I recently took a pre-employment polygraph for a P.D. It is for a "Reserve" officer position. I am a career Firefighter/Paramedic, and taking the poly so I  can be used as a tactical paramedic for a SWAT team. The examiner was very low key, but nice. She administered "firefighter" questions that she pulled from a reference guide. Also seemed positive about the role I was pursuing on the Department.She used an old suitcase type analog machine. I followed most common advise reguarding questions, all answers followed my application. She stated we would do 2 or 3 graphs. After 2 she stopped, was talkative taking the equipment off, and thanked me/shook my hand. No third set, no post interview questions. I simply forgot to ask if I passed, and now have to wait a few days to find out. My friend took the same exam, with similar run through, but asked/was told he did fine. Anyone have any input?

Wondering,

The only way to tell for sure if one has "passed" or "failed" a polygraph "test" is when the official results are sent in writing. Even then, in some rare cases, a declaration of "passing" can be rescinded, as it was when Wen Ho Lee was polygraphed (highly unlikely in your case).

In the mean time, the fact that you mention no "post-test" interrogation is a very good sign.

Note that we do not advise those submitting to polygraph interrogations to ask at the conclusion of the test whether or not they "passed." This type of question often opens the door to more interrogation (polygraphers often respond "Do you think you passed?"). We suggest simply shaking the examiner's hand, thanking him (or her) for his (or her) time, and promptly leaving the premises.  Examiners often assume that truthful examinees will be confident that they passed without having to be told.

On another note, you wrote
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This examiner may have indeed been a very nice person with a positive opinion about the role you are pursuing. On the other hand, her behavior may have been a carefully practiced act to establish rapport with you and lower your defenses in an attempt to increase admissions. Polygraph examiners are trained to project a false sense of empathy for examinees and their situations. Some of the most effective interrogators realize that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar and consequently eschew intimidating interrogation tactics in favor of the "I'm your friend and here to help you through this" approach. 

For others following this discussion, I strongly suggest taking nothing for granted during any polygraph "examination.” In this type of situation, it is always best to assume the worst. You must remember that regardless of his/her character outside the examination room, the polygraph examiner's job is to get you to admit things that were not stated on your application forms and/or change things that were stated. 

Examiners are often evaluated on their confession rates (what percent of those who produce a "deceptive" chart are duped into confessing), with many boasting of obtaining confessions 90%+ of the time. An examiner that actually trusted examinees and was genuinely there to "help" everyone would not last long in the position. Remember this when facing an examiner who claims that he has been a polygrapher for a number of years and yet seems to be the one examiner who is "different" and is actually there to help you.

It is possible that the examiner is a nice person that you may wish to befriend after joining the department. Nonetheless, every examiner’s job involves using deception and trickery to get criminal suspects and job applicants (examiners often have trouble making this distinction when conducting these “tests”) to disclose damaging information about themselves that they would otherwise choose not to provide. Believing that your examiner is somehow different from the others (exactly what a skilled interrogator wants you to believe) is a grave mistake that is likely to lead to disastrous consequences. 

I wish you the best of luck.  Keep us posted.