This topic was first posted on FireCritic.com here: http://firecritic.com/2010/11/should-sex-offenders-be-firefighters-...

Can Sex Offenders be firefighters? Should sex offenders be firefighters? What about pardoned ones?

I am currently working on a story and one of the intriguing details is that a current firefighter WAS a convicted sex offender. The person was pardoned and is not a registered sex offender. The offense was bad (they all are). The offense
happened 30 years ago prior to the current laws that protect us from
these criminals. Should he be allowed to be a firefighter?


Here are my thoughts. Sex offenders should not be firefighters. I do not know of a National standard or regulation on this issue. However, if this man was pardoned and the infraction occurred prior to current
regulations should he/she still be punished for a crime they was
pardoned for? After all, they were pardoned and basically the crime is
no longer part of their wrap sheet (hopefully there is nothing else).
This is basically a loophole due to previously lackadaisical laws.


I just wonder if fire departments can legally disqualify someone from being a firefighter for something that might not show up on their background check. I am not sure it would in this case, but what if
someone brought it to the FD’s attention.


The questions are:

  • Should sex offenders be allowed to be firefighters? What about EMT’s?
  • Should previously pardoned sex offenders be allowed to be firefighters?
  • What about EMT’s?
  • Does your department look for this information in their background checks?

Here are some articles I found on the topic of sex offender/firefighters:

NSOPR – National Sex Offender Public Registry

FBI Sex Offender Registry

You might remember a while back that I posted a question on Firefighter Nation about Felons being firefighters. That discussion continues to spark interest from time to time and the conversation is rehashed. My answer remains to be NO. Several people
said that it depended on the crime. My reply….Name a GOOD Felony! I
didn’t think so. Felonies are felonies for a reason. They are crimes.


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Wrong-o Greg. Most traffic tickets are civil infractions which bypass the requirements of arraignment, pre-trial hearings, judge and jury and all that stuff.

You have to get to reckless driving or dui to get to anything more than a civil infraction.
People that get traffic tickets do not have a "lower standard" than you do. Now I get all the things you write, you are out of your fucking mind.
I hope those doctors don't get a ticket for an illegal left turn, Pure Patti will have them resign, because they don't meet her "standard"!
Thank you I checked, you are correct, alcohol related, neg/reckless driving and driving without a license are misdemeanors. Patti's point was anyone convicted of a misdemeanor should be out. I do not know of any fire department or police department for that matter that automatically rules you out because you committed a misdemeanor.
Which is her opinion which she has every right to, just as you do.

Not sure why you feel the need to belittle her opinion just because you disagree with it. That's what makes the world go 'round.

Chill a little.
Gregory..... I am far from pure. I have also never once said I was normal..... Noraml is a cycle on a washing machine and if you want to be a Kenmore... Be my guest... Not me....
Actually it is Mrs. If you get enough of them you loose your liscense, if you loose your liscense then how can you drive? Yes I have known people who have had to leave the department because the lost their liscense.
My opinion.... again..... It is my opinion, does not mean that a department or any department has the same ideals as I do. It just means that this is my opinion.
Boy, keep this up and I should be go to go for sainthood.
While the point here was about sex offenders (to which I agree), the discussion got off point on the topic of felonies in general. That being said, many (most) departments will hire with a misdemeanor arrest.

Patti's assertion that anyone convicted of a misdemeanor should NOT be a firefighter is a bit holier than thou. My point earlier was that she (and others) should research and see what actually is and isn't allowed in their state (and department). That really is all that's relevant. To decide that misdemeanors are beyond the pale seems to lack christian charity and compassion. Not to mention may very well fly in the face of what the (local/state) laws allow for.

Pity the poor smuck who has a misdemeanor conviction in Patti's department, she'll be tsk tsk-ing that person every time she sees him (or her). Not to mention she won't trust him because he was protesting the wearing of furs and got arrested. I guess his moral stance is lower than hers.
Let's turn it around, how many millions of citizens have never committed anything other than a traffic offense?

Yet all this discussion over lowering the bar to accept this person that has this record or that or was expunged or it was committed a century ago.

I think the offense should be looked at, and if it was anything other than a stupid stunt such as streaking or public urination, etc. it's a no way in the world should they be hired. And even the above needs to be investigated.
You guys can say what you want and think what you want. I will not apologize for my opinions nor will I back down from my opinions....

So you both can just picture me sticking my tounge out at you.

Neener Neener.....

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