A man who came to the Commerce City Police Department on Thursday looking for a ride-along and asking about a job instead ended up in custody, after officers discovered he had an active warrant and a lengthy criminal history. A short social media video posted by the department captured the encounter and spelled out why his visit wrapped up in a booking rather than a hiring.
Arrest Came After Background Check
According to KDVR, police say the man first contacted the department to request a ride-along and was invited in to talk about his application. When officers ran his information, they learned he had an active arrest warrant and took him into custody as soon as he arrived at the station. As he was escorted to booking, the man asked officers whether the arrest would hurt his chances of being hired, the outlet reports.
Department Posts Cheeky Takedown On Facebook
The Commerce City Police Department later shared a short Facebook reel that, per Denver7, pointed to a six-page criminal record that reportedly included habitual traffic violations and a domestic violence entry. The post underscored that the department does not hire applicants who have active warrants. Denver7 captured the video and described the department's tone as tongue-in-cheek, noting that the man ended up on the jail roster instead of the recruit roster.
Where This Happened And How Hiring Works
The encounter took place at the Commerce City Civic Center, which houses the police department at 7887 E. 60th Ave. in Commerce City. The department's public pages outline recruitment steps, background checks, and current job openings, according to the City of Commerce City.
Legal Note
Colorado's Peace Officer Standards and Training board maintains a public list of disqualifying incidents that can bar POST certification, and local agencies are allowed to adopt even stricter hiring standards. Multiple convictions or an outstanding warrant can leave someone both ineligible for hire and subject to arrest, according to Colorado POST.
The department's social post framed the episode as a reminder that background checks are a firm gatekeeper for policing jobs, and that missing the fine print can turn a hopeful job visit into a trip to jail. Commerce City has not said whether any charges beyond the warrant arrest will be filed.
