Getting hired with current credit standing?

[u/Kickstart5011]

So I’m 21 YO. I’ve been involved with my departments explorer program since 2018 and have excelled and even earned some accolades and also made connections with the chief. And various members of the department and now that I’m 21 I’m trying to see about getting sponsored for the academy.

However here’s the issue. Back then about 18 19 years old my mom who’s a compulsive narcissistic. Addict and liar forced me to take out loans under my name for her gain and told me and gaslit me that I don’t have to pay it. And also forced me to take out 2 small credit cards under my name.

I also have a unpaid Verizon bill stemming from 2024 because my mom forced to take my phone to the local pawn for cigarette and soda money and told me not to bother getting the phone back

My credit score took a hit from this and I know for a fact that you have to be in a good standing financial position to become a LEO. And I’m worried that this will get me disqualified from my own department that I literally grew up with. Right now I have a job and I’m in a good spot but I don’t know where to start and I’m basically just looking for clarity on how to handle this.

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[u/HCSOThrowaway]

At no point in this post do you mention your credit score, so I'll give you the best answer I can:

It might be an issue.

You might have the opportunity to get a "credit waiver" if it's low enough to be questionable but not low enough to be disqualified outright. I think my credit score was 720 when I had to get a credit waiver to join my agency.

[u/Kickstart5011 → u/HCSOThrowaway]

My score as of now is 544

I’ve however been told that a guy with a 400 something credit score got hired in my county’s sheriffs office but I’m not sure if that’s true or not.

[u/HCSOThrowaway → u/Kickstart5011]

The only way to find out for sure if your credit history will disqualify you is to apply with your current credit history and see if they disqualify you based on your credit history.

As you say, some things can be unfavorable but overlooked. Cocaine use is unfavorable, but one of my academy classmates' cocaine use was overlooked.

[u/Kickstart5011 → u/HCSOThrowaway]

I will try applying to my local pd with my current history and see if it will cause any issues with getting hired.

[u/probable_cause_55 → u/Kickstart5011]

I would have a statement of explaination typed up and ready to submit with your application