polygraph question

[goodcop]

I took my polygraph for the DEA back in mid-September and have not heard anything since. Is no news good news? Or what?
Just wondering because the guy was kind of an @#$ near the end of the test.

[SKi]

goodcop,

Don't be too concerned, I took my DEA poly this past summer and hav not officially heard a thing as well. Unofficially, DEA is so backed up on getting background investigations started that you my seriously be looking at a year's wait if not more before you hear anything.

SKi

[justwondering]

What do you mean "he was an ass"? What did he do? I've heard that they sometimes get tough towards the end to try to rattle you. Did he accuse you of lying?

[goodcop]

The guy ran me through the series of tests and at the end he stated that I wasn't being trughful etc. I think it was a scam because I had fully disclosed all of my information and I didn't feel nervous at all. I think he was just trying to get me to confess to something......who knows!

[justwondering]

That's terrible!! Is accusing applicants of lying common? Is it standard practice?! I've been working toward this for a long time now. If some bullshitting polygraph guy told me that he thought I was lying, I might just break down and bawl like a baby.

Please, if anyone else has been accused of lying by the polygrapher and passed, or failed, the test let me know. It seems to me that I don't want to walk into this thing unprepared. Nor do I want let this thing unhinge my sanity.

[MacLeod]

"If some bullshitting polygraph guy told me that he thought I was lying, I might just break down and bawl like a baby. "


Hey Justwondering,

Yeah you can expect to be accused of lying by a polygrapher, as well as a very intense "bonding session". Then again, he may not. Either way I don't think that qualifies them as a "BS Polygrapher". It's a pretty common interview technique.

This isn't directed at you neccessarily, but to be perfectly blunt, if that will make you break down like a baby and start bawling, then you may want to consider another career. And I don't mean that in a smartass sort of way either. Wait til you get named in a law suit and accused of "incompetence" or "deriliction of duty" by some punk ass gang banger's attorney. Spending everyday not knowing whether or not some jury is going to try to make an example out of you, by correcting "social injustice". No pressure, it's just your job, career, your livelihood, the means by which you put shoes on your kids feet, and pay the mortgage.

This profession is about a lot more than "What kind of weapon will I get to carry off duty" and "What kind of G-Ride do I get". You need to bring a thick skin, and then it won't be thick enough the first time you work an infant homicide or child molestation. That's when you find yourself walking into your children's room in the middle of the night to make sure they're alright. Then you pray there will be someone else to take your place when you retire to protect your grandchildren.

It's pretty much a Sorry Ass World. The polygrapher shouldn't qualify as your 3 meter target.

Again don't take this personal. I just didn't want you to walk into this profession "unprepared".

[Tex]

ML made some good points so I wont bag on you to much. Most applicants fail the polygraph because they lie on the application and then confess when the interviewer starts to press them on sensitive issues. Read the application, if you are disqualified then dont apply. If you arent disqualified then dont lie when they ask you questions that are not related to the disqualifiers..like do you drink? or Do you speed ? ect. Those little questions will get you busted just like the big ones if your untruthfull. Many departments follow this creedo...if you lie, you will cheat, if you cheat you will steal. If a poly doesnt ask for a confession he's not doing his job.

Tex

[wess09]

Don't sweat it!! They are always a pain in the ass just seeing how you handle the pressure. I have a friend who is a secret service agent now, they made him take it twice. he passed and is now at the academy.

later on,

wess

[justwondering]

Don't take this wrong or anything, but man, Lewis, you sound so tough!! I really wish I could be so weathered and worldly that I could speak on behalf of "The Profession" and everything! I especially liked that part about your trauma-induced paranoia. Considering your vast wells of experience, it’s amazing that you don't come off as arrogant or self-important.

Keep it up...you’re my hero!

[MacLeod]

I think you are being sarcastic and trying to hurt my feelings. I'm going to cry. Maluno, make the big bad lady go away!!!!!

Don't worry sister, I imagine you have lots of heros, considering all the people that don't break down and cry during the "trauma induced" polygraph examination. Grow up Shelia. Life ain't an internship.

[justwondering]

You comprehend sarcasm/hyperbole now? I thought that, given how literal you read my prior post, you would have been flattered.

[ACS]

Goodcop,


I took the DEA poly this past summer and the same thing happened to me. The examiner told me he had a problem with the drug question and one other which, in my opinion, was total BS. He did however ask me to go through the test once more, which I did and passed. It appears that the distrust of applicants is common practice, so I would not sweat your situation. On a final note I did tell the interviewer that it was BS that he “had a problem with my answers”. I have taken great pride in the fact that I have never taken any illegal drugs and did not like his insinuations that I was lying. I have worked very hard to obtain a career in FLE and the thought of one examiner ruining that did not sit well. I doubt that was the response he was looking for, but at the time I did not care. Live and learn.


ACS

[justwondering]

ACS,

Did you pass the polygraph?

[ACS]

Yes I passed the poly in June and have yet to hear anything.

ACS

[SKi]

Goodcop,

Thanks for starting this thread! I had kinda given up on hearing from DEA for a while. Well, out of the blue, the DEA background investigator called yesterday and came over tonight for the home interview. He said it appears that DEA was kinda in a hurry and wanted it done by the end of the month. Rumor has it that hiring has been approved and BAT classes are starting in January.

Good luck, everyone,

Ski

[ACS]

Ski,

When did you take your poly? Just wondering how long you have been waiting in limbo.

ACS

[SKi]

I took the poly in June, I think.

Ski

[theman]

The examiner told me I was deceptive on the serious crimes question. I said “well the only thing I could think of was when I was in college I was with some guys that stole some shrubs while I was in the car” . I did remember this during the test but it did not seem to be a “serious crime”. He had me write it down. I called the office later to see if this terminated my application and the lady said “no, your packet is going up and the back ground investigation will begin". You won’t hear from us for at least 6mos.
Since then the BI has started and is moving along. Was the examiner testing me or did I really fail??