Why do recruiters tell you Civilian departments won't hire military police?

The most common reason I hear is "bad habits," but generally that is untrue. Some MP's go their entire career without ever working the road. Most police departments don't care one way or the other about what you did in the Army, heck most don't even ask. The majority of large police departments simply ask on the application whether you served in the military, if you did what your discharge was, and if any negative actions were taken against you. Once you have the in person interview they may ask you what you did in the military, but even that isn't a guarantee.

Now MPs do tend to get hired less for law enforcement it seems, but that is for different reasons that really impact most military members. First, they have bad credit, it happens and this is the biggest thing that disqualifies people. Second, they have negative actions during their military time, this could include an Article 15, or similar things. Third, they just don't know how to interact with people. A bad interview and poor demeanor can torpedo an applicant real quick. However, when someone doesn't get a job they don't think it's for these reasons, instead it's easier to just say that the department must be biased against former MPs.

As for the reserves and national guard. I know plenty of MP's who are in both and the vast majority tend to also be civilian police officers, so it does vary.

Im in an MP unit. Half the MP's are city cops, state trooper, highway patrol or corrections

my last guard unit was an MP BN. at least half of the guys were civilian law enforcement. I think your recruiter is full of it.