failed !st and 2nd poly last year.

[grandma]

I failed a first and 2nd poly late last year.  I was stupid as I did not do any research and fell for the post interrogation and admitted to shop-lifting on the second exam.  That was with local police agency.  I am up for a chance on another agency.  How probable is it that they will find out in the background investigation about the failure/Lie.  Also are there any consequences other than being disqualified.  In other words, how thorough are typical bacground checks for local police agencies.  Or should I just confess to having failed with the previous agency?  Doing this does mean I will be automatically disqualified.   Help! I am caught between a rock and a hard place.

[Mr. Mystery]

The shoplifting probably won't disqualify you.  Lying about your previous application DEFINATELY will disqualify you.

Many people have done much worse than shoplifting and gotten jobs.

Oh and yes I've known plenty of people who failed a polygraph with one agency and then passed at another (both at the local and federal level).