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After a Deputy was arrested for domestic abuse, her background was reviewed. She had multiple arrests for a variety of offenses - and several convictions.

The Arrest

Deputy Monica Smith was on duty the morning of August 25, 2017. When it was time for her lunch break, she left the facility and went home. She returned later that day and was arrested for domestic abuse battery.

While on her lunch break, Smith reportedly had an argument with her husband. According to police records, the incident led to Smith punching her husband in the face and dousing him with department-issued pepper spray. He apparently managed to return fire with another canister that was intended for official police use.

Police officers were called to Smith's home after the Deputy left. They reported that Smith's husband had a laceration on his upper lip and skin irritation from the pepper spray.

Smith's Criminal History is Discovered

After Deputy Smith was arrested, officials reviewed her record. They found that she had nearly a dozen previous arrests. Many of Smith's charges had been dismissed, but she also had several convictions. They included fighting/disturbing the peace and criminal damage for breaking apartment windows with a cinder block.

Rafael Goyeneche, President of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, said this about the situation: "When you have multiple arrests and prosecutions for local offenses in your background, that is a red flag."

Smiths' Path to Becoming a Deputy

On March 13, Smith was arrested for missing a court appearance. She was held in jail for the night. The next day she applied for a position as a Deputy at the sheriff's office. Whether or not she heard about the job opening while incarcerated is unknown.

It appears that no background report was run on Smith. If it was, then Smith's record was overlooked or ignored. Despite the fact that she had just been locked up and had previous convictions, Smith received the job.

Smith went through a training course and was actively working as a Deputy until the incident involving her husband. After being arrested while on-duty, Smith was fired. She was not convicted of the domestic abuse battery charge, however. Smith's husband stopped cooperating with the District Attorney's office, so they had no choice but to drop the case.

Why Background Checks Matter

If the sheriff's department had run and reviewed a criminal background check, she would not have been hired. Having a criminal record doesn't automatically disqualify a person from being eligible for employment, but every position has a unique set of qualifications and requirements. Someone with multiple arrests and convictions would not typically be approved as a Deputy.

This incident was embarrassing for the sheriff's department and it provides a good example of why background checks are so important. Employers screen applicants to ensure they are qualified for a position and to look for reportable criminal records. Once all this information is collected, employers may use it and apply it to relevant state and federal laws to help them make educated hiring decisions that protect their business, brand and reputation.

If you have questions about how background checks can benefit your business, please contact or experienced team today. We can help you create screening packages that are perfectly tailored to any position for which you are hiring.