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Common Disqualifiers for Public Safety Positions

Below is a list of the most common areas that may disqualify an applicant for a Police Officer position with the Irvine Police Department.

If you have a question regarding any of these areas, please contact Lieutenant Frank Andersen at (949) 724-7143.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE


Will Disqualify:

  • Use of marijuana, hashish, or cocaine within the last 12 months.
  • Use of cocaine more than 5 times within the last 3 years.
  • Use of LSD or heroin at anytime.
  • Sale of marijuana, drugs, or narcotics at any time.
  • Abuse of pharmeceutical drugs as an adult (18 years+).

May Disqualify:

  • Knowingly remaining in place where narcotics were used.
  • Experimentation with barbiturates, amphetamines, or hallucinogenics, other than LSD.
  • Use of non-prescription steroids within the last 12 months.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES

Will Disqualify:

  • Felony conviction.
  • On probation or parole.

May Disqualify:

  • Adult conviction for a property related offense.
  • Theft from any employer as an adult in excess of $100.00 (property or cash).
  • Sex act for which criminal prosecution would have resulted had the incident been reported.

TRAFFIC RELATED

Will Disqualify:

  • Unable to obtain a valid California drivers license.
  • Unable to obtain motor vehicle insurance.

May Disqualify:

  • DUI conviction within the past 3 years.
  • More than 1 DUI conviction, including reckless driving with alcohol.
  • Conviction of 4 or more moving violations.
  • Revocation/suspension of drivers license within the past 3 years.
  • At fault in 3 traffic accidents within the last 5 years.

POLYGRAPH EXAM

Will Disqualify:

  • Continued responses indicating deception on questions asked.
  • Attempts to defeat the machine (i.e., holding breath, hyperventilating, or taking drugs/alcohol before testing).

May Disqualify:

  • Withholding information from polygraph examiner.
  • Admissions to conduct unacceptable.

PSYCHOLOGICAL

Will Disqualify:

  • Failure to meet the standards as determined by the department psychologist (written and oral interview).

MEDICAL

Will Disqualify:
Physically incapable of safely performing job duties pursuant to ADA regulations.


GENERAL

Will Disqualify:

  • Falsification and/or omission of any data on personal history statement.
  • Untruthfulness to the background investigator.

May Disqualify:

  • Not U.S. citizen or resident alien having filed for citizenship within the last 12 months.
  • Inability to communicate with a variety of types of people as is expected of a police officer.
  • Unfavorable work history (discipline, firing, attendance problems, etc.).
  • Signs of immaturity from background investigator.

NOTE: This list is not all inclusive and other information or facts revealed in the detailed background investigation may also be sufficient to disqualify an applicant.