Expert: Jack Toomey - 6/3/2010

Question
QUESTION: I Will soon be applying to a police department and I will have to take a polygraph test. I'm starting to worry about some of the questions they will ask because I used to smoke marijuana.I smoke for about a year and a half to two years,I regret ever doing it because i feel like my career is at risk.It has been under a year since I quit, but the reason I quit is because I want this to be my career and I just hope I did not jeopardize it.

ANSWER: Mike,

A long time before any polygraph you will be asked either by one person or by an oral board about your previous drug use.  That is when they decide to disqualify you as a candidate.  Every department operates differently so I can't give you a "yes" or "no" answer about your drug use.  I can tell you about the departments that I know of.  Experimental use of soft drugs is normally not a disqualifer.  But extended use is a disqualifer.

Don't let this be a reason to stop your quest to be a police officer since it applies ONLY to the departments that I have worked with.

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

QUESTION: I don't want to lie on the test,but it seems like this would be a better option for me.I'm still in college and my major is criminal justice,I don't want to waste my college years studying a major that I will end up not even being able to get a job in.The job I'm applying for soon is offered to people still in college and it will give me experience and if I pass they will pay for me to go to the academy.I really want this and I just don't know what to do.

ANSWER: Well its a little late now but Criminal Justice is a worthless degree if you don't get hired.  I don't know of a single person who has such a degree.  I think that many young people get sucked into it by these ads on television that make you believe that upon graduation you will be elevated into some high profile job when in fact there is no guarantee that you are going to be hired to do anything.  Police departments could care less what your degree is in.  All they care is that you have one.

I can't get into what you should do or shouldn't do on the polygraph because that is getting into dangerous waters.  I wish you well.

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

QUESTION: I have a neighbor who works at the department I'm applying to.Should I ask him about my drug use? The only thing is that I'm afraid that he will get angry or disqualify me when he dose my background check.I just feel like I'm completely screwed.

Answer
I don't know why your neighbor would be doing your background unless this is a ten man department or something.  On large departments there are people who do nothing but investigate the backgrounds of applicants.  

All I can do is to tell you again that I am only acquainted with two departments and what their rules are.  They disqualify anyone who has a history of long term drug use.  That means that there are ten thousand other departments that I do not know about.