I am currently going through the process for the Police and Fire Departments. I have a college degree and consider myself to be a good citizen. However, about a year ago I was terminated from a part-time job. The employer said that I was terminated for theft, however, I explained to them that I was under the impression that what I was doing wasn't against company policy. I never went to court on the issue at all. I had just undergone surgery and didn't have the time or energy to do such. No charges were ever filed and I never went to court on the issue. I simply was terminated from employment.

Recently, I have fell under tremendous financial pressure and am seeing an attorney today to file bankruptcy. I never wanted to file, however, I simply don't have enough income to support my finances.

Does this mean that I won't be hired by the Police and/or Fire Departments? Will either department see what I was terminated for? I have no convictions or felonies on my record and have never been to jail.

Whether or not the background check will reveal why you were terminated depends on how thorough the background check is. All background checks are not created equal. While there is no general data base on which this information appears, nothing prevents whomever is doing the check from asking your prior employer, and nothing in the law that prohibits the employer from answering the question, despite a widespread belief to the contrary.

We have no possible way of knowing if this will be enough to block you from employment or not. It would be for some employers; it wouldn't be for others. We don't know what standards the police and fire departments have in place.