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Unfortunately, I have disappointing news. I received my rejection letter from the PD today.
Though it did not say why, I strongly believe that my rejection was due to the honest admission I made during the pre-polygraph interview.
What makes me sad and disillusioned is the fact that I've recently spoken to a couple of police officers (from other depts), who freely admitted they and/or their co-workers never admitted past non-verifiable indescretions far more serious than mine (such as heavy drug use, assaults, etc), before taking their polygraph screenings, and were hired with no problems. It makes me wonder if the law enforcement profession really wants honest people, or just people who can give the IMAGE of being honest when necessary.
I guess I learned the hard way. If it's not on paper, keep your mouth shut, and admit to nothing.
Thanks for everyone's advice.
Posted by: Fred F. Posted on: Apr 10th, 2002 at 7:55am
I admitted it before beginning the polygraph, during the "initial interview".
He did the standard "why are you being deceptive; I'm gonna leave you alone for a while to think about it" stuff. I didn't admit anything else because...well...there ISN'T anything else.
Anonymous,
Since you told the polygrapher BEFORE the exam, they should not hold it against you. You did the right thing by not admitting to anything else or by writing a statement that they could "spin" against you.
Personally, I believe that you will be successful
Good Luck
Fred F.
Posted by: BEAR Posted on: Apr 10th, 2002 at 6:38am
Regarding your concerns about a criminal charge. The statute of limitations should be limited to two years for this crime, at least in my state. The value of the item will not make it a felony so I wouldn't worry about an arrest.
Posted by: MissionPoly-ban Posted on: Apr 10th, 2002 at 5:39am
I think you are worrying way too much...cool down bud.
Your admission is so insignificant in respects to your overall presentation to the examiner. It would only become a problem if it was coupled with admissions about other thefts, drug use, physical violence, etc. I think you need to relax...you came clean about it and showed them you were serious about wanting the job.
As far as them contacting your employer and getting them to press charges against you, FORGET ABOUT IT. There is no way in hell that they will do such a thing. Stealing 10,000 cash from the company is one thing...100$ isn't worth a damn in the reality of the situation.
Just to leave you with a note: I worked for a PD for a short time doing an internship. When copying the polygraph results for the background investigator (of a person trying to get hired), I noticed that the person admitted to stealing 300$ worth of metals from a former place of employment (god only knows how much he really took). They hired him a month later.
Posted by: anonymous Posted on: Apr 10th, 2002 at 3:33am
I admitted it before beginning the polygraph, during the "initial interview".
During the test, when we came to the part about "employer theft", I was really jacked up from having admitted the aforementioned issue, so when the tester asked me "Are you lying about any other theft", my heart rate, breathing, and pressure skyrocketed. It was due to stress from thinking 'Oh crap, they're gonna think I'm a horrible person!'.
He did the standard "why are you being deceptive; I'm gonna leave you alone for a while to think about it" stuff. I didn't admit anything else because...well...there ISN'T anything else.
One thing, the BI called me a couple days later to ask me about this 'item' on my polygraph, and I told them the same reason....I had something that I forgot to return after quitting, and never got around to doing so.
Any additional advice?
Posted by: Fred F. Posted on: Apr 10th, 2002 at 2:38am
The real thing bothering me...is there a chance that the PD will use this admission to contact said former employer, have them file charges, have me arrested, and cause any chance for any law enforcement career to go up in smoke?
Anonymous,
Did you make this confession after you took the test? If this is the case, you have been victimized by the post-test interrogation. If you informed the polygrapher during or before the test, It may not become an issue because you told him.
As far as using it against you, I wouldn't be overly concerned about it. If your employer was aware of the property that you took and wanted you to return it, You would have been contacted. BI's like to use tactics like that to get more evidence that you are not worthy of the position.
You need to download and read The Lie Behind The Lie Detector. This explains the pseudoscience of polygraphy and will help you realize that you have been duped.
You need to touch base with the BI, phone calls never hurt and may even be helpful.
Good Luck
Fred F.
Posted by: Anonymous Posted on: Apr 10th, 2002 at 1:57am
I took my polygraph a while back for the police department. Unfortunately, I didn't investigate this or any other polygraph site regarding what the testers ask, and spilled my guts about everything during my interview.
I've got a basically squeaky clean past, no drugs, no criminal convictions apart from a small brush a long time ago that the initial PD recruiters confirmed didn't matter. However, when I did my polygraph, and the tester asked if I ever stole anything from an employer, I remembered that around 2 years ago, I'd been given a piece of property by my employer that I forgotten to give back after quitting (valued at around $100), and never returned.
This was noted on my testing results, and returned to the investigating PD's background people. I've not heard anything from my background investigator in a few weeks now. I'm concerned about 2 things:
1) Will this admission (I was trying to be as honest as possible, which is why I volunteered it) disqualify me from the PD for being a dishonest person?
2) The real thing bothering me...is there a chance that the PD will use this admission to contact said former employer, have them file charges, have me arrested, and cause any chance for any law enforcement career to go up in smoke?