I just recently took the polygraph for a police officer position in New York. I was nervous during the questioning but I felt as if I did fine and I had told the truth on every question. Sure enough the examiner came back and said that they had a problem with two of the questions. I stuck to my guns and didn't roll over for him at all. My investigator called me a couple of days later and said I had failed but I could appeal. During the appeal process they send my results to an outside agency for review and they make a decision. My question is do these appeals work or is it just protocol? and also should I get an attorney involved? I feel as if this is total BS if this is how I get DQed.
You can try getting an attorney, I suppose, but I don't know how much it will help. Yes, if you're finally denied, you can complain or seek a hearing, but the fact the PD will use is you don't have a constitutional right to a job as a cop. You indeed should be free from the plague of pseudoscientific instruments and processes like the poly, but that's a slow process, and one that must be fought inch by inch.
That said, I am not discouraging you. This site, this cause, needs people willing to stand up for their rights. Again, you may not have a right to a job as a cop, but you do have a right to be considered fairly and objectively (the poly is subjective) for the position, without the employer resorting to witchcraft...
I'm going to let the appeal take it's course and see what happens. I tried to ask around and see if it's possible to win the appeal but noone really knows. If it doesn't work out oh well. Every thing happens for a reason right.
It's official I failed. My investigator didn't even have the decency to call me. In my opinion I feel that they didn't even send out my results to be looked over for the appeal. He notified me on wednesday that I had failed and said it would take a week and I received the letter saying I officially failed on Saturday. I'm not heartbroken over losing the job because I'm currently employed at a decent job and it's not like I wanted to be a cop my whole life. It's the fact that I know I told the truth and they're labeling me as a liar. The position was for the Suffolk County PD in New york which pays very well so it kind of sucks but I'll get over it. I'm still curious if I should contact an attorney just to see what they say.