It's Been Awhile, but here's an Update.

[slugsyx]

Hey Folks,

I haven't posted in quite a while, was actually feeling I don't superstitious or something or felt things were gonna get jinxed if I talked too much about it. That's just me though.

Anyway, my update is I was in the running for two local counties. I had my poly last night for the one. Then I heard nothing for like 5 weeks. Meanwhile, the other one called me in for background check. I did that and the investigator said I had passed and she was going to recommend me. So a week later, I get a later saying I was out (and most likely permantly, why?, don't know) But the next day I got a call from the background investigator for the first department. They wanted me to come in the next week. So I went in, fingerprints and the deal. Then he called all my people and called to come to my house the next day. I went over any questionable entries in my Polygraph/Confessions of Life Book. Which I needed to do to clear up what I felt could be taken the wrong way. I also got called that day to go for my psych exam the next week. Did that, the doc said I was OK.

So I am like cool, things should be ok. I cleared up my statements I had made in the interest of complete honesty (which is how I am, maybe too honest, I don't know.) So, waiting, and waiting (my psych exam and BC was in May.) So, much to my dismay, I find out last night that somebody else I know who was trying and actually went through all their process after me had recieved a call last week and was scheduled for a physical next week. So that threw me for a loop. So I ended up calling this morning to find out what the deal was. They said they had made the selections and they would be notifying people this week. So I don't know. Haven't recieved anything good or bad, so I don't know. It was a little dissappointing to hear that this other person had made it when for a few reasons I feel better qualified, mainly being I have a higher education level and I live in the area. I know there is more to it than that, but it helps I would imagine.

So I guess for now, if I did not get selected I have figure out if and where to continue. There are limit number of departments in the area, but we'll see. I also want to thank people who gave advice, and input before.

Thanks.

[Stump]

I'm sorry to hear that you weren't selected for the one department. Keep in mind a lot of people have to apply more than once before being selected.

It also takes a special personality to be a cop. Just WANTING to be one doesn't make you qualified. There has to be a certain psychological makeup that gets your foot in the door.

By all means, I am not saying give up. Just keep going with your education, and always keep your ears and eyes open for opportunities. You never know, you may find a job that you like even more than cop.

[slugsyx]

Oh I understand, I guess technically I'm still not out, but I'm not sure it looks so good. But hey I could just be being pessimistic. In any case, I am gonna just keep my options open. I'm pretty sure that nothing specifically knocked me out of the running, it may have just been some more qualified, I don't know, so I will most likely reapply for the next session whenever that may be.

But thanks for your advice, it is always appreciated.

[kaptainpig]

Reading the post from Slugsyx, is it normal that most forces will go through such lengths re someone wanting to join? I.e. poly tests, background investigators etc, and what is a confessions of life book??

In the UK there is the usual vetting but they don't even do home visits anymore. Most of entry in my force is done via the application form and there is then a basic recruits day with the physical and aptitude tests, and then finally an assessment day - and thats it, your in.

I agree with Stump re having a certain personality, as academic qualifications doesn't really come into it, it's the "makeup" of the person. They also invite front line officers when assessing applicants, and not just senior officers.

I'd be interested to know what sort of selection procedures you have to go through to join a force in the US or elsewhere?

[slugsyx]

KaptainPig,

Confessions of Life was my sarcastic reference to a questionaire they make you fill out, where you basically explain everything you've done wrong in life. They use that to in a way normalize your poly. That is, they ask a question like "Other than what you admitted earlier have you ever committed such and such a crime?" So first you have to admit things so your poly comes out clean. Then the use that during your background check. Sorry, I tend to be a little sarcastic at times.

As for education, while I agree that is not the be all end all, as with any job, I think have more of an education in general is more beneficial. Our state police requires only high school. Yet when I went to turn in my paperwork there, another applicant was basically told, that since he had not continued his education after high school that while he qualified for the minimum education, there were alot of other people who would easily be ahead of him, and told him he should look elsewhere. I was also told by every agency I applied for that education level helped.

In any case, not complaining, just living and learning.

[kaptainpig]

Only having seen poly tests on the Tv etc and no first hand experience, I did hear that they should not be relied on too heavily as sometimes they can indicate wrong results or the results can be interpretated incorrectly.

Regarding an interviewer asking you if you had comitted such an such a crime, surely the answer would be, "no I have no conviction for that crime in a Court of law". I'm sure that if people were asked those sort of questions over here they would start throwing their teddies out of the pram and hollering about their human rights etc and invasion of privacy, which is the way we seem to be going over here. Personally I think it's a good idea. Just because someone has no convictions for crimes when applying for the Police doesn't mean they haven't comitted any.

Is the application/selection procedure the same in the US or does it vary from state to state, and depending if you are applying for local, state etc?

[slugsyx]

Well I guess the poly can be seen as giving a false reading of the person's character, as it measures reactions. Reactions that happen when you lie, but they could also happen at other times. There are whole websites and groups who challenge the use of them and tell you how to fake them and all. I know one guy shows up on this board periodically. I just say whatever to all that, maybe it's true, maybe its not. Sure, here in the US, employers cannot use polygraphs in their selecting employees, except in law enforcement and probably other public servants (possibly firefighters and EMT's I'm not sure) You also have to have one for any kind of security clearance if you do work for the government. My feeling is that if you want the job, then you allow yourself to be poked and prodded and polygraphed. It's part of it.

As for the questions, you had said something about saying "no I have no conviction for that crime in a Court of law". They would know already if you had, because in your application you have to tell them of any time you've been involved with courts, whether its civil or criminal, even so much as traffic tickets. And if you don't you'd be lying and would be bounced as soon as they found out. So when they ask the question they are refering to undetected crimes. Like common ones are drug use and theft. Far more people in this world have done drugs than have actually been tried and convicted for it. So when they ask you, you tell them. Then they ask you if you have used illegal drugs other than what you had said. Same thing for theft. They know everybody has like taken something from work or whatever, so they ask that to clear out any chance of deception.

As far as I have found from the place I applied the process is pretty much the same. The order may be different. But in almost every one you will have the test, interview, poly, background check, psych exam and a physical. I think that is basically what every other person on here has reported from their experiences.