Hello, I took a polygraph around 2 years ago and I came out a false positive (said i'm a drug addict and a thief), needless to say I didnt get my job in LE. Since then I have recently moved out of state and I was wondering if any one can tell me if those results will follow me out of state to a new agency i'm currently testing for? I have yet to fill out a questionaire asking if I have ever applied any where else or have I even taken a polygraph before. Should I volunteer that info to this new agency as well? Any info would be appreciative.
This exact thing happened with me and I can catagorically say the false results followed me to the bitter end. Needless to say I was not hired with any of the 5 forces I applied to and have since moved on.
I too was faced with the dilema of whether or not to divudge that I had tested and been deferred elsewhere. The thought crossed my mind a million times "if I had only not said anything I might be a cop now". I can't tell you what to do either way.
Tell the new force where you applied last and take your 50/50 chance that they may or may not take your past poly results as legit, or lie and risk the chance later of potentially being fired for lieing on your application should you get in. Sorry. Hard choice. I tried the honesty approach and none of the 4 other forces gave me one second to explain what happened during my first and only poly. They took the word of the snake polygrapher and deferred me.
Fred,
You really don't have any choice about listing the agencies where you had previously applied. If you lie about this, and they find out, then you are history....end of story. Not worth it, in my humble opinion.
The issue of the polygraph failure is not necessarily going to blackball you at another police agency. I have found that many police departments in California don't give a damn what another department's poly examiner says about you. They all think that they have the best examiners, and won't accept what another says about you, good or bad. This is definitely good for you.
If they ask about your previous poly failure, just tell them that you failed, and you really don't know why since you were telling the 100% truth, and leave it at that. Don't harp on the negative, or try to speculate on why you failed. Move on to the next question.
Good luck to you.
Kona
OK, I appreciate the info. I'm going to have to think about this one, its a tough call. Thanks for responding. I will keep you all posted in a couple weeks.
Quote from: Fred_White on May 07, 2004, 01:49 PMOK, I appreciate the info. I'm going to have to think about this one, its a tough call. Thanks for responding. I will keep you all posted in a couple weeks.
Yes, Fred that is a tough call for sure. A drug addict, a thief, and now trying to decide whether to add liar to the list. :o
I-Smell-BS,
Presuming you are a polygrapher, do you lie to your examinees during the course of an interrogation?
Dave
Quote from: I-Smell-BS on May 08, 2004, 02:50 PM
Yes, Fred that is a tough call for sure. A drug addict, a thief, and now trying to decide whether to add liar to the list. :o
Quote from: I-Smell-BS on May 08, 2004, 02:50 PM
Yes, Fred that is a tough call for sure. A drug addict, a thief, and now trying to decide whether to add liar to the list. :o
Interesting direction to take, but Fred did say that is was a FALSE positive.
But you're right, I do smell BS...and it seems to be yours.