anyone became a cop after bk?

[Scream2Death]

or knows anyone? thanks!

[De Los Muertos]

They look at your credit history as part of the background check so a bankruptcy will most likely prevent you from becoming a cop. You can still join the military but you will not be able to get a security clearance.

[JollyGG]

Remember a bankruptcy and perfect payment history after that looks a heck of a lot better than a ton of charge offs, lates, judgements, ect. We do what we have to do.

A background check and a credit check are only one of many tools employers use to determine if they offer a job to someone or not. While certain employers will look negatively on a past bankruptcy others won't even give it a second thought.

[CPO]

or knows anyone? thanks!

It really depends on agency rules. Here in Texas we have sworn LEO's for just about everything, from independent school districts to university's to churches to private police patrolling downtown Ft. Worth (Bass family...).

Many agencies don't look too hard at credit history as long as it does not reflect current serious problems...

...something that would indicate you are subject to blackmail or criminal activity to escape your problems...

A past discharged BK with current good payment history may mean nothing as far as eliminating you as a candidate.

Current serious credit problems will probably be actionable as far as passing you up on selection day. Your too much of a risk.

Military personnel that work in secure areas cannot be subject to various methods of blackmail and be expected to secure classified material...

Hence the loss of a clearance if you end up with very poor credit with the collector harassment that goes with it.

Note too that many military members with the highest clearance levels have declared BK without any problems from Uncle Sam as they planned and prepared their cases to eliminate the stress and strain of collections and legal process.

They were BK before anybody was aware of it and discharged without further ado so blackmail and exposure was not an issue.

It's not the BK itself that is the problem, it's how far you are willing to go to prevent the exposure of your "problem" and what you might do to cure it. BK is the legal solution, but it can be painful. Some may just rob a bank to try to cure their ills. We don't want you in a cop's uniform when you do....

I'd say inquire to the agency that you are interested in and find out. You may be pleasantly suprised that after you are discharged it would not be an issue.

CPO

[HHM]

As long as your BK is discharged and your current credit report is clean, you probably do not have anything to worry about. The BK, by itself, will not be the determinative factor in the decision.

Just for clarification a credit check and back-ground check are separate things. A BK does NOT typically show up on a Back-ground check. (reason being, back-ground checks are looking for "criminal" records). Thus, unless they specifically ask for authorization to pull a credit report, odds are, they won't find the BK. However, the questionnaire you fill out may ask if you had ever declared BK.

If you want to be a cop...apply. Don't let your BK prevent you from applying.

[Scream2Death]

thanks everyone

thanks everyone for your comments; they are all realistic and reassuring.

I'll try my best to get in; I'm actually interested in joining the NYPD. I know my chances could be slim; but i'll try.

first things first, i need my bk discharged, and closed. and restart my life for a year.

[manglicmot]

There is a cop forum here: http://forums.officer.com/forums/ They have a section called ask-a-cop, maybe they have some details for you.