NYSP Polygraph? Anyone taken it?

[CollegeKid]

Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to thank those who have been helping me along. I
took my psy. interview a few days ago and I'm pretty sure it
went well, even though I really wasn't told anything. Anyhow I have
the NYSP polygraph coming up this week and I'm wondering if anyone else has already taken it? If so is it just standard questions? Or are they based off your background, or just sorta random questions? I know everyone has been saying just tell the truth and relax. I've no problem with the telling the truth part, however the relaxing part seems to be very hard! Thanks in advance!

[SP20]

I just found out that I passed my polygragh and my BI packet is due to HQ on the 20th, so I am almost there. Anyway, the polygragh test is long, about 3-4 hours. The most time is spent on a questionnaire that the guy goes through with you. Answer everything in here that you remember and don't leave anything out. After this he does some test with the machine to make sure it is tuned into your psychological response. Then he asks about 20-25 Q's that summarize everything you have told him and your BI. Standard questions, nothing to worry about. You'll do fine.

[CollegeKid]

Thanks for the reply! That makes me feel a lot more relaxed. If you don't mind me asking one more question how long did it take for you to find out you passed? Did the interviewer just tell you or did you have to wait a couple of weeks and call you Background Investigator? Thanks again! Hope we make the Jan academy!

[dan707]

congrats sp20
good luck with the rest and keep us posted

[SP20]

I had to pry it out of my BI. I kind of figured I passed it because it had been about 2 weeks since I took it and my BI was still calling me and stuff. That kind of gave it away but yesterday I had to meet with him concerning a small issue and I asked him flat out. He said "no problems, alright there". So, I guess I just wait for the board to review my BI. I hope I will get into the January Academy.

[dan707]

sp20 as far as the BI went do u know of them contacting any of the ppl you listed from jobs and such like that???
good luck

[CollegeKid]

I was under the impression that the NYSP did your background or at least most of it before the psy. interview and polygraph. I'm guessing that is not correct, or at least not correct all the time based on the prior posts. As far as I know I haven't heard anything from my background investigator other than when we had our initail meeting. Is that a bad sign? Or will I probably not hear till I finish the polygraph?

[SP20]

It all depends on how your BI takes the initiative. Mine just started calling everybody, and I mean everybody, yesterday and finished today. My package is due tomorrow. Goes to show you how some BI's do it. He was calling me all day to get me to find some of the people he needed to talk to. It all worked out in the end though, I guess he got to talk to everyone he wanted to. I know that he called my work twice, talked to my brother, all prior neighbors, and all the troopers I know. I am pretty sure he called all my previous employers too. Good luck to both of you.

[dan707]

sp20 when u say your package is due tommorow what does that mean?? sounds like u r moving right along. whats next final physcial and interview and then they make you an offer????
good luck

[SP20]

Your BI has to turn in the package on you when he is done with his investigation to Headquarters. There is a board of troopers who look them over and decide if you are going to get hired or not. From what I understand, then next thing is the physical 6 weeks prior to the start of the next academy. It's just the waiting game from here on in.

[dan707]

sp20 if all goes will with your appl. do u plan on going into the next class which i beleive is jan/feb. i recently found out from a recruiter that the next procesing weekend in feb will be for a july 2002 class no word on the class size!!

[CollegeKid]

I heard they were giving the PAT to people 2,401-3,000 on Sept 29 + 30th and these people were to also be considered for the Jan 7, 2002 class.
I was unaware that the final hiring decision was made in Albany. I guess I thought that if you passed everything you automatically got hired. (provided there is space and money) I wonder how long it will take to find anything out once the BI are sent down.

[dan707]

college i heard from a recrutier that the sep 29-30 processing weekend was going up to rank #3600

[Fred]

Dan what did I tell you they moved fast huh? I am #4557 and the recruiter emailed me back today. She said I would be going in Feb for the PAT and if everything goes good I will be in the July 2002 academy. I need to get running and working on the sit-ups/push-ups!!!!!!!!!!

Good Luck To All In The Process

[dan707]

fred looks like ill be there with you im #4442
good look with gettin in shape ive been at it for awhile now but gota keep it up during the winter!!! keep touch!!!
good luck

[CollegeKid]

Get ready for the sit-ups they DQed a lot of people on them! I just finished my psy. interview and polygraph for the NYSP so if you have any questions let me know.

[Fred]

College Kid did the polygraph exam seem more like an intrrogation. Some people on the board have different experiences from horrible to great with these exams. Do they grill you and treat you like a gutter bum like I hear the Secret Service does or do they show you the same respect that you show them?

Also what are the background investigators like Irealize you can only speak for yours but how did he or she seem. Like they will get the whole picture and come back to you with any questions or did thy seem as if they were in hunt for that one black mark which they can use to sink you?

Good Luck and thanks for the help

[SP20]

I think I can respond to this. Fred, If I remember correctly, you are here in upstate ny and probably gonna take the polygraph in loudonville. If you do, you will get some cool poly guys. The one I had, Investigator Ortiz, was awesome. Very respectful and outlined the whole process for me. He didn't hide anything or try to trick me into anything besides a little bit of interrogative questions in between tests, which I expected. Go in there with the right attitude and most of these guys will show you the same back. Granted there are some exceptions, but I have never heard of anyone from NYSP to be like this and I know a whole bunch of troopers who obvisously went throught the same process. Trust me, I kept thinking I was gonna fail and they were gonna be a$$holes but I couldn't of been any more wrong. You will do fine and we'll hopefully be working with each other in the future. Good luck to all of you.

[Fred]

SP20 Did you say that your BI pnly took one day . The investigator called everyone he needed to in one day?

[SP20]

He pretty much waited until the last day to start my investigation. This is coming from him. He called me on the 19th and said "I am just about starting your investigation so I'm gonna need you to bear with me. If I need to talk to someone and can't find them, you're gonna have to find them or find me someone else." He must of called me about 20 times on the 19th, and my package was due to HQ on the 20th. He ended up doing it in the one day though.

[CollegeKid]

Hey Fred,
I agree with everything that SP20 said. The NYSP have been great all along the process. Just keep in mind different background investigators do different things. Mine didn't do my background all in one day.
But to answer your direct question the polygraph went well. I told the trooper I was nervous and was totally honest. He answered all my questions and everything seemed to work out. They don't tell you if you pass or not (at least mine didn't and I know some other people on the board were not told as well) but I would assume you would get a letter or a call if things went bad. So don't get nervous if they don't tell you.
Like I said my background guy was great as well as any troopers or support personnel I call and asked questions too. Good luck and let me know if I can help ya in any other way.

Also does anyone know if you get a letter or a call after Albany approves you? Anyone got one yet? Thanks!

[dan707]

college when you said ppl fail the sit ups is that because they werent doing them correctly or was it that they just coldnt do what they had to in the time allowed???
thanks

[CollegeKid]

Hey Dan,
There were people failing both for lack of sit-ups and for correct form. Correct form seemed to send the most packing, however. Big thing they were looking for it that you keep all your fingers interlocked and also that both shoulder blades touch the gym floor.

[dan707]

college before they failed the situps were they given a chance to correct there form or was it too late?? im trying to get an idea now so i am well prepared . i have no problem with doing them in the time i just want to make i have the right form
Thanks

[CollegeKid]

Dan,
They will yell out something like "Keep your fingers locked, make sure you are touching the floor!". However, there will be 3-4 other people going at the same time as you, so it's hard to tell if they are yelling at you to touch the floor or the person next to you. Anytime they yelled anything durning my set I grabed my hands tighter and touched more to the floor, even though I'm pretty sure it was the person next to me they were concerned with.
Also you won't get another chance once you start your set, even if you have 39 out of 40, you're gone. Make sure you work on the form seeing as I stated before it killed a lot of people. I was one guy who looked like he could have been an ex-Navy Seal fail on improper form! Take Care and good luck. Keep me updated and I'll do the same for you!