I was terminated as a Police Officer for supposedly lying. I was sent to a Polygrapher to test me on a statement that I made to another Officer. It was a very minor issue. I basically told one officer one thing and put in my report another. I told the Sgt. what I told the officer wasn't a lie, it was a brief synopsis due to being in a hurry to apprehend a suspect and my report was the incident in detail. I advised my Sgt. all along I couldn't remember exactly word for word what I told the other officer but, I could remember the general conversation. My Sgt. thought I was lying and sent me to a polygrapher. I was actually glad because I wanted him to realize I was being truthful. The polygrapher stated that he really didn't have anything to polygraph me on and thought the whole thing was rediculous and cutting hairs. (he said she said stuff) The tragedy occurred when he wrote his report to my Sgt. He copied the direct statement from the other officers report and put that in his report saying I said that. I was totally shocked. Needless to say it made me look like a liar and I got terminated over it. I called the polygrapher to ask him if he tape recorded the interview and of course he said no. I didn't have a leg to stand on. Now my career is history over the poygraphers B.S. report. 

Anyone know of anyone else with a similar story and what the did after termination. 

Sorry, I guess I didn't explain it enough. My Sgt. opened an IA investigation because  My report was slightly different than the other officers report. I told him it was because I was in a hurry and only gave the officer the info for the pc for the arrest, so the suspect wouldn't get away. My report was very detailed and the Sgt. just wondered why my report was different than the other officers. I was new and the other officer was there for 7 years. The other officer backed me 100% and said the whole thing has been blown way out of proportion. The Sgt. was just being cautious checking out the new guy I suppose. I knew that and that is another reason I wanted to prove my innocence on the polygraph. I wanted him to know I was honest. 

I didn't have any opportunity to have any counsel due to being on probation. I was basically between a rock and a hard place. It was my word against the polygraphers. I am really against the poly now and the tricks polygraphers pull, it's so wrong.  My career is destroyed due to the polygraphers innacurate report. I have since found out that this particular polygrapher has been in several IA investigations himself due to doctoring poly's in favor of police departments. I am pursueing an amendment to my poly through his commander or I will seek legal action. 
Oh, and the department is just over 100
Any advice anyone?  

I appreciate your response. 
I wasn't paying union dues and wouldn't until my 1 year anniversary. 
Oh, and as far as the termination goes. Once I was informed of the termination I asked to resign so a termination would not be on my record. It was granted. I now know how dumb that was. I'm still kicking myself for that move.   
Sorry to be stupid but what does PBA mean and Dimas? 

I am sorry to hear that

good luck..

Timber,

I concur with Nunyun's advice that you get an attorney and seek legal action. I suspect that the fact that you resigned may limit your legal options, but the fact that you only did so under duress might also be of legal significance.

If you haven't already done so, it would be a good idea to start taking notes now about all the salient details of what happened, rather than relying on memory later. Do you have copies of the relevant documents (such as your report, the other officer's report, the polygrapher's report)?

It is relevant that the polygrapher said that he "really didn't have anything to polygraph you on" and that he "thought the whole thing was ridiculous and cutting hairs." Did he in fact polygraph you anyway? If so, this may be of legal significance.

By falsifying his report (attributing to you statements that you did not make), the polygrapher violated the American Polygraph Association's Standards of Ethics:

Quote:


I suspect he also violated department regulations and state law.

By failing to audio- and/or video-record your polygraph examination, the polygrapher also violated the APA's Standards of Practice:

Quote:


There is only one reason for not recording polygraph examinations: to allow the polygrapher to lie with impunity about what was said.

Your polygrapher's willfull failure to record the polygraph examination may be of legal siginificance.

If you can obtain details regarding the previous IA investigations of this polygrapher for doctoring polygraph results, that would also likely be helpful in any legal action you may take.

Is this polygrapher in fact an employee of the department you worked for, or is he in private practice? The wording of your post ("this particular polygrapher has been in several IA investigations himself due to doctoring poly's in favor of police departments") suggests that he might be a private polygrapher who contracts his services to local law enforcement agencies. If this is the case, then he might be subject to the regulations of a state licensing board, which regulations should be checked for potential violations.

If you would send me a private message, I would be interested in knowing the name of this polygrapher, if you'd be willing to share it.

I wish you all the best in pursuing this matter.

Thanks Dimas...

I have hired  lawyer and a private investigator for this matter. It's expensive of course but I can't go the rest fo my life knowing that I got screwed over and not do anything about it. I really don't want reinstated  with my old dept. I just want this B.S. charge off my record that was based on a B.S. poly report. So I can continue my career. He never did poly me, I wish he would have. He said there was no concrete issues to poly me on and the whole thing was really minor and couldn't understand my dept. even doing an IA on it, however he still had to do a report. I have received all copies of the entire IA and I really am astonished now after looking at the file. My attorney is filing a grievance on my behalf to the individual in charge of the polygraphs through out the state. We are trying to get the polygrapher to amend his report. I realize that's a long shot considering he would basically be admitting to a false report himself. I'll keep you guys updated. Thanks again...