Hey Maschke & Scalabrini (sp?) - 
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
I failed a poly a some time ago and was scared $&#faced when I went in that first time.  I thought it was over for me in a career in law enforcement.  Then I was told about this website.  Took the LAPD poly a while back and when the polygrapher came back - I PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS.  The funny thing is - I was not lying either time.  The only thing I lied about was that I had received about 4-5 hours sleep where they mandate 7-8.  That was the only question I lied about.  About LAPD: (recent as of 2002)
Everything you guys mentioned was correct: the half hour speech how the poly
can pick everything up from a tiny white lie to a tickle in your balls.  They pump
you up with fear prior to the test.  I almost had to stop from laughing and just
bought into everything he said.  The ask three sets of Q's - all in a different order
each time.  The only difference was that in the first set he had asked if I had studied
up on the poly or was consciously attempting to beat it.  I was a little nervous at that
one, but it was not asked again after the first set.  There are 12 questions in each set.
He actually had the gall to tell me, while I waited for about 15 minutes, that
he had to check with 2 other polygraphers, send an email of my results to
Johns Hopkins University, and to another poly institute in Washington (state- if
memory serves!)  I would not pass if the scientists there did not clear me.
But all to no avail.  If they actually send such an email I will eat #$%*.

So thank you boys. I passed by simply going in there with confidence.

PigWannaBe2002

Dear AMM
   
I am so pleased to hear that you are continuing in the process.  The Dept. needs candiates like you who are aware of just how important honor is.  I am happy for you for passing the second polygraph.  Good for you for continuing on with your head held high....Never quit !!!!!!  These LAPD backgroung investigattors need to see that some of you have the courage to fight for truth and justice.  As you know most are P-3 officers with little or no experience in Police  Work much less having any investigation skills whatsoever.  I pary that your backgroung investigator is not Bayleen Murray as she has a reputation of being so lacking  in her ability that she DQs candiates so she can just get their file off of her desk!  Her hope is that no one fights her decisions...... 
In any case my son is still in the appeal process with months going by between steps.  He has made it his mission to take this to the end and finish what was started.  My son and I will never accept something so important as honor being questioned  as his HONOR has always been important to him and he has lived his life holding it in the high position it deserves.  The fight continues.... but with all sincerity I am not sure he would accept a position if it was offered at this time.  After 3 years of testing and bending over backwards and fullfilling every request, he is not longer sure that LAPD is the place that he would like to dedicate his life.  As he is a honest and most honorable young man with hopes of making the world a better place.  And under the current leadership (administration) he is not sure that would be possible at LAPD.  The fight he continues is to clear his good name and regain his HONOR and self respect!!!!!
Take good care of yourself and please let us all know your status.  I respect you and your journey more than you will ever know...
With regards to you AMM
A MOM

A MOM,

Thanks for your kind words.  I hesitate to give out too much information since  I don't want the LAPD to identify me from my posts.  It has been a very long, uphill battle, but my appeal was eventually granted. (I was very lucky in that I did not have to go before the Public Safety Committee or Civil Service Commission.)   However, that in itself did not result in my immediate hire as I had hoped.  As you know, the City moves very slowly and I was forced to repeat several steps (medical, etc.) including a second polygraph which I passed. Currently, I am waiting for my background investigator to finish my investigation.  Based on her comments, I believe that I will ultimately prevail.

My integrity is very important to me and I was determined to not let them brand me a liar or, worse yet, take away my good name.  I hope your son has been successful as well.  I will post more on my personal situation when it becomes appropriate.  Good luck to all LAPD candidates and remember to arm yourself with knowledge; Don't make the mistake that I did in thinking honesty would be enough to pass the polygraph.

Dear AMM
I have wathched you and many of your posts for quite a long time.  I know that you have been fighting all of the way from the beginning of the process to become a officer with LAPD.  At one point, I think I remember reading that you were in the middle of the apeal process.  How did your apeal go?  And are you now in law enforcement or still involved in the red tape of fighting for youself and your good name? I know that even after the poly and getting results that you have failed it you can still go forward (the last step) and have a face to face with the Board of Public Safety.  Did you have to go that far? and if so were you placed back into the process?   
I have enjoyed your many posts and hope and pray that you have been one of the lucky and persistant ones, who did not give up and came out with his/her honor intack.  I would love a reply from you.   With respect.  A MOM

John (or anyone else in the same position),

Try calling Phylllis Lynes (she is the Public Safety Employment Division Chief) at 213-847-9717, or email her at plynes@per.lacity.org.  Explain who you are and what your looking for.  Definitely mention that you took the poly and what you were told.  She needs to know that honest candidates are being thrown out based solely on the polygraph.  Don't go down without a fight.  I would also recommend contacting/writing all the Councilmembers that sit on the Public Safety committee.  You may not get a response, but it never hurts.  If this is what you really want to do, it's worth the fight.

Don't bother calling LAPD Backgrounds-they never returned my phone calls either.  If you absolutely have to contact them, email the Captain in charge, Rick Webb, at webbr@lapd.lacity.org.  Remember if you want different results in life, you have to start doing things differently.

They probably sent you notification via the mail,  and it got lost.

Dear George,

It has indeed been 3 months. If I put down 3 weeks, that was my mistake. I have been waiting 3 months, called several times, and I get the runaround every time....

Silence can also mean that you're being blown off, without even receiving so much as the courtesy of being informed that you've been eliminated from consideration for employment.

Please clarify something. In an earlier message you wrote that it has been 3 months. But elsewhere I see three weeks written. Which is it?

Thanks for your feedback..Out of curiousity, why do you think that silence be a bad sign? I always figured that if they tell you nothing after a long period of time, they are moving forward?

John,

It is possible that your polygrapher was just bluffing, but his accusation combined with LAPD's silence is not a good sign.

George, he actually said I was being deceptive, when in fact I was not, but I did hear that lapd is notorous to telling you that you lie when in fact you do not....So, I guess my question is...could I have still passed even if I was told I was deceptive, or is that unheard of?

John,

I'd be hesitant to try to infer whether you passed or not based solely on the amount of time that has elapsed without a reply from LAPD.

Did your polygrapher accuse you of deception during the "test?" Did you receive a post-test interrogation? If the answer to both these questions is "no," then it's a good indication that you passed.

Anyone...

I originally posted this question...I am curious.. It has been 3 months since i took my poly, and nothing came in the mail....Is this normal, or does it mean that I passed? I keep calling, they tell me nothing....Is it that I can assume that I passed, since I have not gotten anything in the mail within 3 weeks?

You should have been informed of your test results upon completion of the examination.

Hello
I am so sorry to hear that again this LAPD madness keeps disqualifying potential candiates for the department.  I am aware of too many who are in your position to even begin to list here.   
But I am also aware that you can take this further and demand a hearing before the Board of Civial Commissioners.  The Public Safety Department (the one that actulally disqualified you - after your LAPD Background Investigator reccommended disqualification)...will put a package together and list all of the reasons you were asked specific questions during your polygraph and those that they were made aware during  your backgraound investigation process. They by law must now send this package to you prior to your public hearing.  This will give you the ability to see in writing just exactly what your package reads like.  At that point you can prepare yourself with material that could dispute what they have against you.  DO THIS NOW as you only have a week or two to notify Public Safety in writing of your decision to take your appeal to the last step...I suggest you mail it with a return receipt form as all of the city is run by a bunch of Public servants who could never make it on the outside in a real business atmosphere and are so stupied that they will loose it or swear they never got it..........PROTECT YOURSELF! Now, the real sad and most frustrating part of this is that this too like the entire process you have been thru will take months maybe even years. When they respond to your notice that you "respectfully request a hearing"....they should include a date to expect said hearing to be scheduled.  This will also take forever....but keep calling them and ask when you might possibly be scheduled and when you should call back for updates. Try to keep from calling them IDIOTS as this will cross your mind during each conversation. If you have ever worked in the business world you will see clearly that the City is the worst run business in the world.  Add to that that these "employees" know they can screw up or screw around with people as they please with no ramifications or worry as they are CIVIL SERVANTS and could never loose their jobs due to being underskilled and not capable of doing a job properly...
Good luck to you and let us all know how you do....
Please note that it is not unusual that the Board overturns the decision and places candiates back into the hiring process.

Hey I just took the polygraph test for LAPD and failed it even though I wasnt lying. I went into the test thinking that long as I was honest I would pass but I was WRONG! I was told that I failed the test right after the test. Well hope you have better luck than me b/c that's what that test is based on luck.

I know how long it takes.  LAPD is quite slow on all phases of the background investigation and reporting back to you with information (in writing) or (via telephone)...but if you fail the Poly...the results come faster than the speed of light!!! no more than 3 weeks.   
Also if you fail this Poly ...do not give up, file an appeal and take it all of the way to the last step which is a hearing in front of the Board of Civil Service Commissioners.  Many who go that far end up winning their cases..
Godd luck!

...Does anyone know how long after a poly is taken (for LAPD),  for the pd to actually send you something in the mail, stating that you failed, if in fact you did fail?