I took my poly earlier this week with a local PD and I am not sure how I did.

The exam started with 5 "calibration" questions followed by 3 rounds of 16 questions asked in random order. As near as I could tell, there was only one discernible control question.

By the end of it, the examiner asked what I thought I reacted to. Naturally, I said the control which I manipulated and he agreed showed a reaction. But he said there was also a reaction to a drug-related question which I know I absolutely did not lie on. I said the only thing I could think that would cause a reaction was an argument about drug issues I had earlier in the week (that was the most innocuous thing I could think of without risking further interrogation). The examiner asked me to write that down and sign it. He said he would forward the signed document to my BI and it was up to him on how to proceed and that a retest may be necessary. 

Should I take the initiative and call my BI directly and tell him the results of my poly, or wait for him to call me with a decision? Any thought on how this will turn out for me? I am at my wit's end with these polygraph's. If I am being accused of lying for this, I know the machines are not doing what they should be doing. 

Thanks for the reply. I don't know if I would necessarily qualify the end of the test as any kind of interrogation. The examiner never left the room to "check the charts" or speak to his "supervisor." There was no good cop-bad cop. He showed me the charts throughout the exam. Somewhere in the middle, he asked what questions I was thinking about. I said the control question. He said good, but that there were also a couple of other questions I showed reactions to. After the last round, he asked me about the one drug-related question and I gave him my reasoning for having a reaction. The examiner was pleasant throughout the entire process and asked how I thought I did. I told him I knew I did well and was extremely confident. 

I don't know how the computerized systems work, but he did seem to rely pretty heavily on its findings. He never indicated that he thought I was lying about the question, only that I was thinking of something when he asked it. He wanted to know what I was thinking of and why it would elicit any reaction. I explained it the best as I could.

some much advice - so little knowlege

Anonymous,

I think bushido71's observations were quite cogent. While there is no strong indication that you may have "failed," it is possible that your polygrapher may have deemed the charts to be "inconclusive" (or close to being so).

Your replies when asked what question(s) you thought you reacted to and how you thought you did on the polygraph were also quite astute.

Anonymous, 

I am in a similar situation as you. I recently took a polygraph with the LA County Sheriff. I was told I had a reaction to one question (drug-related) which I explained was a result of my thinking about some former friends I no longer associate with because of their drug use. The examiner asked me to write it down and sign it. That must be standard operating procedure for them. Anyway, he appeared satisfied with my explanation but did not say if I passed or failed. He said "you may have to come back and retest so we can focus on the issues that seemed to bother you" but that it was ultimately a BI decision. 

Although the door seems to be open for an "inconclusive" or an "NDI" I am still worried that I will get that dreaded DQ letter. 

Has anyone here ever passed a poly under similar circumstances???

Fred,

Thanks for the information. I am not sure what else I could have done when the examiner asked for the signed statement. Refusing to do so would seem to only raise suspicions. Plus, I felt my reason for having showed a reaction to the drug question was valid and yet did not open the door for additional interrogation. 

Nevertheless, I did immediately call my BI who said they would talk to the examiner, but I have not heard anything since (it's been about a week). I am going crazy with worry and anticipation!!!!

I volunteer for the LASD and also heard about the denial of promotions but did not know the January class was cancelled. That is certainly unfortunate. I believe I would have been in line for the June class anyway. I hope I will still be able to continue in the process in the meantime. I am also in the process with LAPD and a couple of smaller local agencies.