Dear Applicant...

[center_x]

Also, the bi doesn't have to tell you anything. Hopefully you get your questions answered, but don't be upset if you get nowhere.
The letter you received seems like the typical "cause our hr deptment created this letter, we can't tell you failed, so we'll nicely say to reapply."
Good luck with everything. Update us on Monday after you speak with the bi.

[Baconator]

I had a similar issue with a local Sheriffs department. I know a detective with that department and she indicated that if they needed people, they would investigate the perceived deception on the poly to determine if it was accurate (by interviewing people to see what they could find). Because there are so many applicants right now that have perfectly clean backgrounds, they don't need to waste the time on any one applicant that has any issues at all. If/when the economy turns around and there are more jobs then there are applicants, as was the case a few years ago, they will take the time.

Edit: oh crap, this is my 666th post, I better post quick before the anti-Christ shows up.

[dskell]

Apply with the CDCR. No Poly

I thought they were doing poly now. Either way, I've been checking and they have no current testing dates.

I'm not saying you are false, but I find that hard to believe. The polygraph for me was easy, the psychological evaluation was weird.

I've heard this from a lot of people. I've spoken with a guy who is currently in the academy for RSO and he said several applicants got dropped after psych.

Also, the bi doesn't have to tell you anything. Hopefully you get your questions answered, but don't be upset if you get nowhere.
The letter you received seems like the typical "cause our hr deptment created this letter, we can't tell you failed, so we'll nicely say to reapply."
Good luck with everything. Update us on Monday after you speak with the bi.

I'm totally prepared for this. It's fine if he doesn't give me any details, I just want to make sure that I'm not completely dead with this department in the future, or other departments down the road because of this disqualification.

[fal_762x51]

All I can say is keep trying and don't give up. Corrections is a good career as well.

[BigDogatPlay]

The polygraph is, perhaps, even more subjective than the psychological evaluation. The machine is a mechanical instrument that records the body's physical reactions. It can't pass or fail you.

The polygraph examiner, looking at the data recorded and evaluating it along with their observations and processing that through the filters of their training and experience is where the test is. And why it's not admissible in court.

One examiner may see deception while two others may see a gold star. It is, I think, somewhat sad that hiring decisions are getting made on such subjective criteria even in this day and age.

[non sequitur]

Polygraph

The polygraph examiner from my previous agency told me he does not pass or fail peace officer applicants. He simply interprets the machine's data regarding the applicant's physiological reactions (heart rate, pulse, etc) to his dozen or so polygraph questions. Of course, these dozen questions were gleaned from a written polygraph questionnaire that contained about 250 questions about your life.

If he suspected an applicant was employing deceptive tactics during the examination or the applicant was being deceptive, he further questioned the applicant and then added this info into his polygraph examiner's narrative.

The actual applicant denial letter was sent by the BI on Agency letterhead and the phrase we used was UNFAVORABLE RESULTS. The denial letter never mentioned the words pass or fail.

He also mentioned this website: http://antipolygraph.org/

A word of caution: if you check out this website and do any research on polygraph deception techniques, your next polygraph examiner may ask you about this research and then put this info into his polygraph narrative.

Afterall, why would an honest conduct internet research on polygraph deception tecniques?

Good luck.

[dskell]

Called my BI this morning. Haven't heard anything back.

[yzErnie]

Called my BI this morning. Haven't heard anything back.

Keep trying.

[7222 Hawker]

Apply with the CDCR. No Poly

Thats the problem...

[aquaelvis]

I keep hearing that no one is hiring. Kern County Sheriff's Office IS hiring. They need lots of people. (30 to 70 depending on who is talking)
You must have a POST certificate (I think) but they have low cost student academies going all the time. Great time to go through and show the academy staff what you are made of!

Don't give up though.

[glock21fan]

Had a coworker who with RSO had the same issue on his poly. He did get to re test with them a year later and also LASO ... however same problem for the "one time use" the problem is he feels he disgraced his father by trying pot in 9th grade, he never told his dad about it so every time it comes up he gets a reaction on the poly, even if i bough it up you could see his reaction. his BI told him to sit his father down and have a talk about it, he did and when he went for his last poly he passed because the matter no longer bothered him due to the fact that he talked about it, if this is your case sit the person you think about when the subject comes up it may keep you from having a reaction just like do you have a CA dl.."yes" no reaction.
good luck and don't give up.

[VtotheZ]

dskell I have a similar story, I think I am screwed also....

I totally feel ya brother, I applied for SBPD a while back and they do testing a bit different, it was written, then PT test, then straight off to the oral, right after the oral, they had me wait in a waiting room for about 30 minutes then ask me if I could go do the poly the same day, which was at another location. Poly took forever, yet another PHS to fill out and a nice long very awkward conversation with the Poly guy, yet I felt good and answered everything in my background honest and truthfully. I have nothing to hide, a total straight arrow, a nerd at times even, I never got into any real trouble. After the poly I asked the guy, howd it go? He said, it went good, I will let the dept. know and you'll here from them. Got a DQ letter about 30 days later, due to the polygraph, I guess I failed it somehow. I called the dept. and they basically told me I could re apply after 1 year. I could not get any answers at all, they would not elaborate on anything, as I expected.

So I was pretty discouraged, not thinking about the effects it could have on my future, I decided to apply for the CHP with a friend at the same time. We both did very well and got all the way to our BI's. We had 2 different BI's. Mind you it had been roughly 11 months of testing and waiting to get to the BI portion. My friend was very worried about his BG due to his military AWOL's, he had a few run in's with the police years back, and he just had filed for a BK the year prior. I on the other hand, was nervous but I 25 at the time, never had anything go wrong through my whole life, not a long background to tell or anything. Anyway, the point is my BI was VERY VERY investigative into all aspects of my whole history, very personal, he recorded everything we spoke about, I had 2 interviews, and my 3rd he sat me down with the SGT and DQ'd me for falsifying my PHS. I got dinged on my PHS due to 2 write ups I got a 2 different employers that I completely forgot about, mind you it was when I was 18 years old, almost 7 years ago. Its hard to dig that stuff up, but I was pissed at myself that I forgot. Anyway he made me feel like a POS, and told me I need to get my life together.

Anyway, my friends BI was the exact opposite. He was pretty care free, did the usual phone screens, talks with neighbors, etc. As did mine. We talked about our progress after I told him I got DQ'd and I told him all about my time with my BI and too my amazement he had a completely different experience. He was asked 10% of the questions I was asked. I honestly think it was due to the poly I had taken for SBPD, he did mention it once and asked why I didn't pass, I told him I did not know considering I was 100% honest through the whole thing. After the walk of shame, he did mention to me that I should reapply, I was somewhat ticked off considering the time I spent through out the whole process... I want to re apply to other agencies but I am beginning to feel that ever since that DQ from SBPD, I will be forever burned.

So its been about 2 years since then and I said screw it, I am putting my self through the academy, Its a very competitive market and I am going to make myself the most experienced and most valuable applicant out there, well I will at least try my hardest, the choice is up to them. Cheers

[Notorious]

Burbank PD is hiring last I checked... so is LAPD. Keep trying.

[VtotheZ]

I am doing the Modular Reserve program at a local CC. Its the only way I can do it and work at the same time. I would go pre-service, but I have a mortgage and bills so I need to keep my day job in order to keep up to date on my finances. So jealouse of all the kids that still live at the nest ;P

Level 3 and Level 2 should be complete by Sept of 2011. This way I figure I can get my foot in the door, maybe try to pick up a reserve spot at a station near by, Kinda curious on how easy it is to get picked up as a reserve II. Maybe put in a year or so as a reserve, then I will have a definite edge up when and if the dept starts to hire again.
Maybe you all could address this, do depts. hire on there reserves ever??? Or is this a lost cause that I am working for? I eventually would like to get paid for it someday but I am willing to do Reserve for a while to earn my keep.

[Notorious]

LA Sheriffs hire Level 2 reserves last I checked. My buddy is a Level 1 non-designated there and they are always looking for reserves.