distraught about poly

[BigHoss]

alright, it has been a few weeks since I took the poly so I suppose that I am safe posting this now. I dont know what to think. I took the poly and I thought it went well until the last 45 minutes. The examiner said that I failed the drug question. Now, I know there are some of you out there who will not believe me, but I have never touched an illegal drug. Heck, the strongest pain killer I have ever taken was a 900mg of Ibuprofin, and I didnt even taste alcohol until I was about 22 years old. I dont know how I can fail this part.

Then after asking me to come forward to tell him I took drugs, he said I was using "countermeasures" to throw off the test. I dont even know what that is. So I am really stressing.

I spoke with a friend who is former Federal LEO and he said that he never heard of anyone who went through the poly without getting harrassed by the examiner about something. I was wondering if it is possible they were simply trying to see how I would react to the pressure of being grilled about something I didnt do. I dont know.
Has anyone else out there ever been through this and then found out that they passed the poly. Any little ray of light or hope would be appreciated. Thanks

[ICE1811]

I've taken 3 poly's and have had the examiners pretty much call me a liar right to my face. I got hired by all three jobs. Don't sweat it. They are just doing their jobs.

[steve1568]

Same experience here, my examiner came out was extremely politie, shook hands and started talking about football. Once we were in the room it was Jekyel and Hyde time, he was cursing, calling me a liar and basically treating me just like we treat the perps when we question them. I felt like a wet noodle when I walked out but in the long run I passed and it all worked out. Just keep the faith and hang in there, no news is good news in the Fed. Best of luck !!!

[acreature]

Any little ray of light or hope would be appreciated. Thanks

If you told the truth, that's all the Hope you need.

[BigHoss]

If you told the truth, that's all the Hope you need.

Well, if that is the case I will be fine.

Thanks for the input, I know what I said was the truth. The rest is up to them. Just wait and see I suppose.
Thanks again

[Valor55]

It it has been a few weeks and you haven't gotten a letter kicking you out of the process I'd say you did fine.

[satbi]

The same happened to me hell I walked out of the thing wanting to arrest myself. But two years later I am off to FLETC so I guessed I passed. Don't sweat it they are just doing the job. It usually works to I mean that box is intimidating as hell:D.

[jvale00]

The poly is voodoo science. That coupled with capitalism means that some bonehead is a contractor, selling their "services" to the department and probably gets paid per poly. And thats his income. I'm sure he likes to justify the cost he charges the department for his time by holding up a couple of names who he DQ'd for being dishonest or "inconclusive". I had the exact same thing happen to me. He probably does that to everyone he gives the poly to and some people probably admit to him that they lied on their applications. It's a scare tactic, which then makes you stress out and registers on the monitor.

As for the voice analyizer, I dont know a thing about it one way or the other. But I do know someone, somewhere is trying to sell it...

[Maverick24]

Dont sweat it Hoss. They are all like that! I remember my first poly, I knew (from others who had taken it) to expect the whole Jeckyl and Hyde routine. I made a game of it, in fact I was acting so calm despite the cross-examining stuff he threw at me it seemed to drive the examiner nuts. I figured i wasnt going to fall for the routine, answer honestly, and let the chips fall where they may. They did, and I passed, but trust me the examiner sure acted like I didnt! Good Luck man!

[BigHoss]

thanks to all for the insight. It helps to know that some of you have gone through the same thing and still gotten the job. I guess I will go back into my normal government LE hiring mode. Waiting. Thanks again, I am starting to feel a lot better about the whole thing.

[SSA1811]

I was wondering if it is possible they were simply trying to see how I would react to the pressure of being grilled about something I didnt do.

You have no idea of how insightful and accurate your question is. The responses of the other Forum members were also all right on point.

jvale00's statement, "The poly is voodoo science." may be a little bit extreme ("inexact science" may have been more appropriate), nevertheless, that is one of the reasons the results of polygraph examinations are inadmissible as evidence in a court of law.

Best of luck to you through the rest of this process.


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[Novichok]

jvale00's statement, "The poly is voodoo science." may be a little bit extreme

Yeah, he included the word "science"!.

The guy on the other side of the table might as well be reading tea leaves or chicken entrails as far as I'm concerned. I'll be damned if I ever sit for one of those.

[/personal opinion]

[mobrien316]

Yeah, he included the word "science"!.

The guy on the other side of the table might as well be reading tea leaves or chicken entrails as far as I'm concerned. I'll be damned if I ever sit for one of those.

[/personal opinion]

The polygraph is as scientific as the science of phrenology. Using very accurate tools and instruments a skilled phrenologist could obtain precise measurements of the bumps on a person's head.

Using very accurate tools and instruments a skilled polygraph examiner can obtain very precise measurements of a person's heart rate, respiration rate, and galvanic skin response.

Where it all goes up in smoke is when the phrenologist attempts to use those measurements to predict a person's future behavior, and when a polygraph examiner attempts to use those measurements to decide if a person is being deceptive, and what they are being deceptive about.

[JRA]

I have not been here in a while, but I went through the same thing. I was told that I passed the poly and given a date for the medical by a sheriff dept. and later that day I got a call from that dept. and was told that the poly guy had a concern and went to the col. I spoke to the col. and he told me that I was not going to be hired and not to bother to re-apply. I then applied to a large city dept. and told them what had hapened during the background process. Long story short, I finished the academy this past thursday and am hitting the streets this coming week. Keep trying and you will get there.

[jvale00]

I have not been here in a while, but I went through the same thing. I was told that I passed the poly and given a date for the medical by a sheriff dept. and later that day I got a call from that dept. and was told that the poly guy had a concern and went to the col. I spoke to the col. and he told me that I was not going to be hired and not to bother to re-apply. I then applied to a large city dept. and told them what had hapened during the background process. Long story short, I finished the academy this past thursday and am hitting the streets this coming week. Keep trying and you will get there.

Make sure you send that Col. a thank you letter, seriously. Thank him for his time and the opportunity to apply. Just do it after your probation is over and let him know where your working now! There's a poly guy right there that needs to pay the dept. back for that DQ!

congrats! :D