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This question is about police officer.
Can you become a police officer with a DUI?
Yes, you can become a police officer with a DUI in some jurisdictions. In most cases, this will depend on the particular circumstances of the arrest and the outcome in court. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, having a felony DUI would be an automatic disqualifier for becoming a police officer.
DUIs are taken very seriously by police forces. The agency will be viewed in a bad light if an officer is caught driving while under the influence. To that end, different factors will be taken into consideration, such as:
Was it drug or alcohol related?
Was it your first DUI?
Did it result in damage to property, injury, or death?
Was your car insured?
If it is alcohol-related and your first DUI, you are more likely to receive leniency from the police agency than if it is drug-related or if you are a habitual offender. If the DUI resulted in serious harm or occurred while the officer was on duty, the sanctions are likely to be much harsher.
It is important to keep in mind that law enforcement occupations typically have a huge candidate pool, and many people are applying for these police posts. For that reason, the hiring boards have the luxury of being selective about who they hire, and a DUI can be a large deterrent.
It can be difficult to get hired if your qualifications are identical to those of candidates who do not have a DUI or other criminal record.
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