Should police departments hire officers with criminal records?

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution looked at the records of Atlanta PD's last two graduating classes and found that a third of the graduates already had criminal records -- some for minor stuff, some for assault. About half said they'd used marijuana at some point. Snip:

Atlanta police say it’s not so simple. Officials have been trying without success for more than a decade to grow the department to 2,000 officers, an effort hurt by this year’s budget crisis. With competition for recruits intense among law enforcement agencies, Atlanta has had to make concessions.

“We would like, in an ideal world, to see every applicant with a clean record, but obviously that’s not reality,” said Atlanta police Lt. Elder Dancy, who runs the department’s recruitment unit. “I don’t think you’ll find any departments who hire only applicants with squeaky-clean records.”

Comments

[Searching]

I dont have any problem with this, as long as it has been a certain period of time.. say 5 years and no trace of illicit activity.. Especially the marijuana offenses.... shouldnt even be illegal in the first place.

[G]

agreed Searching. There should be a well defined set of felonies that keep you out of the force (murder, rape, robbery, etc), but misdemeanors shouldn't keep you out....and I'm fine with a grace period (last 3 years, etc).

I wonder if a bank would hire a person who had stolen money...?

Doesn't the record simply mean they've had prior related experience for their current position?

[KCK]

Why not, most of the cops on the force break the law all the time anyway.

just got out after seving 20 for murder and didnt get caught for anything when in so I hope I can quallify to apply since more than 5 years have passed since I got caught doing something illegal.

[D-man]

nobody's perfect, when you're willing to serve then you can make the decisions.

[KC Cicero]

Yes.

Look, there but for the grace of God go you and I. How many of us have used illegal drugs or done other illegal things and not gotten caught. Perhaps only because white folks do not "enjoy" the same level of police "protection" as minorities. Except for serious crimes -- real felonies like rape robbery, murder -- this should be on a case by case basis -- and gun possession laws should be amended to allow it.

We need more cops enforcing fewer laws.

[Searching]

Read the story, anon.. they are only talking about misdemeanors... you have issues...

[Amy]

Undecided.... Depending on what is was and the length of time...but wonder if they couldn't pass a drug screen...

[Kevin]

To be honest, the ones with perfect records scare me more then someone who may have a blemish or two. KCPD for instance turn away alot of applicants because of past history but several of there officers who were clean ended up killing a child, raping one women while on-duty, and one officer was robbing Hispanic motorist. So don't always trust background checks.

[Tom K]

Read "A Clockwork Orange" before you decide.

[Kate]

Why should I respect someone that has been convicted of something, no matter how small? No I am not perfect, then again I don't want to be a cop and tell people what to do.

[Manuel Arevelo no viva aqui]

Don't hire people with criminal records for the police force. What? Are you crazy? Police officers should be cleaver enough not to get caught when breaking the law.

[Ty in Downtown]

A man that's never been arrested is called a girl. If you're not a rebel by 18 you have no heart, if you're not establishment by 30 you have no brains.

[Joi]

I have no problem with an officers misdemeanor past. I feel more comfortable that he does, because that makes him a real person. Meaning alot of people with clean records are child molesters, serial killers, drug users, etc...... Those people scare the hell out of me, because everyone has a secret of some kind that they don't want no one to know about. Even if they don't think they have any secrets, means they have thoughts that they have not acted upon yet.
And officers with a little blemish means they have done something that they have gotten out of their system. Usaually the ones with no criminal history are going to commit a crime while their on duty. I did say "usually", because there is no perfect individual. Just not possible here on earth.

[gee]

That's brilliant Ty . . . in order to be a man, you've got to have an arrest record by age 18 . . .

I guess I've been giving my 13 yr. old son the wrong advice all these years! Here I've been encouraging good grades, good citizenship, respect, etc., when I should've been telling him to get arrested so that Ty in Downtown will think you have "heart" or some sort of meaningless street credibility.

Moronic . . .

[gee]

Joi--

Are you serious? People with clean records just haven't been caught yet?

Maybe I just grew up too "white bread with the crusts cut-off," But I'd say that 99.9% of the people in my family, workplace, etc., don't have police records and are not "child molesters, serial killers, drug users, etc". There's no logical reason to be scared of them.

I know a Police Officer he goes to parties and gets drunk then he drives home. One time he was pulled over for crossing the double yellow line and and of coarse he was drunk, the only thing that happened to him was a cab was called for him.

[Jonathan]

Gee-
"Maybe I just grew up too "white bread with the crusts cut-off," But I'd say that 99.9% of the people in my family, workplace, etc., don't have police records and are not "child molesters, serial killers, drug users, etc". There's no logical reason to be scared of them."

If you think 99.9% of the people in your family have never broken the law, then you are very naive OR your family is full of LIARS!

[Jonathan]

"I know a Police Officer he goes to parties and gets drunk then he drives home. One time he was pulled over for crossing the double yellow line and and of coarse he was drunk, the only thing that happened to him was a cab was called for him. "

I once knew a blogger who couldn't figure out his name to save his life....

[gee]

Are we talking about police record, or breaking the law? I'm sure someone in my family has driven above the speed limit, jaywalked, etc. But yes, it would be highly unusual to see anyone with a "rap sheet" at a family reunion. These are people who don't even drink (religious reasons). It's an extemely boring family reunion, but no police records.

While I think a cop can have a misdemeanor record and still be a good cop, I think it's ludicrous to swing to the other extreme and claim that people without records are just effeminate or have something to hide.

Why not? They associate with criminals every day. My view is most police officers are corrupt anyways.

[DSW]

These people are tring to be cops not god. No one is perfect.

[K.E.Y.]

They have no choice but to hire people with questionable character.
Public jobs don’t pay like private jobs. Police are not paid well, nor are the health & retirement benefits very good. Then include working weekends, holidays, and get more & more power taken away from you. Do not chase crooks! Plea this and that!
Everyone is a Monday morning QB for what actions you took in the few seconds you had time to act.
Who would really want to do that job for an entire career?

[Ralph in Cramden]

I grew up in the KC area back in 60,s and 70's. Some of the worst scum of the earth was wearing a badge. And it usually went like this.You filed a complaint or sued.The insurance lawyers defended the cops.And after the trial they were immediately released , only to go to another department. Studies have shown there ia a fine line between a genius and a nut. And an even finer line between a cop and a criminal.The line needs to be thick, I wouldn't want my wife or daughter stopped by a criminal cop. I can't believe this is even a viable topic!!!!

[joe]

Recently a O.P. Police officer was arrested at a Costco stealing computer drives valued at $2,000. and he had meth in his pockets. He wss the best O.P. had - a decorated detective. Criminal are already in the police force. We just need to recognize that sad fact.

[Herbert Spencer]

Hey, if they're just going to be a traffic cop, what's the difference. On e thief is the same as the other.

[jeano]

There are ALWAYS bad apples in every basket, every profession: stupid teachers who don't understand kids and don't know how to teach, out of shape firemen, thieving bankers (seen any of THAT lately?), corrupt lawyers (or is that the norm?) lazy fruit pickers...Of course, it would be nice for those that defend and protect the law to obey it. Seriously though, I think the minor stuff could be overlooked if it was just that, minor. Assault, however, is a whole other thing.