What If You Forgot Something on Your Personal History Statement?
You spent hours completing your Personal History Statement (PHS), reviewed everything, submitted it—and then suddenly remembered something you forgot to include.
Maybe it was an old traffic citation.
Maybe you forgot a short-term job from years ago.
Maybe an address, previous application, or other incident slipped your mind.
Now you're wondering:
"Did I just ruin my chances of becoming a police officer?"
Not necessarily.
A Personal History Statement can require years of detailed information, and honest mistakes can happen. What matters is how you handle the situation once you realize information may be missing or incorrect.
Don't Ignore the Mistake
If you discover that you forgot something on your PHS, don't simply hope that nobody notices.
Police background investigations are designed to verify information provided by applicants. Depending on the information involved, a background investigator may eventually discover the missing information.
Correcting an honest mistake is generally a much better approach than knowingly allowing inaccurate or incomplete information to remain in your application.
Contact the Appropriate Person
If you've already submitted your PHS and discover an error or omission, contact the appropriate recruiter, background investigator, or hiring representative and ask how they would like you to correct it.
Every agency may handle corrections differently.
You could simply explain:
"While reviewing my records after submitting my Personal History Statement, I realized that I unintentionally left out some information. I would like to correct it and make sure my application is complete."
Keep the explanation straightforward and truthful.
An Honest Mistake Is Different From Intentionally Hiding Information
There is an important difference between forgetting something and intentionally concealing something.
A PHS can require applicants to remember information going back many years. It is possible to forget an old address, temporary job, traffic citation, or other detail.
However, intentionally leaving something out because you believe it might hurt your chances of being hired can raise much more serious concerns.
Law enforcement agencies place significant importance on honesty and integrity.
If you remember something after submitting your paperwork, being proactive about correcting it can demonstrate that you're taking the process seriously.
What Are Some Common Things Applicants Forget?
Applicants may accidentally overlook information such as:
Short-term or seasonal employment
Old addresses
Traffic citations
Previous law enforcement applications
Minor incidents from years ago
Foreign travel
School information
Previous supervisors
Financial accounts or obligations
Names or contact information requested on the application
The information required will vary depending on the agency and the questions contained in its PHS.
Always follow the specific instructions provided to you.
What If I Don't Remember the Exact Date?
This is another common problem.
You might remember that something happened but not remember the exact month or year.
Rather than guessing without making any effort to verify the information, try checking available records.
Depending on what you're looking for, you may be able to review:
Driving records
Court records
Tax documents
Employment records
School records
Military records
Old emails
Previous applications
Personal records
If you still cannot determine an exact date, follow the agency's instructions regarding approximate dates and explain the situation if necessary.
Accuracy is important, but honesty about what you genuinely do and do not remember is also important.
What If the Information Is Embarrassing?
Sometimes applicants don't "forget" information—they hesitate to disclose it because they're embarrassed or worried about what the investigator will think.
This is where applicants can create bigger problems for themselves.
A past mistake may require explanation, but intentionally concealing it can create a separate issue involving honesty.
If the PHS asks for the information, answer truthfully.
Don't decide for yourself that something is too old, too minor, or too embarrassing to disclose.
Answer the question that is being asked.
What If I Already Have a Background Investigator?
If you've already been assigned a background investigator, follow the instructions you've been given regarding communication and corrections.
If you discover additional information, let your investigator know rather than waiting for them to find it independently.
A simple explanation is often enough:
"I wanted to let you know that I remembered something after submitting my PHS and would like to add it to my application."
Then provide the requested information accurately.
Review Your PHS Before Your Background Interview
Even after submitting your Personal History Statement, continue reviewing your information.
Before meeting with your background investigator, consider going through your PHS again from beginning to end.
Pay particular attention to:
Residence history
Employment history
Education
Driving history
Criminal or law enforcement contacts
Financial history
Military history
References
Previous applications
If something doesn't look right, address it.
Don't wait until you're sitting across from your investigator to mention something you already knew needed correction.
Keep a Copy of Your PHS
If permitted, keep a copy of your completed Personal History Statement for your records.
This can help you prepare for your background interview and maintain consistency throughout the hiring process.
It can also be useful if you later apply to another law enforcement agency.
Your history shouldn't change from one application to another simply because you're relying on memory each time.
Take Your Time Before Submitting
The best way to handle PHS mistakes is to prevent as many as possible.
Before submitting your Personal History Statement:
Read every question carefully.
Verify important dates.
Review your employment history.
Check previous addresses.
Review your driving history.
Make sure required sections are complete.
Confirm that required signatures are included.
Give yourself time for one final review.
Don't wait until the night before the deadline to begin completing a lengthy PHS.
Don't Panic
Realizing that you forgot something can be stressful, especially when you're pursuing a career that places such a strong emphasis on honesty.
But panicking won't help.
If you genuinely made a mistake, address it promptly and professionally.
The important thing is not to turn an accidental omission into an intentional one by discovering the error and then deciding to hide it.
Final Thoughts
If you forgot something on your Personal History Statement, don't ignore it and don't try to cover it up.
Contact the appropriate hiring representative or background investigator and ask how they would like you to correct the information.
Remember the difference:
An honest mistake can be corrected. Intentionally hiding information can raise questions about your integrity.
Police applicants aren't expected to have perfect lives or perfect memories.
They are expected to approach the hiring process honestly, responsibly, and professionally.
If you discover a mistake, take ownership of it, correct it, and move forward.
That approach demonstrates the type of accountability expected from someone pursuing a career in law enforcement.
