride along, having me be the one to do a mock oral in front of an auditorium full of fellow applicants, introducing me to people, etc etc, but in the end, that means nothing. It's very refreshing to see that there's a career out there where someone gets ahead on their own merits, rather than because of who they know.

[dw]

It is pretty common for agencies to disqualify an applicant without providing a reason. In fact, CHP is the only one I am aware of (I'm sure there are others) that will confront you in a final interview about any issues.

And yes, there are still automatic drug disqualification guidelines.

[jdmHboy]

It is pretty common for agencies to disqualify an applicant without providing a reason. In fact, CHP is the only one I am aware of (I'm sure there are others) that will confront you in a final interview about any issues.

And yes, there are still automatic drug disqualification guidelines.

Are they pretty much the same as other agencies?

[dw]

It is pretty common for agencies to disqualify an applicant without providing a reason. In fact, CHP is the only one I am aware of (I'm sure there are others) that will confront you in a final interview about any issues.

And yes, there are still automatic drug disqualification guidelines.

Are they pretty much the same as other agencies?

Not sure... No experience with other agencies myself.

[makakona]

we know of people who were passed when they admitted drug history and we know people who were dropped for it. i think there are probably way too many variables to draw a clear line between pass and fail.

we know of someone who served a few decades chp. partway through, he was injured on the job and had to take a leave of absence. even though he had already served a good while and had done so honorably, he failed some part of the process while being reinstated. he had no idea how he didn't pass and never did find out.

[jdmHboy]

we know of people who were passed when they admitted drug history and we know people who were dropped for it. i think there are probably way too many variables to draw a clear line between pass and fail.

we know of someone who served a few decades chp. partway through, he was injured on the job and had to take a leave of absence. even though he had already served a good while and had done so honorably, he failed some part of the process while being reinstated. he had no idea how he didn't pass and never did find out.


I was just wondering because I did some light experimentation (pot) in high school and my first semester of college (around 5 times total). Some departments consider a couple times experimentation, while others are more lenient. I don't mean to hijack the thread or anything, its just on the topic of backgrounds so I figured I'd ask. Thanks for the info.

[resipsa]

FYI from http://www.chp.ca.gov/recruiting/html/oqualifications.html

Conduct:

No felony convictions and good personal conduct; must possess a California driver license upon appointment to the Academy. The CHP has strict guidelines relating to the personal characteristics required for employment as a law enforcement officer. During the QAP Oral Interview, and later during the Background Investigation, a candidate is evaluated relative to an established set of automatic disqualification criteria. Candidates are asked questions relating to the RECENCY AND FREQUENCY of traffic citations, at-fault automobile collisions, illegal drug usage, arrests and convictions.

[x MAIT]

For the backgrounds that I conducted the biggest problem was dishonesty. If you hide something from the QAP and your BI finds it (which he/she will) you are gone. Some of the unusual non-recommends I had: Bigamy and Beastiality.

[Kojak]

If you hide something from the QAP and your BI finds it (which he/she will) you are gone.

Does anyone know if you can reapply after you get disqualified for not disclosing information in the QAP that your BI finds or are you blacklisted? Just curious.

[dw]

If you hide something from the QAP and your BI finds it (which he/she will) you are gone.

Does anyone know if you can reapply after you get disqualified for not disclosing information in the QAP that your BI finds or are you blacklisted? Just curious.

You may reapply... Of course, the recent disqualification for failing to disclose may be an issue, but you're welcome to reapply.

[Processing]

For the backgrounds that I conducted the biggest problem was dishonesty. If you hide something from the QAP and your BI finds it (which he/she will) you are gone. Some of the unusual non-recommends I had: Bigamy and Beastiality.



please tell me that the applicant wasn't actually involved in the beastiality!

[ruda001]

For the backgrounds that I conducted the biggest problem was dishonesty. If you hide something from the QAP and your BI finds it (which he/she will) you are gone. Some of the unusual non-recommends I had: Bigamy and Beastiality.


One of the instructors at my university is a LASD retiree and did interviews his last years. He mentioned that he had a person that admitted to bestiality, although funny I couldn?t believe it. Now this is the second time I hear this.

[pupdog]

This is actually asked? When? I'd have to take a moment and pick my jaw up off the floor before answering! What other shockers are we applicants in for? Well, admitting something so...so...well, that's up-front honesty, isn't it? :shock:

[ruda001]

This is actually asked? When? I'd have to take a moment and pick my jaw up off the floor before answering! What other shockers are we applicants in for? Well, admitting something so...so...well, that's up-front honesty, isn't it? :shock:
there wan't a question pertaining to this, but at the end they ask the applicant if they want to add anything they should know about.

[pupdog]

Do you mean at the end of the QAP? The answer where you're supposed to sell yourself and close the deal? Oh my gosh, there's so many things running through my head right now...

[SinnerForgivn]

So, since they don't tell you at the end of the background investigation that anything said is confidential, I have no problem telling: I was disqualified from the hiring process today (1-31-2006) during my final interview with my background investigator. Hopefully it will shed some light for anyone else out there. Although I felt that I told the truth throughout the entire process (and still would hold that to be the truth), my last employer was not impressed with me. Although they told me (to my face when I quit, after putting in a full two-week notice) that they would gladly rehire me, that was definitely not the story that they told to my investigator. My advice would be to make copies of any reviews/evaluations that you are given from any job where you feel that they might not give you a positive review. My final evaluation, given to me a couple months before quitting, put me at a well-above par level; however, the exact opposite was told to my investigator. Had I possibly had a copy of my review/evaluation I don't think it would have been such a big deal. However, without that copy, I felt like I was fighting an uphill battle...it was the perfect "my word against their word" scenario, and it definitely didn't end in my benefit. So, based off of what they said about me, my investigator said that he was going to recommend that I not be selected to continue in the hiring process. Hopefully that will help someone out there...if it helps one person than I'm happy.

And also, just so that it's completely clear (so that you all aren't left with any doubts about my past)...I'm young (20 years old), I've never had even a taste of alcohol before and have never experimented with drugs, either. No fights since fifth grade, no tickets (ever)...so yes, the only thing that disqualified me was my prior work history.

Stay safe everyone and good luck to all of the other applicants out there.

[K-Lo]

So, since they don't tell you at the end of the background investigation that anything said is confidential, I have no problem telling: I was disqualified from the hiring process today (1-31-2006) during my final interview with my background investigator. Hopefully it will shed some light for anyone else out there. Although I felt that I told the truth throughout the entire process (and still would hold that to be the truth), my last employer was not impressed with me. Although they told me (to my face when I quit, after putting in a full two-week notice) that they would gladly rehire me, that was definitely not the story that they told to my investigator. My advice would be to make copies of any reviews/evaluations that you are given from any job where you feel that they might not give you a positive review. My final evaluation, given to me a couple months before quitting, put me at a well-above par level; however, the exact opposite was told to my investigator. Had I possibly had a copy of my review/evaluation I don't think it would have been such a big deal. However, without that copy, I felt like I was fighting an uphill battle...it was the perfect "my word against their word" scenario, and it definitely didn't end in my benefit. So, based off of what they said about me, my investigator said that he was going to recommend that I not be selected to continue in the hiring process. Hopefully that will help someone out there...if it helps one person than I'm happy.

And also, just so that it's completely clear (so that you all aren't left with any doubts about my past)...I'm young (20 years old), I've never had even a taste of alcohol before and have never experimented with drugs, either. No fights since fifth grade, no tickets (ever)...so yes, the only thing that disqualified me was my prior work history.

Stay safe everyone and good luck to all of the other applicants out there.

Sorry to hear about your DQ. You are still young and have a lot of time ahead of you so don't lose heart. I would imagine that there are officers on the Department that had a DQ in their past as well. Like I said in another post, the Department knows that people make mistakes. They are looking at what you have done since the mistake. Give it some time, work hard at the job you are at now and prove yourself. Sign up for volunteer work in your community and continue to stay out of trouble. If you really want to work for this Department, try again after some time passes. Good luck.

[pupdog]

I was unaware of this until a CHP officer told me, and I'm quite greatful. It is your right to request to see your employee file from any previous employer. They must show it to you. I immediatly phoned 'that boss,' who ignored my requests for some time before handing it to another employee. I knew that 90% of what's in there is negative (sometimes it's the employer that needs a background & psych done!). Funny how when I would give that boss something to prove that he was treating me unfairly, this usually didn't make it into the file! Convenient how instead of putting in something negative that he wanted me to sign, rather then putting in what I actually signed (after adding facts & such and pointing out the fallacies), he apparently would print off another copy, note that I refused to sign, and file that instead! So applicants:
1) SAVE EVERYTHING!!!!
2) Uncomfortable as it may be, contact 'that boss' and get into your file!
Am I concerned for my background? Not really. The BI wasn't born yesterday. I just can't wait to be done with it, because I REALLY want to close that chapter for good!

[norcal625]

Hey man sorry ot hear about your DQ, I really don't think any of my places of work will give me a bad refrence but now you've got me thinking. Especially the sales jobs I've worked I've done really well and sold a ton but I've had talks about how I need to sell services more than products since they don't cost anything. Another place I had a performance check up within the first 3 weeks of working there to let me know what I needed to improve on. Frustrating, I know I've never screwed up at a job and never been formally written up, but well we'll just see how mine goes on the 15th...

[CaliforniaHighwayPatrol]

I worked at Hollywood Video for 1 week, and quit because the hours they wanted me to work, really sucked. They would want me to work like 2 hours a day. So, I hope if they call the manager, they won't say anything bad about me.

[SB 405]

Sinner, Are you sure the person doing the BI was speaking to was the right person to give comment on your employment? Does the company you worked for have a Human Resources Department? Maybe they got ahold of one of your ex bosses who picked up the phone? That happens all the time in my line of work.

[SinnerForgivn]

Hey SB...yeah, I'm positive that it wasn't an ex-boss of mine. They actually talked to my store manager and one of the assistant managers. However, there was a long history there...both of them knew that I didn't like them and didn't approve of the way they ran the store (smoking out back, going out drinking with underage co-workers, etc). So when I heard that my background investigator talked to them I knew it wasn't going to be good news for me. So now I'm left to pick up the pieces...my background investigator told me everything that they accused me of, so now I'm contacting employees that I worked with and having them write out letters (with signatures in ink) that explicitly explain that my bosses are full of it. On top of that, due to the Freedom of Information Act, I have a right to copies of my personnel file and any and all reviews/evaluations that I was given. So, I'm going down there later today to get all of that information. If they want to play hardball that's cool by me, I'm not going to get screwed again during this process due to their personal vendetta.

[SB 405]

Getting copies of your file(s) was going to be my next suggestion but you beat me to it. I don't know if it's going to help your cause in getting hired but I sure as hell wouldn't go down without a fight. Just remember when you start talking to them keep your cool because it's in your best interest,good luck with everything.

[TheForceCHP]

Hey SB...yeah, I'm positive that it wasn't an ex-boss of mine. They actually talked to my store manager and one of the assistant managers. However, there was a long history there...both of them knew that I didn't like them and didn't approve of the way they ran the store (smoking out back, going out drinking with underage co-workers, etc). So when I heard that my background investigator talked to them I knew it wasn't going to be good news for me. So now I'm left to pick up the pieces...my background investigator told me everything that they accused me of, so now I'm contacting employees that I worked with and having them write out letters (with signatures in ink) that explicitly explain that my bosses are full of it. On top of that, due to the Freedom of Information Act, I have a right to copies of my personnel file and any and all reviews/evaluations that I was given. So, I'm going down there later today to get all of that information. If they want to play hardball that's cool by me, I'm not going to get screwed again during this process due to their personal vendetta.

so do you still have to re-apply or can you present new evidence to the BI and restart your process?

[SinnerForgivn]

To both TheForceCHP and SB 405: I have been officially disqualified from the hiring process. Although I haven't gotten the letter in the mail yet, my background investigator said that his recommendation that he would send to headquarters in Sac would be that I "not be selected to continue in the hiring process." So, getting any and all documents at this point isn't going to help me a whole lot. However, I'm getting them for two different reasons: the information that was provided to my background investigator was completely false and the papers will prove this (I'm getting a letter from a coworker, a letter of recommendation from my other manager, as well as my one-year review showing that I got a perfect score). I'm going to mail copies of these documents to him, not to try and still get hired but rather to show that I was being completely honest throughout the entire process. After all, the only thing that we truly have in life is our name...I'd prefer to keep my name and reputation in good-standing, especially since I'm planning on reapplying. Also, having these documents will help me with any future background investigations: I'll supply copies of them to my next background investigator ahead of time, that way when my old managers tell the lies yet again there is proof supporting me. Thanks for you concern, and best of luck to any of you who are trying to get hired on. If you have any other questions, feel free to shoot me an email at sinnerforgivn@comcast.net or send me a message on here. And my advice to all of you: if you think that your employer might give you a shady review and you know that you worked hard and did a good job at work, use the Freedom of Information Act to your benefit and get copies of your reviews. Better to be safe rather than sorry (like me....)!

[CaliforniaHighwayPatrol]

I get my reviews tommorow from my vcurrent employer.