Any polygraph information on Tampa PD

[alouisa11]

Hello all, I am currently in the process of applying to TPD. I just finished my PAT and am waiting on them to contact me for the next step. I am a little worried about the polygraph and whether or not I will qualified enough for the position. I am a college graduate and while in college was a student/athlete. I also served in the Navy as Aircrew/SAR/Am but I got in a bit of trouble with alcohol. I was put on restriction and served my two months and when I was done they allowed me to choose whether or not I wanted to stay in and I told them I wanted to go back and finish college. I received a general discharge. I have smoked pot a couple of times but I don't beleive any more then 6 or 7 times. Haven't gotten a traffic ticket in over three years and have been an overall good citizen. I just had a few mistakes here and there. Will this be something that I should worry about? What should I expect from the Polygraph exam?

Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

[dimas]

If your discharge was not dishonorable, then you have nothing to worry about there.  People make mistakes, I am not certain what the disqualifiers for Tampa PD are, but as long as you can show that you not only learned from your mistake, but moved on you should be fine in this area.


As for the 'pot' you smoked in the past, I really hope that this was not done while you were in the military.  If it was more than 5 years ago, it usually isn't a problem with most departments as long as you have not EVER sold it or transported it.

I highly suggest that you are completely honest while answering the pre-polygraph questionairre as well as the background questionairre that they will give you during the hiring process.  You more likely to be disqualified on an omission that is later brought to light than for your past offenses.  

EIther than that if you want to know about polygraphs there are various resources in this website that can educate you on it there.  I really do not suggest you go the whole counter measure route or even try to find out how to beat the machine at this point, but that is ultimately your decision.

[alouisa11]

I am not trying to beat the polygraph, I just want to make sure I don't freak out and screw it up. I plan on being fully honest about everything that I have done.

No, I did not use marijuana while in the military or while I was in college due to drug policies that the military and the NCAA have. I however, did when I graduated from college which was in 2004. The last time I did was about 6 months ago before I made the decision to try and get into the police academy. Is that going to come back to haunt me?

[dimas]

Your drug use will haunt you right now.  Kind of the Pot calling the kettle black if you used drugs six months ago and now go out and arrest people for possession.  Your age at the time you used the drugs is also a factor.

If I were you I would wait a few years before applying.  No agency will take you having used drugs so recently.  If I were you I would try and get some Graduate work in and then after 3 years seek a career in law enforcement.