Washington State Police Polygraph Policy

[George W. Maschke]

An article in today's Tacoma News Tribune has disturbing news about the consequences of failing the Washington State Police pre-employment polygraph (emphasis added):

...

[Washington State Police applicant Leah] Mixon is scheduled for a polygraph test later this month as part of the phase three background check. Phase four is a medical and psychological test.

"We lose a lot of applicants during the polygraph and background phases," Gill said.

"Our advice to any applicant applying for us is to be 100 percent honest about everything, and that is what people usually get caught up on. They think they don't want to tell us something that probably wouldn't have kicked them out of the program, but if they are untruthful about it, that would do it."

The candidates were warned about the polygraph several times during phase one testing.

"That one thing you don't want us to know about, you need to tell us about it," Tomaras said before issuing the written tests.

Anyone who fails the polygraph cannot reapply to be a trooper, or apply with any law enforcement agency in Washington state. Four applicants listened to his advice, came forward and were cut for previous drug use and past crimes.

Can anyone confirm that failing the Washington State Police pre-employment polygraph bars one from employment with any other law enforcement agency in the state?