[Bob11]

Hey Guys,

I was just wondering what questions I should expect for the Polygraph Test. I was researching it a bit and I saw a few questions that seemed out of place:

Example: Do you watch Child Porn?

Well if I did...why would I be applying for a position within the department?

I was hoping that some of you could provide a little more insight.

Thank You in advance!

(I wasn't entirely sure where this belonged)

 

[Inter9]

What department are you going for?

 

[Bob11]

What department are you going for?

Was looking into NYPD or NCPD.

(I'm not actually going for the Polygraph yet, still need to take the exam...I know I'm a bit ahead of myself here)

 

[varmint]

is xxxx your real name

do you smoke

do you drink

If I tell you anymore it might not help you... trust me.


just answer yes or no...YES or NO

 

[Catfish787]

What I've heard.

They ask you a bunch of questions and sometimes the same questions many times over. Just be truthful in all your questioning and you should be fine.

Had a State Police member tell me that they more or less look for the same responses over again, whether they are good are bad. Essentially just be truthful.

For example... if in the preliminary questions they ask you do you drink and you say 1 beer a week and then later during the polygraph they ask the same question and you say 2-3 a week, that is a different response and they do NOT want to see stuff like that.

Just don't lie and you should be fine.

I'll probably be taking one of these soon too when I apply for a police job here in just a few months once I'm out of college.

Good luck!

 

[Bob11]

What I've heard.

They ask you a bunch of questions and sometimes the same questions many times over. Just be truthful in all your questioning and you should be fine.

Had a State Police member tell me that they more or less look for the same responses over again, whether they are good are bad. Essentially just be truthful.

For example... if in the preliminary questions they ask you do you drink and you say 1 beer a week and then later during the polygraph they ask the same question and you say 2-3 a week, that is a different response and they do NOT want to see stuff like that.

Just don't lie and you should be fine.

I'll probably be taking one of these soon too when I apply for a police job here in just a few months once I'm out of college.

Good luck!

Thanks, you too!

 

[Bob11]

is xxxx your real name

do you smoke

do you drink

If I tell you anymore it might not help you... trust me.

just answer yes or no...YES or NO

Thanks for the information! I don't smoke or drink at all (never acquired a taste for it) so I'm covered there.

 

[Spydermonkey]

Bob, ask on the FB Ocom you'll get better responses

 

[varmint]

Thanks for the information! I don't smoke or drink at all (never acquired a taste for it) so I'm covered there.

It was not meant as a good or bad question.

 

[Bob11]

It was not meant as a good or bad question.

Haha, I know. I was trying to make a joke. Apparently it wasn't very good.

 

[Bob11]

Bob, ask on the FB Ocom you'll get better responses

Will do, thanks for your response.

 

[Yohan]

My favorite was, "Have you ever had sex with an animal?" The officer who conducted my test didn't believe me that I had never smoked marijuana and he went back to it a couple times. Looking back on it, I have to laugh. I was pretty mad that he didn't believe me at the time, but I've been in his shoes many, many times since then.

You've probably heard it before; "they aren't looking for angels." Well, no one is an "angel", but we do need good people in LE. One's who are not afraid to keep their oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, and one's who have integrity. If you become an officer, never forget where you came from and that you are a servant, not a master. Treat people like you would want another officer to treat your mom, dad, brother, sister, grandmother, or friend.

Don't go into it with any dillusions, either- it is a thankless job and many people will hate you just because of what you do for a living. The good you do (or should do) is what you must weigh against the sacrifices that you make; not whether the bosses or the public acknowledge your abilities, hard work, or sacrifices to your personal life (including those your family endures).

Anyway, I guess I got off topic and on my soap-box. I have my own thoughts of the polygraph. Go in there and be honest and let your integrity be the guage you are tested against. The machine will do a great job of measuring your heart rate and such...

 

[Bob11]

My favorite was, "Have you ever had sex with an animal?" The officer who conducted my test didn't believe me that I had never smoked marijuana and he went back to it a couple times. Looking back on it, I have to laugh. I was pretty mad that he didn't believe me at the time, but I've been in his shoes many, many times since then.

You've probably heard it before; "they aren't looking for angels." Well, no one is an "angel", but we do need good people in LE. One's who are not afraid to keep their oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, and one's who have integrity. If you become an officer, never forget where you came from and that you are a servant, not a master. Treat people like you would want another officer to treat your mom, dad, brother, sister, grandmother, or friend.

Don't go into it with any dillusions, either- it is a thankless job and many people will hate you just because of what you do for a living. The good you do (or should do) is what you must weigh against the sacrifices that you make; not whether the bosses or the public acknowledge your abilities, hard work, or sacrifices to your personal life (including those your family endures).

Anyway, I guess I got off topic and on my soap-box. I have my own thoughts of the polygraph. Go in there and be honest and let your integrity be the guage you are tested against. The machine will do a great job of measuring your heart rate and such...

Thanks for all the information Yohan. I really appreciate it. Looks like I won't be taking it for awhile since neither Department near me is currently hiring.

 

[Reno]

I never heard of a NYS department giving a polygraph for hiring. I know NYC didn't back in 1986, don't know about now. A lot of southern departments do. I spoke to a NY cop that applied to a department in Florida years ago that had to take one. He told me it was the most stressfull thing he has ever done. Couple of things they asked were about drugs and stealing. He told them he experimented with marihuana. The tester asked him how many times did he experiment and he said 30-40 times. He did get the job. I guess they just want him to be honest. I know that any admission to drug use in NYC would get you disqualified.

 

[Bob11]

I never heard of a NYS department giving a polygraph for hiring. I know NYC didn't back in 1986, don't know about now. A lot of southern departments do. I spoke to a NY cop that applied to a department in Florida years ago that had to take one. He told me it was the most stressfull thing he has ever done. Couple of things they asked were about drugs and stealing. He told them he experimented with marihuana. The tester asked him how many times did he experiment and he said 30-40 times. He did get the job. I guess they just want him to be honest. I know that any admission to drug use in NYC would get you disqualified.

Thanks for the information. I think they're looking for honesty as well and yeah, I don't think New York City wants anyone that's used drugs on the force. Not entirely sure why some departments don't mind if the candidate has used marijuana.

 

[Degenret]

Thanks for the information. I think they're looking for honesty as well and yeah, I don't think New York City wants anyone that's used drugs on the force. Not entirely sure why some departments don't mind if the candidate has used marijuana.

They must be the departments who actually have looked at the scientific data instead of the scary movies from the 1930s that show weed smokers as soulless demons who drink the blood of virgins.

 

[Doc8404]

I took one for a city PD in central NY. At the end the guy said "it's inconclusive. I can't tell ****. You are either a pathological liar or should apply for sainthood. ARE YOU TRYING TO BEAT THIS THING? have you ever read about trying to beat a polygraph?"

answer was NO. my background investigator simply told me, "He is just like that and retiring soon. as soon as he does, come back and reapply and you are a sure thing."

Thanks, but if that's the way they run ****, no thanks...never looked back. My buddy does them in OH and he laughed...said it's up to them how they interpret and "if they even want you." It is what it is and I wish you the best of luck!

 

[Bob11]

They must be the departments who actually have looked at the scientific data instead of the scary movies from the 1930s that show weed smokers as soulless demons who drink the blood of virgins.

Haha, yeah maybe.

 

[Bob11]

I took one for a city PD in central NY. At the end the guy said "it's inconclusive. I can't tell ****. You are either a pathological liar or should apply for sainthood. ARE YOU TRYING TO BEAT THIS THING? have you ever read about trying to beat a polygraph?"

answer was NO. my background investigator simply told me, "He is just like that and retiring soon. as soon as he does, come back and reapply and you are a sure thing."

Thanks, but if that's the way they run ****, no thanks...never looked back. My buddy does them in OH and he laughed...said it's up to them how they interpret and "if they even want you." It is what it is and I wish you the best of luck!

Yeah, I was told by a few people that they're inconclusive because any emotional spike can set them off. Thanks man!

 

[Reno]

Yeah, I was told by a few people that they're inconclusive because any emotional spike can set them off. Thanks man!

Thats why the results are not admissable in criminal courts. Only for investigations purposes.