Passing the lie detector to become a cop?

Question

I am in the military and have a year to go making it a total of 5 years in for me...and was considering getting into law enforement...as an adult i only have a few minor traffic tickets...as a teen i did pot a few times less than 10 and a little vandalism which never got reported but they might ask that on the lie detector??never gotten a dui never arrested...knowing what i have told you what are my chances of telling the truth about the little pot use as a teen and still becoming a cop??? I would appreciate an answer from someone that is a cop or knows what they are talkin about...if you could please ellaborate on how the lie detector works and what disqualifies you from becoming a cop by failing questions on it...thanks!

Answer 1

what u gotta do is slip something sharp in your shoe..  when they ask you a question step on it to cause pain.  you will be concentrated on the pain instead of the question and it wont show up in the test.. :D

Answer 2

Each agency has a different set of standards regarding an individuals conduct. As long as you are honest during the questioning, you will pass the polygraph. Your conduct will be evaluated (background check) prior to the polygraph and the agency will decide if you should go forward with the process. The polygraph is the least of your worries because I have seen more people fail the psychological test.

Answer 3

I was asked those questions when I applied for BSO in Fort Lauderdale, they didnt care, just that you answered correctly.

BTW, I beat the lie detector..the trick was...you dont even think about the answers, you just give it

Answer 4

Honesty is your best policy .

Answer 5

Yeah dude EVERYONE did a little pot and a little vandalism when they were young you'll be fine.  Trust me there is no way that the fact that you got high a couple times in high school will out weigh military training and five years serving your country.  They'll be begging you to join up.

Answer 6

Most of us were foolish as kids, but you have proved yourself

these past few years. Just be up front and honest.

They are fair and will respect you for your honesty. good luck

Answer 7

I've worked on selection boards for my department and while I can't guarentee anything for you all I can tell you about is my experience and our policies.

Every police department knows that the are not hiring Saints.  All applicants have skeletons in thier close, we all do.  We are human.  The thing that they are looking for though in the screening interviews and processes are people who are honest and trustworthy.  We expect that some people have exparemented with drugs, we expect that applicants have broken the law in some way, we expect that people have done things they are not proud of.  Its being open and honest about it that we look for.

In the case of drug use.  It's getting to be a more common thing but what we are concerned with is that it is not a recurring and present day thing.  Also, so called "soft drugs" are notreally a big issue, especially if it's in the past.  Now, drugs like LSD, coke, heroin... are considered more seriously against someone but again, be honest about it when asked.  

As for the vandalism and traffic tickets?  So what?  We've all done things in the past.  It would be a little different if you were currently under suspension for DUI or if you had a charge against you for criminal trespass due to stalking of your ex-fiance just last year.  

As for the lie detector, it measures your reactions to questions.  The bodies "fight or flight" mechanism.  When you tell a truthful answer to a difficult question your body will still react but not as badly as your body reacts when you tell a lie.  Its those changes in respiration, sweat, pulse ...that the instrument registeres and the operator compares those reactions to your baseline readings.

The big issue is lying.  If you cannot be truthful in an interview then how can the department trust that you will be truthful in the conduct of your duties and in your testimony in court?  Own up to what has happened in your past.  It's no worse then what anyone else has done (from what you are saying) and lying about it will cause you more of a problem in the process then just stepping up to the plate about such minor things.  I always tell my kids at home that they will get into more $hit if I find out they lied about something then for what they did.  Same here holds true.

Answer 8

Your 5 years in the military will be looked at much closer than anything you did when you were a teen, just be honest. Showing signs of deception will disqualify you much quicker than drug use or vandalism.

The polygraph works by detecting the extra stress put on your body when you lie. A skilled polygraph administrator can tell the difference between lie induced stress and natural nervousness.

Answer 9

The lie detector works (but is unreliable) by measuring your body's natural response to a question. If you tense up or your body temperature raises, they assume you're lying because that isn't normal. Some people have various ways of tricking the machine, therefore, it is unreliable and not admissable in court.

I've never heard of one being used to become a cop however...I just remember being pepersprayed and tasered. (Not at the same time because some peper spray is flamable). Good luck! Cops are cool!

Answer 10

Many police departments across the country have gotten rid of that part of the investigation since many upstanding people can't pass it because they're so nervous while many people who shouldn't even be considered because of their criminal past, pass it easily. My brother couldn't pass it and he tried 3 times. Sweet little ole ladies can have a hard time passing it.

I have read, I think on here, that some people try to establish their baseline with being nervous or agitated so that most answers would fall below that and, thus, would pass. I don't know if that will work. The lie detector works on measuring heart rate, breathing rate and that sort of thing, which go up when one is nervous or trying to lie.

I don't know exactly what kind of questions they ask. I do know they ask about criminal activities both present and past like using or selling drugs, including pot. So, the problem would be, do you answer "yes" when they ask you since you did it a few times as a kid and risk that going against you or do you answer "no" but get nervous because you really did a while back and then that shows up as you trying to hide something. I would contact whoever does the hiring for the department you are trying to get on and ask if the process still includes the lie detector test. Good luck!

Answer 11

MY BROTHER IN LAW AND GOOD FRIEND BECAME A COP...DON'T LIE ABOUT THOSE SMALL THINGS YOU DID IT'S WORSE IF YOU LIE THAN THOSE LITTLE THINGS..MY FRIEND DID JUST AS BAD THINGS AS YOU DID..HE TOLD THE TRUTH AND PASSED...I'VE HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE NOT BEING A COP FOR SMALL LIES...LIES ARE WORSE DO YOU BEST AND TELL THE TRUTH THEY WILL ASK YOU EVERY QUESTION UNDER THE SUN..JUST BE HONEST.

Answer 12

I'd go with being honest. And I agree with the trooper too, I think they will look more at your present status instead of what occurred when you were a kid. Good Luck

Answer 13

honestly i'm 15 but we've had cops come into school and talk about what your asking

dude ur gonna be a cop the career day people became cops and made it very very clear that they understand that kids make mistakes as long as your not a drug addict no ones going to care about your pot days yeha dont lie and you'll be fine

GOOD LUCK

Answer 14

Easiest solution.  Pick a department that doesn't use a polygraph in the hiring process.  And don't become a Fed... they are all strange folk.....

Answer 15

A lie dectector is really a big sham. It only detects stress levels that could be from anything, not just lying. You could be nervous or anxious about being hooked up to the machine. Who knows.

I have taken two of these tests and have passed both even though I lied on them. They were for law enforcement pre-screening. The key is to be calm.

http://antipolygraph.org/

http://people.howstuffworks.com/lie-dete...

Answer 16

Chances are good that they already know everything about you. They do intense background checks and criminal records.

If you were a juvenile and the records are sealed you will be fine. The fact that you are in the Military speaks volumes for your character now.

Just be brutally honest, the heart, lungs, blood pressure and emotions are a dead give away anyway, and you cannot control everything.

I feel good about the fact that you have straightened up and want to be on the other side of the law now...lol..you have grown up...we are proud of you......sincere best wishes.