Hot Topic (More than 15 Replies) Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience (Read 29150 times)
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Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience
May 6th, 2016 at 11:53pm
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I actually started my CBP journey back in 2013.  I took the written computer based test and scored a 98%, did the video based test and the structured interview and was told that I did very well and would make a great candidate.  After completing the medical screening and the PT test I was given a date to be administered the polygraph in Washington D.C.   

A little background on myself before I get to my experience.  I currently work as a local law enforcement officer in South Carolina and had to pass a polygraph.  I also hold a Secret security clearance through the military and have held a Top Secret clearance in the past.  I have taken a passed a number of polygraphs in the past during interview processes for previous jobs and two for departments I ended up not working for.  Needless to say I have nothing to hide and my youth experiences have always been laid on the table holding nothing back. 

Back to the experience, I was given contact information for Yolanda Edwards, the agent assigned to my "case."  I attempted to contact Ms. Edwards a number of times before the test to ask questions about any items I may need for the test, what the appropriate attire was and the parking and traffic situations to get to her office.  I never heard anything back and she would not return my calls.  My first contact with her was to get into the building and that was even done through third party.  My appointment was schedule fro 9:00 a.m. to which Ms. Edwards had someone in her office say she was not ready and I did not officially meet her until about 10:15.   

Upon entering her office, Ms. Edwards introduced herself and stated she had been doing polygraphs for Customs and Border for 17 years (a look online stated she had been working for the Army until 2015 and CBP did not start doing polygraphs for new hires until early 2000's).  She stated "the polygraph was 100% accurate and if I was lying, even if I was nervous or moving around, it would be able to filter that out and see the lie." She said she already knew e-Qip due to being so busy)everything about me (she stated she briefly looked over my  and if I told the truth it would be a quick day and I would be in the academy in a few months.  She asked the typical questions that are usually asked on the tests I have taken.  Drugs use and history, crime history, domestic violence, child pornography, buying stolen goods, cheating on tests in high school or college, lying to an employer, etc.  We started with the old number in front of you she ask is it 1,2,3, etc and you have to say no to all, purposely lying once. This was to "calibrate the device so it will know how to read my body" in her words.  This is where the issues started.  Ms. Edwards attached the cords around my chest and abdomen so tight I could barely breathe and tightened the blood pressure cuff to a point my hand started to turn a different color from lack of circulation. I attempted to explain this to her to which she told me to "stop talking, it will mess with the readings."  After the set up I was asked to a waiting room and I would be called back in shortly. 

Thirty minutes later I was back in Ms. Edwards office where "the official test" would begin.  She stated she would ask a general set of questions and that she may have to ask them 3 or 4 times depending on the reading she got.  This seemed strange to me being that she said her device was 100% accurate about an hour prior.  She went through the questions once and kept telling me to "stop moving" "stop trying to control your breathing"  etc.  She stopped halfway through the second set and said she could not get an accurate reading because I was moving my fingers.  I explained to her the blood pressure cuff was cutting my circulation to which she became very angry and said "are you telling me I don't know how to do my job, I have been doing this for 17 years. You don't have the intestinal fortitude to set for 6 minutes and answer questions."  She started again this time breathing heavily, chewing on ice from her cup, and making comments such as "this is ridiculous, he won't stop moving."  After answering the questions another three times, she angrily unhooked me from the machine and told me to wait outside that she would be with me in about 10 minutes.  Thirty minutes passed by and she came back to the waiting room to get me again.   

This time the tone was different.  Ms. Edwards has me take a seat, slams her glasses on a folder and says "I told you all you had to do was tell the truth, and you lied.  You lied about drugs.  You have a history with drugs, I believe you have dealt drugs and you are currently on drugs."  At this point I stuck to my guns and told her I had given her everything truthfully and I had nothing to hide and if she believed I was on drugs that I would voluntarily submit to urinalysis right on the spot.  This made her even more mad and she stated "it wouldn't matter, you are a master of manipulation.  You have set here and tried to manipulate me and the machine.  You are a liar, I can't believe we trusted people like you to depend this nation."  At this point I told her I had admitted to smoking marijuana in high school four times and that was the only drug usage I had ever taken part in.  I was going to stick to my guns and if that failed me then so be it.  She then told me "admit to something, I can make this all go away, you can still get a job here, you can be on the border this time next year if you just tell the truth."  I once again stuck to my story, I had nothing to hide.  She then told me "we are done, I will submit this to quality control and they can decide you fate."  I asked her if there was a way I could speak with quality control or appeal what had transpired.  She stated she was my mouthpiece with quality control and she would be telling them that I was a liar and that I would never work for CBP as long as she had a say so.  She then asked me if I felt I had been treated fairly and if she was thorough to which I responded no.  She then asked if I were to get a reevaluation if I would feel comfortable with her giving it to which I answered no as well.  She asked me what my days off were and told me they would reschedule me accordingly if needed. She further stated that I could get a reevaluation due to them not being able to fill classes due to so many polygraph failures.  She walked me to the door and just like that my CBP dreams came to an end.  Three weeks later I received notification that my polygraph was unfavorable and that I could not appeal the decision.   

I have read of a class action lawsuit against these people, and I would love to ad my name to it.  I feel that good candidates are being screwed out of a great career by this jacked up process.  I feel that this is a discriminatory act with a device that is not even admissible in a court of law.  If this machine is 100% accurate then how have there been people with connections to cartels and major drug dealers get through the system?  How is it that vets fail majority of the time?  Why are we not allowed to see our results and read the examiners reports?  Most of all why are we not allowed to appeal or give our side of the story?  I hope somebody on here can help me or steer me in the right direction of finally putting an end to this corrupt, unprofessional weak link in the CBP hiring process.  I also wonder if there is a way we could sue for slander due to the outrageous comments made to me and others I have read their testimony on sites such as this?
  
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Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box Evan S
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Re: Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience
Reply #1 - May 7th, 2016 at 12:06am
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For the record, Evan is not the same as Evan S.

Is it possible that polygrapher Yolanda Edwards is reading AP.org and perhaps confusing the two Evans?  My (Evan S) postings have not been exactly pro polygraph.
  
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Re: Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience
Reply #2 - May 7th, 2016 at 2:46am
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Most of all why are we not allowed to appeal or give our side of the story?  I hope somebody on here can help me or steer me in the right direction of finally putting an end to this corrupt, unprofessional weak link in the CBP hiring process.  I also wonder if there is a way we could sue for slander due to the outrageous comments made to me and others I have read their testimony on sites such as this?

Evan, going after the powers that be would be an arduous stressful enterprise that would, at the most, yield a moral victory, and most likely diminish your chances of employment in a similar capacity. Moral victories can be relishing, but you must first ask yourself if this is the hill you want to die on. You may find yourself on George's Elba.
« Last Edit: May 7th, 2016 at 6:34am by Ex Member »  
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Re: Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience
Reply #3 - Apr 24th, 2019 at 1:54pm
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It for sure looks like not much has changed with Mrs. Edwards polygraph procedures. My test went almost same way, ended with same result..
  
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Re: Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience
Reply #4 - Apr 24th, 2019 at 2:25pm
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It for sure looks like not much has changed with Mrs. Edwards polygraph procedures. My test went almost same way, ended with same result..


Would you mind sharing details of your polygraph experience? I think it is important that polygraph abuse be documented in order for there to be accountability.
  

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Re: Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience
Reply #5 - Apr 24th, 2019 at 6:53pm
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Applicants who are unfortunate enough to draw Ms Yolanda Edwards as their polygraph tester should insist on being tested by someone else.  Edwards is notoriously incompetent according to many CBP employees who she has tested.
  
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Re: Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience
Reply #6 - Apr 24th, 2019 at 7:26pm
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Applicants who are unfortunate enough to draw Ms Yolanda Edwards as their polygraph tester should insist on being tested by someone else.  Edwards is notoriously incompetent according to many CBP employees who she has tested.


Could you elaborate on this?
  

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Re: Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience
Reply #7 - Apr 24th, 2019 at 7:54pm
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to a certain extent I can.  I am a CBP employee who supervises a large number of CBP officers;  the VAST majority have told me about Ms Edwards' unprofessional attitude and behavior, and lack of interview skill.  I also personally know CBP polygraphers who have stated that she is quite incompetent, but due to a shortage of qualified polygraphers, they tolerate her substandard performance because of the enormous pressure to keep up with the worklaod.
  
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Re: Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience
Reply #8 - Apr 25th, 2019 at 6:00am
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to a certain extent I can.  I am a CBP employee who supervises a large number of CBP officers;  the VAST majority have told me about Ms Edwards' unprofessional attitude and behavior, and lack of interview skill.  I also personally know CBP polygraphers who have stated that she is quite incompetent, but due to a shortage of qualified polygraphers, they tolerate her substandard performance because of the enormous pressure to keep up with the worklaod.


To your knowledge, have any formal complaints been lodged against Yolanda Edwards? If so, what was the result?

By the way, for any reading this, anonymous tips are welcome. Documents, or just a plain text file with a message, may be sent anonymously via our OnionShare anonymous dropbox. An alternative/supplemental method (that will allow us to reply to you) is to set up a free, anonymous, encrypted ProtonMail account and use it to e-mail us at antipolygraph.org@protonmail.com.
  

George W. Maschke
I am generally available in the chat room from 3 AM to 3 PM Eastern time.
Tel/SMS: 1-202-810-2105 (Please use Signal Private Messenger or WhatsApp to text or call.)
E-mail/iMessage/FaceTime: antipolygraph.org@protonmail.com
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Threema: A4PYDD5S
Personal Statement: "Too Hot of a Potato"
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Re: Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience
Reply #9 - Apr 25th, 2019 at 6:32pm
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George W. Maschke wrote on Apr 25th, 2019 at 6:00am:
To your knowledge, have any formal complaints been lodged against Yolanda Edwards? If so, what was the result?


That I don't know, but if so, must not have done any good since she is still there.
  
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Re: Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience
Reply #10 - May 11th, 2019 at 10:56pm
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Wow! Glad to see some follow up after all this time! I have since loved on and made it up the chain in another profession. I have a former co-worker who is now working for CBP and talks about how undermanned they are. I would imagine Ms. Edwards could be to blame for that. I had looked at filing a formal complaint after what happened to me. I even considered a lawsuit but I thought I would just be wasting my time. I hope she’s happy that she kept a disabled veteran from getting a job. Maybe karma will come back to Ms. Edwards one day. Being she has such a long and illustrious career according to her they couldn’t afford to get rid of such greatness.
  
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Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box Antwan Wilson
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Re: Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience
Reply #11 - Jun 8th, 2019 at 8:07am
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Yes I too have failed my Polygraph today. With the examiner stating I am not being honest about my drug involvement and that his instruments doesnt lie and in his experience of 5 years doing thos tells him im no being honest. Wow. I joined the military when I was 17. Been in 20 plus years now. AND never had a desire to do drugs, sell drugs or be around people that affiliate themselves with drugs. I have worked as a MP, local Sheriff Deputy and DOD Police pursuing a career with CBP to be told that Im lying and not telling the truth. This was such a horrible experience. Never ever would I thought this would be the end result. You couldnt find 1 person in my life, not even my worstest enemy that would ever be able to tell you I have been affiliated with drugs in any kind of way. And whats crazy is when you read all theses comments the procedures are all identical. I dont understand how they see this as a effective hiring process. This is truly unbelieveable. The concept of a Test where the examiner test you to see if your lying by them lying to you that your lying.
  
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Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box George W. Maschke
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Re: Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience
Reply #12 - Jun 8th, 2019 at 8:23am
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Antwan,

I'm sorry to read of your unhappy experience. It's a common one: roughly two-thirds of CBP applicants do not pass the polygraph, a fraudulent procedure with no scientific basis. Experiences like yours are commonplace.

Are you a military reservist now? The reason I ask is that there is reason to believe that CBP has used the polygraph as a pretext for not hiring reservists and national guardsmen in order not to have to accommodate their training schedules:

https://antipolygraph.org/blog/2013/04/16/u-s-customs-and-border-protection-alle...
  

George W. Maschke
I am generally available in the chat room from 3 AM to 3 PM Eastern time.
Tel/SMS: 1-202-810-2105 (Please use Signal Private Messenger or WhatsApp to text or call.)
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Threema: A4PYDD5S
Personal Statement: "Too Hot of a Potato"
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Re: Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience
Reply #13 - Jun 26th, 2019 at 9:56pm
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I have a buddy who took the CBP exam and failed the first one.  He went back for another session and failed so he made up a complaint that his examiner smelled like alcohol both exams.  He was offered another exam by a different examiner.  Consider this route....
  
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Re: Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience
Reply #14 - Jun 27th, 2019 at 4:46am
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I have a buddy who took the CBP exam and failed the first one.  He went back for another session and failed so he made up a complaint that his examiner smelled like alcohol both exams.  He was offered another exam by a different examiner.  Consider this route....


How did your buddy get a second polygraph session after failing the first one?
  

George W. Maschke
I am generally available in the chat room from 3 AM to 3 PM Eastern time.
Tel/SMS: 1-202-810-2105 (Please use Signal Private Messenger or WhatsApp to text or call.)
E-mail/iMessage/FaceTime: antipolygraph.org@protonmail.com
Wire: @ap_org
Threema: A4PYDD5S
Personal Statement: "Too Hot of a Potato"
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Another CBP polygraphy fail and unprofessional experience

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