Law enforcement pre-employment

[Andrew]

Hello all,

I'm just wondering: when a law enforcement pre-employment polygraph is administered, what are the general chances of an applicant passing who makes no further admissions (other than what was disclosed on the background questionaire) during the polygraph?  Even if I am nervous or a certain question surprises me or evokes a response, will I be okay so long as I stick to my previously disclosed answers?  

I am testing for my local PD (Phoenix) and I have a college degree and high physical and written test scores, so I assume that I make an attractive candidate.  However, the idea that my future with PPD could ride on an examiners interpretations of my physiological responses scares the hell out of me.   I am confident that I have done nothing that could get me disqualified and in a perfect world, all I would have to do is walk in there and tell the truth.  Unfortunately, I know its not that simple.

By the way, I am still debating the use of countermeasures.  Anyway, I would greatly appreciate any insights you all may have to my previously posed questions.  

(Polygraph examiners who post here: please don't bother posting any replies.  Nothing you can say can convince me that polygraph tests are anything more than a psychological billy club that intimidates people into making damaging admissions)

[orolan]

Andrew,

...people into making damaging admissions

As long as you have nothing damaging to admit, they can't very well get you to do so, can they? Stick to your answers. You may still "fail", but you will know that it was a corrupt examination or examiner that cost you the job.
CM usage to try and insure an NDI result is a decision only you can make.

[Saidme]

Andrew

Don't believe everything you read.  I'm sure the Phoenix PD has competent polygraph examiners.  If you have nothing to hide then you'll do just fine.  If you get caught using CM's or even if they suspect you of using CM's, bye-bye job.  Don't risk it.

Orolan

You wrote:

"but you will know that it was a corrupt examination or examiner that cost you the job."

Are you implying (or outright saying) polygraph examiners are corrupt?  

[Andrew]

Thanks for the replies.

Saidme: I know that in a perfect world, if I had nothing to hide I would have nothing to worry about.  However, the polygraph is still just a machine that can only measure physiological responses.  Those responses are interpreted by a person, which leaves room for human error no matter how competent the examiner.  That is unacceptable to me, that my future employment is in the hands of one person, a person who could erroniously DQ me.    

But as for my original question, is an applicant more likely to be DQ'd by the polygrapher's interpretation of the chart or by their own admissions during the polygraph (at least when it comes to law enforcement pre-employment polygraphs)?  To me, the idea that someone can be disqualified for lying on a polygraph is insane.  No matter how accurate it may be (but probably isn't), no claims that it is 100%.  I always thought that 'innocent until proven guilty' was valued in this country, but it doesn't seem to always be the case in this instance.      

[orolan]

Saidme,
What I said was that if Andrew tells the truth, knows he is telling the truth, and fails the test, then yes, the polygrapher is corrupt. Or is that too "strong"? Maybe I should have said idiotic, incompetent or ignorant? Would that make you feel better?

[lincoln]

I know first hand that polygraph examinations are worthless.  I and two others have been misrepresented by them.  I was falsely accused, and two police officers I know very well, passed theirs when telling substantial lies about their drug usage.  One of which was extreme.  Either way in all 3 instances,  POLYGRAPHY DIDNT WORK.

[Dustin]

The poly sucks! We're all worried about getting past it, and some of us do and some don't! I think the whole screening process for a police officer, while necessary, is too stressful. Here's a tip that worked for me. When I went to my last poly, as soon as the examiner hooked me up, I just began reciting the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics in my head, over and over, word for word. I would only allow myself enough break to hear her question and respond, then pick up on the word I left off on. Just keep a focus, be honest, and cross your fingers. The test really is subjective, and out of the 4 I've taken, I've only "passed" one.

[polycop]

When I went to my last poly, as soon as the examiner hooked me up, I just began reciting the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics in my head, over and over, word for word. I would only allow myself enough break to hear her question and respond, then pick up on the word I left off on... The test really is subjective, and out of the 4 I've taken, I've only "passed" one.

So long as you continue the above mental gymnastics, you will continue to fail polygraph examinations.  Nobody's fault but your own, I'm afraid.  ..

Polycop...

 

[Mr. Truth]

Well, gee, Bob, is the polygraph detecting lies or is it not? Oh wait, it only detects physiological responses which the shaman, er, polygrapher, "interprets."