Background Investigation

Background investigators verify nearly every aspect of your life history. Expect them to confirm your employment dates, job titles, and reasons for leaving every position you've listed. They will contact your supervisors directly — not just HR — so be precise about who you reported to.

Your driving record will be pulled, usually going back 3–7 years depending on the department. Multiple moving violations, DUIs, or a suspended license are common disqualifiers. If you have issues in your driving history, address them proactively in your personal history statement rather than waiting to be asked.

Criminal history checks go beyond a standard background check. Investigators use local, state, and federal databases. Arrests without convictions can still appear and will be discussed. Expunged records are often still visible to law enforcement-affiliated investigators.

Many candidates are surprised to learn that their credit history is reviewed. Departments aren't necessarily disqualifying you for having debt — they're looking for patterns of financial irresponsibility, unpaid judgments, or situations that could make you vulnerable to corruption or bribery.

If you have significant debt, be prepared to explain the circumstances. A medical hardship or job loss that led to debt is viewed very differently from a pattern of overspending and avoidance.

Investigators will search your name across social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and LinkedIn. Posts showing drug use, excessive alcohol consumption, discriminatory language, or conduct unbecoming of a public servant are common disqualifiers.

Review your online presence now. Delete anything that could be misinterpreted. Set appropriate privacy settings — but understand that investigators often have access to information beyond what is publicly visible.

The personal history statement (PHS) is your written self-report of your life history. It typically covers every address you've lived at, every job, every school, every arrest, drug use history, financial history, and references.

Be exhaustive and honest. The single biggest mistake candidates make is omitting something they think investigators won't find. They will find it. And getting caught in a lie — even about something minor — is almost always a fatal disqualifier, while the underlying issue itself might not have been.

If you used marijuana in college or have a minor blemish in your past, disclose it. Write a brief, matter-of-fact explanation. Departments hire people with imperfect histories. They do not hire people who lie to them.

Choose references who can speak specifically to your work ethic, integrity, and character — not just people who like you. Former supervisors, coaches, military commanders, and teachers carry more weight than personal friends.

Notify your references before listing them. Brief them on the position and tell them they may be contacted by phone or in person. An unprepared reference who hesitates or gives vague answers can hurt your candidacy even if they think highly of you.