jengrey78 wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2006 at 6:27am:

For what reason are you taking a polygraph exam?

I am so worried. I have experimented with narcotics in the past. I learned my lesson with a couple of dead friends and a couple of jailed ones. Now I want to be on the right side of the law. I am healthy and athletic. I got a approx. a 93 on the police exam. I am going to have to take this poly. I have never been arrested, no tickets... I lucked out and I have a chance to make my parents proud by joining the NYPD. It seems like the only way to pass is to be a sociopath. Can I admit to unsing narcotics in the past? Will this completely ruin my chance, because if I lie, I won't pass. I am a bad liar. I am 22 and have kept my nose clean for the past few years. Can they excuse my youthfull  indescretions? How will these questions be asked? Can I admit to researching polys? Please I hope you can give me some direction? I know I could be a really good cop if I had the chance.

Alley

Thank you for your respose to my nuttyness. So it's okay to admit everything stupid i have ever done? They cannot read my mind but I have to be truthful... Telling them the truth about everything will make sure that I pass, right? So I have done drugs in the past but I have learned from my mistakes. I stole white out from an office I worked at. How do I say these things without seeming like a scumbag?

Alley

Please tell me that you are sure about that. It is not only about my career, but my dad has 20 years on the job NYPD. He refuses to retire, he is a crazy f*** but my hero. He has been shot four times, lost a partner... He has enough on his plate and word spreads quick on the force. My young stupidities can be a real thorn in his side. Thanks for replying...

alleycat,

For certain, the NYPD does not polygraph applicants. 

While it does have this going for it, I hear nothing but the worst from friends who are employed there. I just can’t see why you would want the job.

The pay is lousy (starting pay is $25K in NYC!), working conditions are awful, and many of your co-workers will have unsavory pasts (my friends at NYPD refer to this phenomenon as "perps as cops").

Some true anecdotes that I have heard from friends there include: 

-Senior command members (i.e. two-star chiefs) running up to officers on the street and saying "officer, I need to call HQ immediately. Do you have a cell phone I can use?" If the officer produces a phone (the possession of which is banned), his tax-id number is recorded and he takes a hit (usually two vacation days).

-An internal affairs unit called "inspections" pulls over NYPD cars and checks for seat belts. Again, two-day rips fly. This unit also stops patrol cars during the holidays to search for merchandise to be sure that no one has been Christmas shopping.

-Being ordered at roll call to make three inspections of a certain rail yard over the midnight shift. Then, being reminded that no one is allowed to enter the above described rail yard, because it is a “cooping prone location” (nice sleeping area).

I, for one, have no idea who would want to work in an atmosphere like this where there is a complete lack of trust and constant invasion of privacy. I know that law enforcement is a calling in many young people. Still, I can’t imagine wanting it this bad to put up with the things I describe above.