Disqualification Factors

An applicant for the West Melbourne Police Department will be automatically disqualified if any of the disqualification factors, as listed below, are evident:

  • Failure to meet the general requirements for the position as follows:

United States Citizenship - Applicants must be a United States Citizen.

Age Requirement - Applicants must have reached their nineteenth (19) birthday at the time of appointment.

Residency Requirement - Applicants must be a resident of Florida at the time of appointment. Applicants must also possess a valid Florida driver’s license upon appointment as a West Melbourne Police Department Police Officer.

Educational Requirement - Applicants must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.

  1. Convicted of any felony or of a misdemeanor that involves perjury or a false statement.
  2. Pled guilty or nolo contendere after July 1, 1981, to any felony or of a misdemeanor that involves perjury or a false statement, whether or not adjudication was withheld or sentence suspended.
  3. Commission of any criminal act(s) at any time, whether prosecuted or not, if the behavior evidences a continuing pattern of criminal conduct and/or demonstrates a substantial history of poor judgment.
  4. Domestic violence conviction and/or currently under injunction for domestic violence.
  5. Currently under investigation for a criminal act in any jurisdiction.
  6. Any section listed in the Uniform Firearms Act, Brady Law and any other federal law and amendments prohibiting possession of a firearm.
  7. Received a dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the United States.
  8. Drug Admissions (may disqualify):
    • Any more than 10 times use* of marijuana, hashish, or their derivatives and synthetics, including simple delivery and paraphernalia.
    • Illegal possession or use of any prescription drug ever.
    • Any use of any illegal drug not specifically identified in this section, or abuse of any substance, including unidentified drugs (ie. “trail mix,” pharm parties), inhalants and non-prescription medications with intent to become intoxicated or “high.”*
    • Use of alcohol that resulted in alcohol related arrests or other alcohol related illegal conduct that affects moral character or demonstrates a substantial history of poor judgment.
  9. Drug Admissions (will disqualify)
    • Any illegal use of marijuana, hashish, or their derivatives and synthetics within three (3) years of application.
    • Any more than experimental* past use of cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, or designer drugs such as GHB, Rohypnol (Roofies), Ecstasy (MDMA), Ketamine (Special K), LSD, Mescaline, Psilocybin (Mushrooms), use of drugs prescribed to another, and any use within five (5) years of application.
    • Any past illegal use of opium, heroin, and its derivatives and synthetics, including abuse of morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, methadone, oxycodone, fentanyl, or other serious drugs of abuse such as PCP, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, etc.
    • Manufacturing, sale, or trafficking of any controlled substance, or fraudulent procurement involving prescription medications ever.
    • Delivery of any controlled or illegal substance other than marijuana ever.
  10. Driving:
    • No valid driver’s license at time of application.
    • Conviction of a criminal traffic charge includes Driving While License Suspended, DUI/DWI, Reckless, Fleeing, Leaving the Scene, within the past five (5) years.
    • More than five (5) moving traffic violation convictions in the past five (5) years whether convicted or adjudication withheld.
    • Suspension of driver license for excessive points in the past three (3) years.
    • Suspension of driver license more than one (1) time for failure to pay traffic fines in the past three (3) years.
    • Pattern of traffic citations that demonstrates a substantial history of rule-breaking and/or poor judgment.
  11. Failure to pay child support, civil fines, failure to appear, unsatisfied judgments, etc. (deferment until satisfied)
  12. Tattoos, brands, body mutilation, dental ornamentation and/or body ornaments that are visible (or would be) on the neck, face or head.
  13. Tattoo(s) that are determined to be indecent, extremist, racist or sexist, whether visible or not.
  14. Have good moral character as determined by a background investigation.
  15. Intentional falsification or omission of information during the application and/or hiring process.
  16. For candidates with previous law enforcement experience, in accordance with Rule 11B-2711 F.A.C.:
    • Theft from a crime scene, victim, offender or employing agency.
    • Any illegal use of a controlled substance while certified as a law enforcement officer.
    • On-duty consumption of alcoholic beverage(s), unless such consumption was permitted by the employing agency.
    • Any falsification of an official report, record or document.
    • Acceptance of any bribe, or accepting a gratuity in violation of the employing agency's regulations.

*Denotes that the Chief of Police or his/her designee shall determine eligibility and/or sanctions based on the extent of experimentation or occasional use, or delivery of drugs without sale, in accordance with the following drug use guidelines per FAC 11B-27 (emphasis added): (2) The unlawful use of any controlled substances pursuant to Rule 11B-27225, F.A.C., by an applicant for certification, employment, or appointment, at any time proximate to the submission of application for certification, employment, or appointment, conclusively establishes that the applicant is not of good moral character pursuant to Section 943.13(7), F.S. The unlawful use of any controlled substance specified in Rule 11B-27225, F.A.C., by an applicant may or may not conclusively establish that the applicant is not of good moral character pursuant to Section 943.13(7), F.S. depending upon the type of controlled substance used, the frequency of use, and the age of the applicant at the time of use.

Deliberate misstatements or omissions can and often will result in your application being rejected, regardless of the nature or reason for the misstatements/omissions. In fact, the number one reason individuals “fail” a background investigation is because they deliberately withhold or misrepresent job-relevant information from their prospective employer.

Bottom Line: Be as complete, honest and specific as possible in your responses.