http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_10890662

Police call polygraph testing 'garbage'; others still rely on them
Adriana M. Chávez / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 11/04/2008 12:00:00 AM MST

EL PASO -- The El Paso Police Department has dropped the use of polygraph exams -- commonly known as lie detector tests -- on police officers during internal investigations because the results were considered useless.

Until several months ago, the exams were used when complaints were filed against officers.

Police Chief Greg Allen, who was appointed police chief in late March, called the exams a "piece of junk" and the president of the police union said they are "garbage."

In August, the El Paso City Council approved a new contract with the El Paso Municipal Officers Association that made it possible for an officer to request an independent polygraph examiner to administer the test, instead of one employed by the department, if the chief requests a polygraph test.

But the new administration of Chief Allen simply decided to not use them even though they are still an option.

Criminal suspects also have the option of taking a polygraph test, said police spokesman Officer Chris Mears.

The Police Department has three police officers who are certified to administer polygraph tests.

Both Allen and El Paso Municipal Police Officers Association President Robert "Bobby" Holguin said they have issues with the accuracy of polygraph tests.

"I don't like intimidating people. I don't like the threatening attitude of the machine," Allen said. "It's a good tool if you want to scare someone to tell the truth, but often the truth comes to the surface anyway."

Allen recalled an investigation of an officer whose polygraph results were interpreted differently by three polygraph examiners.

"One said the officer was telling the truth, another said the test was inconclusive, and another said the officer was lying," Allen said. "The polygraph has become the deciding factor when it's not supposed to be."

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