5 Misdemeanors That Will End Your Military or Emergency Services Career

We tend to think of our firefighters, police, paramedics, and military service members as heroes – and rightfully so. They truly put their lives on the line daily just by going to work. However, we also tend to forget that these everyday heroes are still human. They make mistakes just like anyone else. But when a cop or paramedic commits a crime, even a minor one, it can be the end of a career. For this reason, here at the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A., we offer first responders and active military members a ten percent discount on attorney fees. For anyone serving in uniform, it’s important to realize that some crimes – even minor misdemeanors – can be devastating to your career. Here are just 5 of those career-killers.

1 – Domestic Violence

A charge of domestic violence can range from a minor event with raised voices and a light shove to an all-out assault. While it is never acceptable to resort to violence, a minor shove with no real injuries can quickly turn into a misdemeanor offense. For most people, pleading to a lesser offense could be fine. It could help them avoid jail time and reduce the fines associated with the charge. For those who are required to carry a weapon as part of their job, the Lautenberg Amendment was passed in 1996, prohibiting anyone who is convicted of a domestic violence crime from possessing a firearm. This includes police and military service members. Therefore, a domestic violence conviction could spell the permanent loss of a career.

2 – Offenses Involving Children

If you are a public servant working in law enforcement, fire service, or any form of public trust, you are expected to remain capable of interacting with all members of the public, including children and victims of abuse. If you are charged with child abuse or any form of child sexual misconduct – no matter how minor the offense – you could face disqualification from continuing to serve in your employment capacity.

3 – Offenses Involving Seniors and Those With Limited Mental Capacity

This specifically applies to healthcare workers, including EMTs and paramedics. If you’ve been charged with a crime involving an elderly victim or someone with limited capacity (mentally disabled adults), you could be excluded from licensure in a healthcare profession. See the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians for more on this.

4 – Driving While Intoxicated (DWI/DUI)

Because almost all public safety jobs, including fire, EMS, police, and military, require a person to be able to maintain a driver’s license (many require CDLs and additional certifications), getting a simple first-offense DUI could result in losing your job. After all, a police officer can’t very well patrol a neighborhood without a driver’s license.

5 – Bad Checks or Forgery

Oddly enough, many people don’t realize that it is still a crime to knowingly write a bad check. Likewise, even a minor offense of forging a document or falsifying paperwork on a used car could lead to the loss of a career. Here’s why. If you are in a profession where you are required to occasionally testify in court (police, paramedics, etc.), you may face real challenges to your credibility if you have a conviction for a “crime of moral turpitude.” These are crimes involving dishonesty or lack of integrity. Even if you have a 15-year career as a police officer, your testimony in criminal cases will be tainted if you have been convicted of such crimes. Therefore, many departments will let you go it you are convicted of even the simplest of these offenses.

Get Help From a Columbia Criminal Defense Lawyer Now

The longer you wait and try to “work it out” on your own, the greater the chance you will say or do something to hurt your case. Early consultation with a skilled criminal defense lawyer is the best way to protect your rights and avoid unnecessary trouble later on. So call the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. in Maryland today to get help with your case.

Resource: https://nremt.org/Policies/Certification-Policies/Criminal-Conviction