Failed LAPD Poly? WTF

[Buster Brown]

A few days ago I took my Polygraph I was asked the follwoing questions along with about 10 others;
1. "Would you make up information or LIE on the BI (Background Investigation) form I filled out and any of the other documents in order to pass?"
2. "Would I ever lie on a Official Document? (which the polygrapher explained to me as is something THAT IS A PAPER I PERSONALLY SIGNED.)"
3. "Have I ever committed a felony that I was not caught for?".
I PASSED ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS!
However, at the end of the test it was said I failed the drug part and accused of taking COCAINE WHICH I HAVE NEVER DONE!!! I think that the poygrapher was trying to just psych me out to admit to drug use. How could I have passed those other three and LOST OUT ON THE THIRD? That does NOT make sense to me, as I would have been lying about the others as well! I swear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was he trying to psych me out to get me to admit to something I never did or did I get a false positive. PLEASE PLEASE HELP!!!! Thank you SO much guys for answering.
Also, I spent 4 hours calling different parts of the agency for answers to this question and spoke to the guys supervisor (who would not give me any information because he 'thought I could be Internal Affairs'. I thine talked to some other lady at Personel who said that it was not official that I have failed until some panel looks over my entire exam.

[acreature]

You failed. Can't help you. Can't change the fact that the LAPD uses the Poly.

[electrojuice]

When he said that you were being deceptive about the drug usage how did you respond? From my experience, a lot of what disqualifies people during the poly is how they react to questions and the test results. And not just what you say, your mannerisms, posture etc.

[Buster Brown]

Thanks electrojuice,
That is certainly more INSIGHTFUL then the answer, "what do you expect people on the internet to do for you?" Apparently what Electrojuice did is just fine.
Well, I said that can NOT be there is no way. I said it must be because I felt guilty that I lived with roomates that did drugs and used drugs. I looked at him straight in the eye and told him that I NEVER touched drugs besides little MJ that I had included in my BI form. I said one time I touched a bag of cocaine to see how it felt. It was IN the bag and I held it for 5-10 seconds. This was 5 years ago. Thats the truth. I looked him in the eye, but was visibly shook up. That was it. He was lying to me too. He said, "You know there are alot of cops out there that have done drugs." And I said, "I sure hope not! I would be very upset if I found a cop had done cocaine." Then hes like, "I know officers that have smoked pot 250 times.", and even some that did steroids. I stated that "I hope I do not have to work with these officers because they obviously have drug problems." Then said that they look at the cases case by case and said, "This is your chance to come clean. Right now." And I was like, I wish there was something I could tell you, BUT THERE IS NOTHING." I did not get angry the whole time and even shook his hand on the way out. Then I called personel and found out that some other panel reviews my results and listen to the tape (I DID NOT KNOW POLY WAS RECORDED, WTF?) and they will have the final say supposedly. Anyone think the polygrapher was just bluffing or what?

[acreature]

Why wouldn't the Poly be recorded. Mine was, and that was years ago. Gotta keep the records... the paper trail is key in LE.

I don't think he was bluffing... you failed didn't you?

BTW, I remember and agree with what a Captain said during an orientation for VA State Police; "Marijuana a couple times, we can look past.. as long as others who haven't aren't ahead of you. But if you have even so much as touched Cocaine, leave now."

[Buster Brown]

My point is that has ANYONE EVER GONE INTO A POLYGRAPH, TOLD THEY FAILED SOME QUESTION BY THE POLYGRAPHER, AND THEN LEARNED LATER EITHER BY LETTER OR IN PERSON THAT THEY DID NOT FAIL? Hows that?

[acreature]

My point is that has ANYONE EVER GONE INTO A POLYGRAPH, TOLD THEY FAILED SOME QUESTION BY THE POLYGRAPHER, AND THEN LEARNED LATER EITHER BY LETTER OR IN PERSON THAT THEY DID NOT FAIL? Hows that?

No need to yell there Buster.

I am sure the number that haven't, heavily outweigh those that have. Are you saying that you passed, but failed? Or failed but passed?

Go to Oregon.

[electrojuice]

Well I have a pretty good idea why he gave you a hard time about the drugs. That much exposure is enough to make anyone suspicious. And the fact that there is cocaine involved might be big problem.

It seems like you stuck to your guns, which is good but it may have even helped your cause to get a little mad about it. I know if someone is acusing me a lying outright, I get a little mad whether I'm hooked up to the poly or not. It's a natural reaction and they want you to be on the back of your heels to see how you react. My forensics prof told me of his polygraphing experience when he applied. The polygraphist was giving him a hard time about cocaine usage and then acused my prof of lying through his teeth. Well he lost it, stood up and yelled that the machine was dead wrong and the polygraph is a piece junk (in far more colourful terms though). Now this was 15 years ago but he got hired. And the polygraphist told him that he passed the poly because of the way he reacted to the accusations.

As far was the "some cops have done MJ 250 times", I dunno. I can't say for sure but it sounds like a smokescreen. He was likely just trying to get you to think it was "ok" to have done it and admit to it.

The best news I can give you is that I know people who have been disqualified at the polygraph then later appealed it and are now hired (different department but you never know). So my advice would be to not give up.

But I guess you'll have to wait till the board's decision.

[acreature]

Please... I don't want someone like this wearing a badge.

Shoe salesman, Buster. That's what you need to set your sights on. The stress level's a lot lower and no one cares if you fib.

At least up ther he'd be in Company with the tree huggin' anti gov't Gov't and Citizens that he can hob nob with and share the dope.

No Offense to our OR members

[Buster Brown]

Thanks again electro juice. Im applying to Oregon right now. Although North Carolina is a nice place to be. HAA! My family lives there and that place is terrible. At least Oregon is a beautiful place. Coast of NC is nasty. Been there. Would rather swim in the Los Angeles Basin.

[S43riff]

OK OK you passed now go back there and tell them the cops on the web page told you that you passed.

[Buster Brown]

No actually, if they give me a fail on the polygraph there will be a HUGE appeal. The only BS is that my process is going to take longer which stinks.

[acreature]

No actually, if they give me a fail on the polygraph there will be a HUGE appeal. The only BS is that my process is going to take longer which stinks.

Here's the thing... a historic, established and well respected dept DQ'd you on a Poly... and you come to a Pro-LE site to complain about it.

Asking questions is one thing. Crying about it, then firing off the tude doesn't place a lot of faith in your hopes that that it was a faulty decision.