Long Island, New York Newsday staff writer Chau Lam reports in “Bill eyes polygraphs for some jobs”:
Lie-detector tests could be required of applicants for civilian jobs in Suffolk law enforcement agencies under a proposal now before the county legislature.
Sponsored by Legis. Daniel Losquadro (R-Shoreham), the bill would authorize the police department, the sheriff’s department and the district attorney’s office to conduct polygraph tests on prospective employees.
Police officers currently submit to polygraph tests before they join the force, Losquadro said.
Advocates for the tests say the exams are needed for law enforcement agencies to gauge the honesty of potential civilian employees.
Civilian employees working in those departments have access to sensitive information, such as police officers’ names and addresses, he said – and one took such a list home. Police found it while searching the employee’s residence during a narcotics investigation involving one of his sons.
Tim Motz, a police department spokesman, said the incident occurred in 1999 and the employee, described as a messenger-driver, no longer works for the department.
“It’s very important that we hold these individuals to the same standard as sworn officers,” Losquadro said.
But Chief of Department Robert Moore said the resulting workload could prove overwhelming for police staffers who conduct lie detector tests. Moore cited as an example the 700 school crossing guards who work for the department.
“The volume would be taxing for the police department,” Moore told lawmakers.
Losquadro replied that his bill would give the departments only the ability to conduct the lie detector tests, not require them to do so.
The measure, which has bipartisan support, was approved in the Public Safety and Public Information Committee yesterday and is expected to be discussed Tuesday when the full legislature meets in Riverhead.
“We are still reviewing the bill and will reserve a final decision pending a public hearing,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy said through a spokesman.
The Nassau Police Department conducts polygraph tests only for those seeking to be sworn in as officers.
Suffolk Sheriff Vincent DeMarco and a representative of District Attorney Thomas Spota support the measure, saying it would give them an additional tool for deciding whether to hire an applicant.
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. If polygraph screening is to be expanded in Suffolk County, New York, why not expand it to include the legislature, the county executive, the district attorney himself, etc.?
I want to take a polygraph test to prove that past employer(s) lied about me.