Expert: Jason Grabill - 3/28/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have done a few stupid things when I was in High school and think that they are hurting my chances in background.  I had a mananger that i knew from school that let me take 2 pairs of shoes from our work, and at another store I worked at it was the same situation I knew the manager and she let me take a few things knowingly.  Also whenI worked at a bank my cash box was over and the assistant manager said if your over take it its yours.  So me being a stupid 18yr old I did a few times.  that was back in 2000.  Since then I have really grown up, I am a Sergeant in the Army reserve and also put myself through the Police Academy but find myself getting knocked otu when it comes to the Polygraph and background.  I let the agencies know all this and they still put me through.  My question is do you think I can ever get a job as  Police Officer with that?  the Bank was in 2000 and the other 2 were in like 1998.  Let me know!!! Thanks!!

ANSWER: Matt:

 Managers permission or not, it's all still theft/larceny.  If you are failing the poly, it's because you are likely "spiking" on those theft questions.  

 Departments are going to have serious issues with hiring someone with a lengthy background of theft from employer issues.  Esp. stealing from a bank.  

 My only suggestion right now is to let more time pass, and to keep trying.  You can't change your past, but departments will hold your past against you, no matter how long ago you did something stupid.  They just don't want to take the chance these days.  In some cases this is justified, in others it's not, but most departments will 'err' on the side of not hiring.

Jason

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: But the thing is I tell them about this before hand and explain to them, and they agree to send me through the next process.  On the Poly I am not "spiking" anything.  if anything I am telling them more then I took just to make sure.  It frustrates me cause I know guys that have DUI's and got hired on, and to me that seems worse since it is actually on there record.  At this point I don't know what to do, I have been to Iraq with the Army and done all I can my past is my past, I want to be a cop so bad but at this point it doesn't look like its going to happen.  Should i even waste my time trying??

Answer
Matt:

 If you are telling them MORE than you actually took, then you are, in fact, spiking the poly because it's a lie, and the poly operator will interpret that as 'deception'.   I despise the polygraph because, in my opinion, it DQ's far more good candidates than it screens out the bad ones.   

 While your situation sucks for sure, at this point your options are limited;  Continue to try in the state you are in (and it sounds like this is more frustrating than it's worth), move to another state without the polygraph and start over, or look for other LE related employment that doesn't require a poly.

 Is it a crap deal?  Yeah, it is.  But I don't see too much else you can do at this point.