retcopper wrote on Aug 17
th, 2006 at 9:55pm:
I can't speak to what the Feds would have done, but I will say that there is a lot of jealousy between the FBI and PDs when it comes to sharing info, etc. etc.
And that stinks. You would think all cops would want to be on the same side, not fighting each other in some territorial size contest.
Quote:This of course hinders investigations. I think both parties are guilty of this to some extent. I hope it has improved since 9/11.
It probably did for a while, until the sense of safety that we were lulled to sleep by returned. I bet turf wars go on now as we speak, and not infrequently.
Quote:I agree that the use of a polygraph is a good psychological tool in conjunction with "good" interrogation techniques.
Well, retcop, that's about what it is. A tool, used to play upon someone's psyche, that is necessarily bolstered by interrogation. When questioning gets nowhere, and the subject agrees to a poly and fails, subsequently confessing, that's as close to a decent use of the poly as you can get.
Consider a sphygmomanometer: a blood pressure cuff with a squeeze bulb. It doesn't work by itself, because you can't read the systolic and diastolic from the needle on the gauge. You need a stethoscope, too. Conversely, you can't hear someone's BP. If you carry a stethoscope, you need a sphyg. to get the whole picture.
So it is with the poly. By itself, it's traces on paper or a screen- a fancy BFB readout. With interrogation, it's worth about half a buttock against the ignorant person (assuming they are lying and the readouts aren't from something else, which they well could be), and useless against the informed. And to be honest, people have a right to be informed, and to be dealt with honestly.
Quote:All PDs want their own man to give the polygraph. BTW if it is true that Gelb does not possess a Ph.D. then I would be skeptical of his work.
Turf war alert! If polyboys are "qualified", then why should the LAPD care if the FBI conducts it? Not a good reflection on those meant to protect and serve.
Good to hear, also, that someone who is pro-poly cares about honesty and straight dealing in terms of qualifications. I have no right to call myself an MD, so let Gelb show his doctorate, or let him quit talking about it...