Sharing information

[defensive33]

Can a police department share the particular results of your polygraph with other departments? Or your background check? Is that legal?

[retdetsgt]

Yes, it's done all the time.

[mcsap]

Do you have any concerns about your background info NOT being shared with another agency that you have applied to ?

[L-1]

It's legal because you authorize it.

As part of the background process, you will sign waivers authorizing the department you are applying with to access a variety of information about your personal history and character that would normally be confidential. This includes employment history, financial information. medical records, etc. It also includes background investigations performed by other agencies.

However, bear the following in mind as well:

Your background investigator will inquire into the facts surrounding any rejections from other peace officer positions you have applied for. Resulting information will be carefully verified and evaluated. Most agencies do not automatically assume that the previous investigation by another department was unbiased, thorough, and complete. Furthermore, different agencies may have different minimum standards (such as age, education, drug use history, residency, etc.); therefore, the agency you are applying with now, will assess whether the reasons for such a rejection are relevant to their standards and situation. Another employer's reason for rejection is not automatically relevant. Agencies usually reject unsuitable candidates based on their own job-relevant criteria rather than those of another agency (especially if those reasons have not been independently verified or are deemed irrelevant, outdated, or otherwise inapplicable).

[defensive33]

A lot of people are shocked and wondering why I didnt get the job...once of my friends dad is a retired cop and will go and ask why..I just dont want people knowing my personal business..can they tell outside people?

[L-1]

They are not supposed to unless the person has an official need to know and a release signed by you.

[greg72982]

You're pursuing the wrong field if you don't want people to know your business

[mcsap]

We dont go to the media but we do notify area PD's that you may have applied to so that we can save them some time if it is enough to DQ you etc. If another agency calls us and says " John Smith applied with us and we found that he used all kind of drugs" , we will DQ him without spending any time doing our own checks.

[pafindr]

A lot of people are shocked and wondering why I didnt get the job...once of my friends dad is a retired cop and will go and ask why..I just dont want people knowing my personal business..can they tell outside people?

If you get involved in a trial more than likely the opposing attorney will want to know your personal business and use that information against you. (Remember; anything you say (or don't say) will be used against you in a court of law.) So if that information is bad enough you won't get hired any way.