On 17 November 2004, Eric Fiander, a polygraph examiner employed by the
Atlantic Police Academy in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada,
posted remarks to the PolygraphPlace.com message board denying the possibility that guilty persons can pass a polygraph. Because the
PolygraphPlace.com message board is censored, and polygraph critics such as myself are not allowed to post there, I am responding to Mr. Fiander, who will be informed of this posting by e-mail to
efiander@hollandc.pe.ca, here.
Mr. Fiander, in response to the question, "Can a person who has been accused of something pass a polygraph? If they are really guilty?" you replied simply, "No."
Shame on you, Mr. Fiander, for telling such an outrageous lie. As a polygraph "professional," you must surely know that your assertion is untrue.
To disprove your claim that a guilty person cannot pass the polygraph, a single example will suffice. How about
Gary Ridgway, A.K.A. the "Green River Killer," the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history, who went on to kill again after passing a polygraph "test?"
Other examples include spies like
Ignatz Theodor Griebl,
Karel Frantisek Koecher,
Larry Wu-tai Chin,
Aldrich Hazen Ames, and
Ana Belen Montes all passed the polygraph while lying about relevant issues.
By refusing to acknowledge the shortcomings of polygraphy with candor, you undermine not only your own credibility, but also that of your fellow polygraph "professionals" (none of whom were apparently willing to correct you).