How Was Your Background Investigation Experience?
I’m currently in the process of relocating from Georgia to the West Coast with over five years of law enforcement experience. I’ve been applying to several departments in California and Oregon for various reasons, with one of my biggest priorities being overall quality of life.
For those who have gone through the hiring process with agencies in either state, I’m curious about your experiences, particularly regarding the background investigation and the documentation required.
I’ve noticed a trend with several California departments requesting what seems like an extensive amount of documentation beyond the typical employment history, education records, references, and other job-related information. Some requests, such as vehicle registration and proof of insurance, seem a bit redundant or unnecessarily invasive compared to what I’ve experienced in the Southeast.
I completely understand that thorough background investigations are part of law enforcement hiring, and I’m not opposed to providing the necessary documentation. However, I’m curious whether this level of scrutiny is standard practice across California agencies or if it’s more department-specific.
A few questions for those who have been through the process:
How did your background investigation experience differ between California and Oregon agencies?
For officers who relocated from the South or another state, were there any documentation requirements or parts of the hiring process that caught you off guard?
Did you find California background investigations more extensive or invasive compared to other states?
Were Oregon agencies generally more straightforward with their background requirements, or was the process fairly similar?
Looking back, is there anything you wish you had known before applying to departments on the West Coast?
I’m especially interested in hearing from current officers, laterals, and anyone who has gone through the hiring process in both states.
I’m not looking to criticize either state’s hiring standards. I’m simply trying to get a better understanding of the differences in hiring practices, expectations, and agency culture before making a major relocation.
Any firsthand experiences, comparisons, or advice would be greatly appreciated!

As a 24 year old will being on Vyvanse and an ssri affect my hiring odds?

A bit more about myself-
Been through the foster system, have had a rocky relationship with my bio parents. I have been fortunate enough to have support of my Foster family till this day. I’ve Done air cadets in my teens till about 16. I then tried to apply to the army reserves while in high school was rejected though bc of the aforementioned medicinal prescriptions. Worked in residential, commercial and Ici construction from about 2019 till now. my most recent job being a scaffolder within the carpenters union. I’ve done this for about two years now and am a second term apprentice. I’ve made the decision to leave due to a lack of steady stable work. I should also add I’m currently in the process of being trained as a volunteer crisis line responder. Going to go a step further and also apply to volunteer with madd Canada. Currently working at Canada’s wonderland as a park services associate and going back to school for police foundations in January 2027 which is where we’re at today. I’ve always wanted to be a police officer/ first responder since a kid. As corny as that sounds, I’ve just continued doubted myself. I think now that I look at it bc I genuinely needed time to mature.

Driving record -
I’ve had 2 at fault accidents since 2020. One from the other driver not reporting (i was rear ended). 3 tickets from 2020 - 2023 all received individually each year. I recently got into a minor rear end fender bender from being distracted by my dog and also got a careless driving ticket which is before the courts at the moment.

My aspirations ideally is ideally to get into a transit special constable program but would be happy if I end up in any le role in Ontario to start and build out

If anyone can offer advice I’d really appreciate it!
Also too what are my odds? What can I do to improve?

Jeez I also forgot to add I have my PAL and have gotten in some range time with it if that’s worth noting too!

Should also add in Ontario Canada

Reposted for lack of responses lol

I am mid-career in a different field, bored out of my mine, and never really loved what I do. Going back, I always loved psychology, sociology, social work, and criminology. For years I have admired women in LE and military. So I’m starting to explore the idea again and doing some soul-searching for my “why”. Can you all share what made you want to be an LEO?

Does it ever feel like you’re the person everyone hates and/or no fun to be around because you’re like “the narc” or something? A part of me worries that I’ll hate enforcing laws when I know someone is struggling or needs help in some way, I have a ton of empathy.

Hello Everyone. over the past couple of days I have been career searching about this career path and it seems very interesting. I have career searching for a while without having an success on figuring out what I want to do with my life. This career path seems to be intriguing but want to make sure I know what I am gettting into. I booked a ticket on eventbrite to go to a employment mentoring session so I can ask questions in person but before that I would like to know from those who are currenting Court officers or in a positon similar what the job is like and how the interview process was and more.

Any Answers are appreciated

Just recently did the last step of my application for Austin pd and am wondering how soon I would receive more news. Academy is in January with orientation in December. I currently don’t live in Austin and am looking for apartments. Wondering if anyone is on the same boat.

Like before the roads have been treated? I realize driver is still at fault but any leniency? Assuming not dangerous intersection and not much other traffic.

*This is not a joke post, and I would appreciate serious answers only.

Almost six years ago, I did something stupid. I had recently gotten out of my first relationship and I decided to go on dating apps. I ended up matching with two different girls where we chatted for a bit. The conversations started off innocent, but then they started getting suggestive. We started talking about hooking up and we agreed to meet up. On both occasions, both girls asked me to send money just to make sure I was real and was not going to do something bad to them. I foolishly sent money thinking they would finally tell me a date and time to meet. Then they kept asking for more money after that, claiming I had to pay more fees before hooking up. At this point, I realized I was being scammed and that what I was doing was dumb and I blocked both girls.

In the beginning of 2026, two of my work friends decided to apply for the Long Beach Police Department and they convinced me to apply as well. When I was filling out the personal history statement and background questionnaire, I got to the sections about illegal sexual activity. One of the checkmarks was soliciting prostitution. I put yes and wrote down the same story of what happened with the two girls. I had also checked yes on the other section regarding work history where I admitted to attendance issues and unexcused absences from work.

I attended the physical abilities test where they had a team of background investigators going through the background questionnaire and PST packets for every applicant. Eventually, my name got called and the BI briefly glazed over my story about the prostitution. He never questioned me about it for some reason. What alarmed him more was my attendance and unexcused absences. He brought my paperwork to the LT and Sergeant in charge of recruitment and he came back with a decision. He gave me the option to voluntarily withdraw instead of getting a disqualification and so I withdrew.

Do I have any chance of becoming a cop or will I always get disqualified because of what I did? I would rather know now instead of wasting time and getting my hopes up. If I still have a chance, what can I do at this point? If there is any helpful advice at all, I am open to DMs. Thank you.

I previously shared Brain Preflight on r/ROTC and wanted to get a police recruitment perspective too.

I’m the developer. The app includes exercises taken from past pilot selection and other aptitude tests. Some are 1:1 recreations of past tests we’ve collected. Assessment providers can reuse similar task formats across different selections, which is why I thought there could be some overlap here.

There’s mental maths, memory, spatial reasoning and multitasking. One exercise has you track a moving target, match shapes and check sums at the same time.

Heads up: some exercises are genuinely hard. It’s built for training, not really entertainment.

Brain Preflight on iPhone

For anyone who’s taken a state or local police entrance exam in the US: did you encounter tasks like these, or was the test quite different? Which state or department did you apply to?

Hey everyone, for officers in Ontario, just wondering if anyone has passed the PREP circuit without ever having practised on the push-pull machine beforehand?

I’ve passed the beep test, but I’ve never had any exposure or experience with the push-pull machine, so I’m a little unsure what to expect. Has anyone gone into the PREP circuit without practising on it and still managed to pass?

Would appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thanks!

I finally have one step left before potentially receiving a conditional offer from my state agency. My oral board interview is in less than three weeks.

I got my navy suit in the mail today, and thankfully, I think it fits okay? I’m planning on ironing it to smooth everything out before the interview.

I’ll be wearing a fitted black shirt with a higher neckline than what’s pictured, black flats, and no jewelry.

I’ve never worn a suit before, so I’m not entirely sure what to look for when it comes to proper fit. I know it needs to be ironed, but are the vertical lines going down the pants normal, or will that come out after I iron it? Also, am I supposed to cut the little stitching on the back of the blazer so it separates? I’ve heard of people doing that.

Apologies if this isn’t the usual type of post here. I figured this would be a good place to get some advice. All feedback is appreciated. Thank you.

My uncle works in crisis/mental health sector of our city police (Austin TX). He has expressed a need for childcare support for officers working overnight who are single parents/shared custody and such. What would be a reasonable rate? I have 3 years experience babysitting with a range from 6m-10y & 2 years experience in the daycare setting ranging from 9w-17y. Additionally I have a bachelors and masters in early childhood education/development. I currently work for $25/hour. I was thinking of a base rate for a “sleep window” of 10 hours for $150. And any extra “wake hours” being my regular $25 an hour.

For example 7pm- 7am would essentially be $150 + $25x2 =$200.00 for 12 hours. Is this too steep? I’m trying to take into account that not every parent has the luxury to pay for childcare but my credentials as well. Any suggestions?

I’m currently 19 years old. I applied to a police department a few months ago and finally received an email with my civil service exam date. I received the study guide, went through it, and answered all the questions. Everything seemed pretty easy to understand. I plan on studying the guide religiously and taking a couple of paid practice tests. What else would you recommend I do to prepare?

Thank you to all current and former LEOs for your service!

26M here, looking to get into law enforcement. I’ve been thinking about relocating from Minnesota to Texas for awhile. I have a bachelors degree (unrelated field) and currently working hospital security.

Ideally I’d like to find a department that officers genuinely enjoy working for, and that also pays you to be in the academy. San Antonio and Round Rock are ones that I’ve been looking at.

What departments would you suggest looking into? Sounds like Houston, Dallas and Austin are all ones I should avoid.

Looking to get a different duty belt because my service provided one is uncomfortable, sags and digs into my sides when I sit in the patrol vehicle.

I’ve been inundated with ads about a padded rachet style duty belt from badgeboys. Wondering if anyone has tried it? The rachet micro adjustments sound appealing but I can’t really find reviews online.

Can I join federal law enforcement fbi, secret service, etc with diagnosed ocd even if I've been off meds for 3 years?

I’m 31 years old, prior Marine with an accounting background. I’m looking to move out of NY and down to NC, but also want to make a career change. I’ve applied to a few BLET sponsored agencies in NC in the triangle area, including Cary.

Given that I’m an out of state applicant with no LE experience, would that hinder my chances of going through the hiring process?

Anyone work for a department in the Austin area? I’m moving to Texas and trying to decide where I want to work? I currently work in a decently busy area but usually not call to call and have time to write my reports before the end of shift half of the time. I don’t wanna be the new guy that comes from a another department that has no clue how to handle stuff. We don’t have a high violent crime rate in the area I work in currently either.

Hey all has anyone here had experience hiring coaching like armoganct ? I applied for 1 department and got a non select i do have a couple of blemishes on my background from teenage years getting into fights and whatnot im just wondering if its worth pursuing other departments with some coaching or these hurdles from my past wont even get me to an interview.

All advise is welcomed

I am not a law enforcement official, but from the shows I watch, mostly law enforcement couldn't apprehend and search suspects with evidence more effectively or quickly because of how bureaucratic the warrant request process is.

If you could change or improve that, what would it be?

In my eyes, I was thinking of maybe a digital warran process, where officers can simply request and describe close-ended details on the phone then type in open-ended details with specific wording and submit it to the system. And all it takes for the warrant approval process is for the chief or other leaders to sign it with a single button.

I was wondering if i’ll have a competitive edge as a correctional officer applying to a municipal police force

For Halloween, my family is doing a Spartan theme, which includes helmets, armor, prop swords for the kids and real (not sharpened but definitely real) swords for my wife and I. My question: is it legal to carry a sword (in a sheath on my waist) while trick or treating? My wife (a life time Illinois resident) says it’s legal as long as you don’t carry it with the intent to use it unlawfully (720 ICLS 5/24-1). However, according to 720 ICLS 5/24-6, the law states that it is misdemeanor to “carry or possess a knife with a blade exceeding 3 inches on any land supported in part or whole by public funds,” which to me, would include public sidewalks. However, my wife says that “lands supported by public funds” does not apply to sidewalks that are not adjacent to government buildings or within 1000 feet of a school, government building or public park because if it did, people with valid CCL’s would not be allowed to carry guns on public sidewalks just as they’re not allowed to carry in public parks and government buildings, which we know is not the case.

Another thing is that the law specifically says “dangerous weapons or any instrument with a likeness thereof” which to me would include plastic prop swords as well but my wife argues that does not apply to plastic props.

What do you guys think? I would encourage any lawyers or LEO personnel to weigh in, but all responses and interpretations are welcome.

Thanks!

I work for a Midwest agency that is the only Department in the state to have legitimate staffing issues… thanks to this my Department has little to no specialty units. Command staff and City Administration have been being making policy decisions that restricts officers from proactive police work (especially a restrictive pursuit policy)

I have found a love for proactive police work especially apprehending fugitives on their warrants.

I have been told by so many that the grass isn’t green in other places but im looking for suggestions of where to go.. I don’t like being bored I try keeping myself busy and am extremely interested in Street Crimes/Gang Unit work.

Like my I said above my department does not have any specialty units except two traffic officers and an understaffed detective bureau. The consensus by the department will not bring any proactive units back as it’s bad “optics” and my city likes the illusion of being crime free. (We are not).

My city is 100,000 plus for reference.

As I have looked around, most departments don’t advertise if they actually allow proactive policing. So I’m hoping for suggestions from fellow proactive officers who have fun at work.

I am willing to move just about anywhere as this is the only career for me.