in the process to become a police officer it says you will be subjected to a polygraph test and one of the questions they will ask you is about use of illegal narcotics... so i was wondering... will it hurt your chances of getting in if you say yes???
2007-05-13 18:12:49 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
i didnt mean using narcotics recreationally... i was speaking more along the lines of experimenting in highschool...
2007-05-13 18:33:18 · update #1
Different agencies have different policies regarding past drug use. Failure to admit it could result in termination if later discovered - there are cases of people fired two or three years AFTER employment when this stuff came to light.
Some agencies have a zero tolerance policy, and others do not. But ALL will have a policy against hiring liars.
The polygraph test - while not admissible in court - is a very effective pre-employment tool. In fact, we generally find out A LOT during these interviews. Very often, the disqualifying information is revealed in the interview with the examiner even before the applicant is hooked up to the machine.
Bottom line, be truthful. The two things that will make high school experimentation a moot point will be a good solid history since then, and time. If you have been a good student or had solid, productive employment with no problems since then, it should have less of an impact. But, each agency is different.
- Carl
2007-05-13 18:56:35 · answer #1 · answered by cdwjava 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-06-12 15:42:52 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The questions asked during a polygraph test for police officer candidates are not the same from every agency, and they are usually not the same for every person. They usually ask you questions to get an idea if you are a thief, drug user, or if you have committed any serious crimes. If there are any areas of concern on your application, they will probably ask you questions about these areas. If you have to take a polygraph test, just try to relax, and be honest. Your answers might or might not affect your chances of getting hired. If you don't pass, you won't get hired.
2014-10-11 00:25:37 · answer #3 · answered by J.W. 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would be really refreshing to see more folks entering law enforcement with a totally honest conviction woven through the fabric of their soul. I'd say, tell them the truth and if they hire you, go for it. If they don't hire you, get a degree in law and go after the folks running the polygraph tests. We've accepted them for years as the standard knowing full well that a certain number of people can lie and not show any signs of anxiety. The courts won't accept voice stress analyzers even though they seem to be much more reliable in the labs. I guess its a matter of the courts not wanting to admit that many of their old cases were founded on a kind of test which wasn't that reliable.
I'd be interested in knowing how it is that the current lie detector test can be used as evidence against you but can not be used to exonerate you. To me, it's either accurate enough to tell them what they want to know... or it isn't. Did I miss something here?
2007-05-13 18:27:01 · answer #4 · answered by Olde Spy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
During the application process you will be (or should have been) asked to fill out a background packet. This background packet specifically asks about drug use. If your answer during the polygraph is different then what your wrote, or if during the background invest they talk to someone who knows you did drugs, and you lie, you will NOT be hired. Its best to tell the truth. Drugs are not a big deal, as long as you wern't a dealer, or used last week! Good luck, remember, cops are human, and humans make mistakes and have regrets. Be humble, embarrassed, but TELL THE TRUTH. That is the most important thing about being a cop.
2007-05-13 18:51:57 · answer #5 · answered by JR 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the department. I've applied to Dept.'s that have a zero tolerance and one's that allow some use as long as it was never habitual and was in the distant past.
Whatever you do...don't lie on a polygraph. Not only will they bounce you from there process, it might actually hurt you with other future applications to Police.
I was asked on one application to list all the other Dept.'s that I'd applied to and what happen in the process.
2007-05-13 18:21:30 · answer #6 · answered by Groundhogg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you probably wont get the job if you admit to using narcotics, obviously, but it would look even worse if they caught you lying about it. As far as I know, polygraphs measures differences in heart rate, so if you remain calm it might work. Google it.
2007-05-13 18:19:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Enforcement agencies usually have a tolerance threshold and I don't think "experimenting" in high school would be an issue unless you are minimising an acute habit. Best not to lie.
2014-06-15 22:48:46 · answer #8 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DON'T LIE.....
Depending on the department, it may not even be an issue. But if you lie on the polygraph, they figure you'll lie on the job.
Again - DON'T LIE!
Calif Deputy
2007-05-14 08:39:55 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BE honest... It gives you a better chance. They can tell if you are lying and that could disqualify you. They probably won't disqualify you for high school experimentation if that is all it was.
2007-05-14 03:27:39 · answer #10 · answered by calixtreme81 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋