To use an analogy, in The Wizard of Oz, the Great and Mighty Oz turned out to be an old, pathetic little man ("ignore that man behind the curtain"). Same idea in polygraphy. Ignore the sad, pathetic little polygraphers and be more concerned about the great and mighty powers of the polygraph. The power of Oz and the power of polygraphy share something: both are fakes.

Well said Kona!

I feel for you.  I too, as so many other qualified applicants, was dq'ed solely on a b.s. polygraph score.  I think your situation is one of the most unfortunate ones I've heard.  You basically were ready to start the academy, then the bottom fell out because of your polygraph alone.  Damn those polygraphers to Hell.  They do far more harm in this world than good.

Two Block,

First of all, I don't believe that a polygrapher would formally accuse any of these potential law enforcement recruits of any specific wrongdoing, let alone charge them with a crime, unless it was something serious.  All they have to say is that deception was indicated, or that the results were inconclusive, and we can't offer you a job.  Secondly, I doubt that any of these gentlemen possess the monetary resources to retain an attorney and seek a legal remedy that would force LAPD to offer them a job.  IMHO, even if a person had the resources to take the LAPD to court, it would be a monumental waste of time and money.   

What these guys need to do is move on past this small setback, learn from it, and apply to a different police agency.  Knowing what they know now, this time around they will be able to approach the polygraph as an informed person that knows how to ensure that they are not another false positive victim, by using countermeasures.   

There are plenty of outstanding police departments in California; LAPD is not the be all, end all.  All of you guys out there that got burned on the polygraph at LAPD apply to another department, and get hired.....you can do it!

Kona

Twoblock,

I think what a majority of people who post on this message board want.......is a job in law enforcement.  I don't see many people on these boards who would seriously consider filing a lawsuit for being found deceptive, or having inconclusive results on a polygraph.  Just what are you going to sue the LAPD for, slander?  Defamation of character maybe?  Good luck.  I'm no Johnny Cochran, but I'll bet you a dollar to a doughnut that a suit of that nature would be thrown out of court faster than you could say frivolous waste of time.   

It is not impossible to fail a polygraph at one agency, then test at another law enforcement agency, and pass.  In my case, I was found deceptive on one polygraph, and given a retest a week later at the same police dept, and passed with a different polygrapher.   

IMHO, the people on these boards that have failed a polygraph in the past need to learn from that experience, educate themselves here on the entire process, and move on.  If one chooses not to learn from that negative experience, and wallow in self pity or righteous indignation, they are most certainly doomed to repeat that failure.  Apply to a different agency, use countermeasures on the polygraph, and GET THE JOB.  Lesson learned, mission accomplished.                     

Cheers,
Kona

I understand both positions.

I would simply like to get on with my life, after the "fun" of my NSA polygraphs.  But I will tell you this: a lawsuit will likely be in the offing if those polygraphs get in the way of future opportunities...

Skeptic

Twoblock wrote on Oct 18^th, 2003 at 4:33pm:

Ok Twoblock,

I see we are talking apples and oranges here.  I'm am talking about doing whatever you have to in order to GET THE JOB in law enforcement that so many here on these boards want, and you are talking about getting the polygraph removed from the employment process through legal means.  Fair enough.  I was just curious what advise you have to the many people here that really want the job within the next year or so.  Not the ones that are willing to wait for all the legal wrangling to be settled in the next say....10 years or so?  I applaud what George is doing here, but many of us that want and need the job now don't have the time to wait for a legal remedy to be our savior.  I agree with you that the polygraph is hocus pocus BS, but until it is abolished (which I personally don't see happening for a long time) I think it is important to use whatever means necessary to overcome it and move along.

Kona