Polygraph Test..what a crock

[wlo11]

I was laid off from my Corrections job back in July '12 when the city I worked for failed miserably and had to close the jail. Since then I have been applying/testing for several police depts here in NV, CA and TX. I have been so close on a couple only to get to the polygraph phase and be told I failed the test. Now I understand the whole concept but when an examiner tells you that you were lying when, in fact, you were not and he fails you it is very frustrating. I have taken 4 and so far 2 I have passed and 2 I have failed. Nothing has changed as far as my answers go so I believe these things are a total joke.

Any one else have a similar experience?

[NewTexian]

Polys are a joke!!
There is a reason they're not allowed in court. I have seen people that are WAY over qualified for a police officers job that never get it but I also have friends that have done every drug under the sun that are now police officers.
Just keep trying and don't give up

[hully1029]

Keep your head up!! Poly are a joke in itself.. theyre alomst as crooked as our gubment...

[lesson 101]

Sorry for youe luck man!! It will get better.

[Gonzo]

Just keep trying. This happened to my budy in Dallas and he just kept trying. He'l be starting the Police academy in Arlington this summer

[txfireguy2003]

Sometimes there are other issues that cause you to "fail" the polygraph besides just lying. Obviously, you're not lying if you're answering the questions the same way and you pass 50% of the time and fail the other 50%. That being said, I've witnessed a lot of polygraphs, and it seems to me that the questions would have to change from exam to exam, depending on the examiner. Sometimes, simple nerves can get you, other times, a question that maybe strikes a nerve, even though you're not lying about it, can get you. If you move at all, that can cause false positives, and occasionally but rarely in my opinion, you've been through the background check, along with numerous other applicants and they have "picked" the ones they like. If you're one of them, you'll pass, if not, you won't. I believe in the power of the poly, it has saved us a few times, and we're hiring higher quality individuals in my opinion. Let's face it, you can lie all day long on your application about why you left your previous employers, and there is no way to verify that information most times. It's often hard to contact previous supervisors, and HR will only tell us, "Yes he worked here from date x to date y." If you put on your application that you left that job voluntarily because you were offered a higher paying job elsewhere, when in reality, you were being investigated for some wrongdoing and about to be fired, so you quit.....how can we verify which is true? Polygraph is almost the only way. In reality, we've eliminated more people in polygraph before they ever got hooked up to the machine because of things they revealed in the pre-poly interview due to their fear of what that machine might reveal. Often times, "you failed" means that you said something in the interview before they hooked you up that disqualified you. That doesn't mean that you're a bad person, or that you're not qualified for the job, just that you don't meet the standards for that particular agency. Not saying this is you, but we have cut a bunch of people based on marijuana use in their past. Used to be, if you have ever smoked pot, you were disqualified, then we adjusted that to if you've smoked pot in the last 5 years, and not it's slightly more lenient, allowing for some experimentation as long as it's been long enough since you tried it. Lot's of guys will say, "I've never smoked pot." Then get to polygraph, and while the examiner is just talking to them, they'll reveal that they tried it once about a year ago....that disqualifies them in my city....but not necessarily in the city next door. Additionally, it's possible that you're being totally truthful in your exam, but you forgot something on your paper application and it looks like you lied on the paper application due to the discrepancy. Sure, it's nit picking, but you've been in the field, you know law enforcement absolutely cannot take the risk of hiring a guy that is even remotely questionable, the liability is too high for them.

[Boo-yah]

There's a book out, you can google that will help with the test.

[Bonbonjovi]

they probably asked you something like

"have you stopped beating your wife ? "

the polygraph test is the company's way of saying we dont have anything legal or ethical to bounce you on so we will use the polygraph test, because they are usually unchallenged,and not because of their accuracy

They can fail anyone they wish to fail

[TexasJim]

Try applying for the San Antonio Texas. I heard they are hiring good luck.

[a3dhunter]

Long story short, they are crap!
Someone in my family was wrongfully accused of petty theft, they asked if she would take a polygraph she said absolutely, they said she was lying about her name, as well as several other truthful (verifiable things) and failed her.

Seems like cops don't accept that being accused of something you didn't do can make you defensive and nervous as hell, not knowing how things are going and what exactly you are being accused of, or what your future will be because of it.

Our justice system has failed me and my family several times, and while I have some friends who are officers and I respect them, I do not respect our justice system as a whole at all and have no faith in it.
I've gone as far as not reporting theft just so I didn't have to deal with crappy cops. All it takes is one cop with a bad idea of who you are to start making accusations and put the burden of proof on the victim of situations.

[tvc184]

What do polygraphs have to do with the justice system?

[KSHogman]

Sometimes there are other issues that cause you to "fail" the polygraph besides just lying. Obviously, you're not lying if you're answering the questions the same way and you pass 50% of the time and fail the other 50%. That being said, I've witnessed a lot of polygraphs, and it seems to me that the questions would have to change from exam to exam, depending on the examiner. Sometimes, simple nerves can get you, other times, a question that maybe strikes a nerve, even though you're not lying about it, can get you. If you move at all, that can cause false positives, and occasionally but rarely in my opinion, you've been through the background check, along with numerous other applicants and they have "picked" the ones they like. If you're one of them, you'll pass, if not, you won't. I believe in the power of the poly, it has saved us a few times, and we're hiring higher quality individuals in my opinion. Let's face it, you can lie all day long on your application about why you left your previous employers, and there is no way to verify that information most times. It's often hard to contact previous supervisors, and HR will only tell us, "Yes he worked here from date x to date y." If you put on your application that you left that job voluntarily because you were offered a higher paying job elsewhere, when in reality, you were being investigated for some wrongdoing and about to be fired, so you quit.....how can we verify which is true? Polygraph is almost the only way. In reality, we've eliminated more people in polygraph before they ever got hooked up to the machine because of things they revealed in the pre-poly interview due to their fear of what that machine might reveal. Often times, "you failed" means that you said something in the interview before they hooked you up that disqualified you. That doesn't mean that you're a bad person, or that you're not qualified for the job, just that you don't meet the standards for that particular agency. Not saying this is you, but we have cut a bunch of people based on marijuana use in their past. Used to be, if you have ever smoked pot, you were disqualified, then we adjusted that to if you've smoked pot in the last 5 years, and not it's slightly more lenient, allowing for some experimentation as long as it's been long enough since you tried it. Lot's of guys will say, "I've never smoked pot." Then get to polygraph, and while the examiner is just talking to them, they'll reveal that they tried it once about a year ago....that disqualifies them in my city....but not necessarily in the city next door. Additionally, it's possible that you're being totally truthful in your exam, but you forgot something on your paper application and it looks like you lied on the paper application due to the discrepancy. Sure, it's nit picking, but you've been in the field, you know law enforcement absolutely cannot take the risk of hiring a guy that is even remotely questionable, the liability is too high for them.

x 2 I've had taken 6 times over the years for jobs I always pass but its is nerve racking.

[Tye]

I was laid off from my Corrections job back in July '12 when the city I worked for failed miserably and had to close the jail. Since then I have been applying/testing for several police depts here in NV, CA and TX. I have been so close on a couple only to get to the polygraph phase and be told I failed the test. Now I understand the whole concept but when an examiner tells you that you were lying when, in fact, you were not and he fails you it is very frustrating. I have taken 4 and so far 2 I have passed and 2 I have failed. Nothing has changed as far as my answers go so I believe these things are a total joke.

Any one else have a similar experience?

The same thing happened to me several years ago while going through the process for the FWPD. I had high marks on everything. They said I was deceptive on the polygraph. I couldn't believe it! I figured it was a way to "kick me out" since I was in the late 30s.

I was mad. I contacted my investigator and he said " try next year". I said why. I'm telling the truth now and I will give the same answer next year.

I hate being called a liar. I decided to go back to college and pick a different field to go into. I wasn't going to wait another year

Look into applying with the DPS.

[Graybow]

When I worked for the state. I had a fellow officer who promoted and was made a Poloygraph Examiner. Out of his own mouth he told me they are worthless. They can be nade to be read how they want them. To many variable's.
I had a friend that took one and they told hime he lied when they asked him his name.

[Boomerang]

Not sure the questions but something seems weird.