I recently failed my polygraph with LAPD, I was truthfull with all the questions. I was told that if I tell the truth I have nothing to worry about, boy was I wrong. I would like to know if anyone has had a similar experience with the LAPD like I did and have an input on whats the next step after failing the polygraph. I tried calling public safety to get more infomation on my status as a candidate and I cannot get a straight answer from them, my question is pretty simple, I ask them if Im disqualified as a candidate or will I get another chance to retake the polygraph and they cant tell me. Its been over a month and I have not even recieve one piece of mail indicating my situation. This has been one of the worst and frustrating experince I have ever gone through. They have my life on hold, its been a dream of mine to be police officer but Im ready to move on if I can get a straight answer from them. What makes this difficult for me is that I was finished with the entire process and had an academy date pending a succesful polygraph examination. If anyone has had a similar experience or has an input with the 
LAPD process, feel free to write to back and maybe we can discuss our options on how to deal with the RIGHTS stripping machine they call polygraph.

Fred F.,

LAPD began routine polygraph screening of applicants in February 2001. In the first round of polygraph interrogations, a whopping 43% "failed." See Bobbi Murray's recent article, "Just the Truth: LAPD recruits are having trouble with new lie-detector tests" in LA Weekly:

http://www.laweekly.com:80/ink/01/16/news-murray.shtml 

dzalez,

As the above article makes clear, you are not alone in your experience with the LAPD polygraph. I recommend that you act quickly to protect your rights. You should promptly contest your polygrapher's opinion in writing, and send it by certified, return-receipt mail.

You should also seek copies of your entire applicant file, including all information related to your polygraph interrogation. California has its own version of the Freedom of Information Act that you should be able to use to request this information.

See Chapter 5 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector for more ideas on grievance procedures.

I think it is a very good idea for victims of the LAPD pre-employment polygraph program to get in touch with each other, and I encourage you to avail yourself of the AntiPolygraph.org message board to accomplish this.

A number of us who are from California are also coordinating efforts to abolish polygraphy from the workplace in our state. (I'm a Californian, too.) See the California Polygraph Reform Initiative forum for more:

http://antipolygraph.org/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.pl?board=cali 

We'd welcome your participation in this effort. E-mail me at maschke@antipolygraph.org for more details.

One more important thing you could do is to write a public statement regarding your experience with the new LAPD pre-employment polygraph program. See the statements written by others regarding various agencies on the AntiPolygraph.org statements page:

http://antipolygraph.org/statements.shtml 

to dzalez
hi, i would like to know if you heard anything yet from lapd, im in the same situation. i did not pass my poly and i need to know what is the next step. my academy date is for june 4th.

I recieve my letter last week and it stated that my background investigation is an ongoing process and the polygraph examination is part of that process. LAPD told me that I can reapply in a year meaning I have to start all over again cause my application would have expired by then. Im pretty sure that if you failed your poly you are in the same situation.

dzalez,

When you received your letter were you informed that you aren't considered a candidate anymore? 

Unless the letter specifically states that you are no longer being considered, ie "Your application and qualifications have been evaluated and you have not been selected..." You are still being investigated. What did your letter say?.  If the letter states you can reapply in one year, yes, you have been removed. 

Fred F.

dzalez,

Don't let the bad poly experience stop you. You should notice that both Nate and Melvin have overcome the fallacy of the polygraph to pursue law enforcement careers

Try the LA County Sheriff, and the local city PD'S that are hiring. The California Youth Authority and Dept.of Corrections are other choices( the CYA and CDC do NOT poly) Keep applying, if you don't have any college education, start working on that. 

Remember that if you keep applying regardless of the "deception" label, you are bound to be successful if you are honest.

And most importantly, read the "Lie Behind The Lie Detector" and be prepared for the next "exam". 


Fred F.

to dzalez

since you got your letter that you are no longer being concidered, are you apealing this? if you are, what department are you going through?

To all LAPD candidates:

The same thing happened to me.  I began the process over a year ago while still in the military.  Everything was set and my background investigation was completed.  LAPD backgrounds called, told me the poly was instituted in February, and set up my appointment for April.  I wasn't concerned in the least since I had nothing to hide and I truthfully answered every question.

As you might guess the examiner (a real jerk) came back in and said I didn't pass.  I was flabbergasted!  He fished around for a while and I told him that one of the questions elicited a memory over 10 years old that wasn't even relevant to the actual question asked.   I won't describe the incident (since I'm appealing disqualification, and am still worried about anonymity) but it was spun way out of proportion by the examiner.  In fact, the incident contains nothing detrimental to me, but to one of my family members.  This incident wasn't provided during my initial background interview because I honestly forgot about it! Hell, it was over 10 years ago! If you remember your interview, you're asked nearly 200 questions.  It's literally impossible to remember everything that's happend in your life.

I started writing letters like mad explaining my situation.  I wrote Chief Parks, the Civil Service Commission, the General Manager of Personnel, the head of Public Safety, every council member on the Public Safety Committe, and all my elected representatives.  (I also sent letters to Senators Hatch, Leahy and Grassley who sit on the Judiciary Committee.) I've received very little response.  A letter back from Parks only said that all procedures were followed.  I recommend you put a coherent letter together and start sending them out.  Make sure they're personalized though.  No one likes a form letter.

Like you, I couldn't get a straight answer from anyone. Eventually I was told that I wasn't going to be DQ'd based on my poly, but rather for non-disclosure of the incident I alluded to.  Thankfully, this can be appealed, but it doesn't answer how my polygraph "failure" became "passing."  I think my phone calls and letters may have helped.

Anyway, according to the head of Public Safety, the current polygraph failure rate for LAPD candidates is 68% and the June Academy class started with only 19 people.  Hopefully, they'll start to realize the poly is a crap shoot.  My background investigator confided in me that one of his other candidates is an out and out criminal but passed his poly! Even they are questioning the utility of the poly.  Listen, got to go now.  Good luck. I'll post more later once I register.