Failed Poly

[retired]

In 1975, when I took the poly for LASD, marijuana was a big issue still. The examiner asked if I had ever used any and I said no (yes, I realize I was one of the few who was a teen in the mid to late 1960s that hadn't and that looked suspicious). We had gone over that question in the pre exam and I said the same, explaining that I had played cards with friends who did, but didn't ever recall getting a high from the smoke.

When he asked me the question under the machine, he told me the needle had moved a lot. I stayed with my answer, knowing he wanted to see if I would change it. I told him that I was nervous and he said the poly was "factored" for that. He then exited the room. I knew he and probably others were staring at me thru the one glass, but I just sat there. He finally came in and said I passed.

Ironically, I faced him about 4yrs. later as a possible witness in an alleged deputy wrong doing and he tried the same thing. This time when he went out to stare at me, I slumped in the chair, folded my legs, smiled and waved at him thru the mirror. He reentered and told me I was excused. He didn't look very happy that I wasn't scared by his tactics.

OP, keep on trying and I'd recommend that to the others who posted they have given up if that is the career they really want.

[Raider510]

I passed my poly that I took for a previous department, but I still don't trust the damn things. The only thing that kept going on in my head that I was nervous about was "What if the machine thinks I'm lying, even though I'm not?" That's the only stressful thing about them, since it's only a piece of machinery, what if the damn thing doesn't work properly and gives a false reaction?

[tyrist]

When I first took the poly I was in a room the size of a small closet with a very aggressive interviewer and they said my results were inconclusive and that they would probably call me back in a few months to re do the test. They called my house before I even made it home to reschedule for the next day. When I went in the second time I was in a much larger room with a more relax person and he said everything looked fine and he just needed to formally analyze the results and I would be notified by mail. I received a letter in a few days stating I passed. I think it's all just a big game. I also had never used marijuana in my life and the first interview was very aggressive on that subject. I think marijuana usage must be so common they don't believe you.

[ankyle62]

Some people just react to those kinds of questions with nerviousness and anxiety. It does not mean they are lying. It means they get nervious easily and prodding questions about uncomfortable subject matter makes them uncomfortable.

They really need to stop using these things. They do not tell you anything useful.

Exactly, Ive passed a poly and failed them. I will admit I get nervous/anxious in those situations, because I over think the crap out of everything.

[killathrilla]

...

[beb]

I failed my first one because I had issues "breathing normally", whatever that is.

I just went for my LAPD poly a couple weeks ago and this is what happened to me. Well, he said I didnt fail; it was inconclusive so I have to schedule another one. Im not sure how much my breathing will change, so Im unsure of going through their poly again. I have heard that two inconclusive polys will disqualify you from going further in the application process...

[762.DEFENSE]

Just a heads up-not every department uses the "polygraph," I have a friend who failed several poly's for being nervous, or jittery from caffeine-since more appointments are super early in the morning.

So after several "failed polygraphs" he went to Monterey Park-where they do a "voice stress analysis." He then passed-and has been on with them for 2 years now.

Just keep your head up, and use this experience as nothing more than a learning experience.

Good luck!

[yzErnie]

That's all it is good for, getting people to DQ themselves.

In part a true answer. My wife worked backgrounds for a couple years and you would be surprised at some of the things people admit before, during or after the poly. Thankfully, the poly helped to weed out these freaks, idiots and perverts.

[Spec]

Most departments allow you to "challenge" the poly or the psych exams. Three guys in my academy class paid for their own psych exams after "failing" the first one. my patrol partner "failed" his poly and he was one of the most honest guys I have ever known. The test is a mess. If you want it hunt it down and don't give up. don't get discouraged and keep moving forward at all times.

[CalCop]

I also had never used marijuana in my life and the first interview was very aggressive on that subject. I think marijuana usage must be so common they don't believe you.

You nailed it. I have done dozens of backgrounds. The one guy who told me he never tried any drugs.....I still think he was lying.....he passed.

[Notorious]

In part a true answer. My wife worked backgrounds for a couple years and you would be surprised at some of the things people admit before, during or after the poly. Thankfully, the poly helped to weed out these freaks, idiots and perverts.

Oh yeah, these guys come in and they start spilling the beans about all the crap they did including having that joint in the morning to help them relax for the poly and then they pass because they told the truth, but then they call and bug you and wonder why you declined to continue the process.

[Spec]

AMAZING....

"Hey man I'm kinda nervous about my job interview"

"Dude....smoke a fatty before you go...it totally worked for me when I got my job at Walmart..."

"REEEALLY.....It works huh?"

I LOVE STUPID!!!!!!

[Notorious]

Oh... you should hear some of the doozies I have read in poly's and interviews and everything else... these people really have no clue... and these same geniuses of natural selection are also the ones that bug you the most about why didn't you pick them.

Tons of druggies, dealers, thieves, gang associates, and lots and lots of sexual deviants.

[yzErnie]

As bad as this is going to sound....the bad economy has done a couple things to help the hiring process. First, theRE are more applicants with less available positions to fill. That allows us to be more selective than we may have been in the past. Second, by being able to hire a better applicant that helps to solve some of the stupidity issues we have been dealing with when we hired people if they had a pulse. Third, there are a lot of good people getting out of the military and applying for jobs.

No system is perfect but I see ours as being better today than it was yesterday!!

[Baconator]

As bad as this is going to sound....the bad economy has done a couple things to help the hiring process. First, theRE are more applicants with less available positions to fill. That allows us to be more selective than we may have been in the past. Second, by being able to hire a better applicant that helps to solve some of the stupidity issues we have been dealing with when we hired people if they had a pulse. Third, there are a lot of good people getting out of the military and applying for jobs.

No system is perfect but I see ours as being better today than it was yesterday!!

Until the economy improves and those that never wanted to be cops quit in droves to go back to their office jobs.

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