The Importance of Honesty in Police Officer Recruitment

The road to becoming a police officer is filled with many hurdles, one of the most critical being the thorough background check. If you're currently considering a career change from a fired job to a position as a police officer, you must be prepared to meet this challenge head-on. One common query often arises: if I got fired from my job and I’m trying to be a police officer, would it show on my background that I was terminated if I said I never got fired before?

Thoroughness is Key in Background Checks

The surest way to fail a background check is to not be 100% truthful. Even contemplating this question reflects poorly on your current status as a suspect candidate. When you sign your name at the end of a job application, you're signing a declaration of honesty. This application form generally contains a section where the applicant confirms the veracity of the information provided.

Below this section, there is often fine print that explicitly states an intention to report any falsehoods in the application. It also stipulates that if a lie is discovered later (even other employers or government agencies), the application can be immediately terminated, and you might lose your opportunity altogether. Getting caught in a lie on an application, especially for positions as sensitive as a police officer, where honesty is paramount, can result in immediate dismissal.

The sanctity of truth and integrity must remain intact throughout the entire process. If you cannot be trusted to tell the truth now, how can you be trusted as a police officer in the future?

Consequences of Inaccuracies in Applications

If you were fired from a job and you were in the process of applying to become a police officer, rest assured that your previous employer will provide a detailed account of your termination during the background check. Any form you submit prior to the job can include a waiver where former employers agree to disclose information about your employment history and reasons for termination.

Do not fabricate or misrepresent information on your application. Fabrications or lies are a quick way to get your application rejected. Once discovered, lying can lead to immediate dismissal. However, if you had submitted your application and were later terminated, it is not considered a lie.

In this case, it is advisable to contact the department's recruiting office to inform them that some information on your application has changed. You should be prepared to explain why you were dismissed, and this explanation will be scrutinized. If your termination was due to major indiscretions such as theft, workplace violence, or drunkenness, you might want to reconsider your application. In such cases, the department might request that your application be withdrawn.

If you did lie on your application, you are now putting yourself in a difficult position and may face further consequences.

Conclusion

Stay true to your word and maintain the highest level of integrity in all aspects of the recruitment process. Honesty is the cornerstone of a successful career as a police officer. Always be prepared to answer any questions with transparency and truthfulness. Should you ever consider taking a path to law enforcement, ensure that your past, no matter how difficult, is fully disclosed to avoid any potential setbacks or consequences in the future.